Physics B.S. – Astronomy Emphasis

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Cynthia S. Galovich, Ph.D., Department Chair

Location: Ross Hall 0232

Telephone: [phone]

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/physics

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

1. Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
2. Required Major Credits
3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This emphasis gives graduates excellent preparation for graduate school in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Physics, and for employment in industry and research laboratories.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

• A research project, completed in PHYS 470, is required for all emphases except secondary teaching. HON 451 may be substituted for PHYS 470.
• A 2.0 GPA or better is required in PHYS prefix courses for graduation.

• In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements.  Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program. 

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 18 credits

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

MATH 131	Calculus I	4
MATH 132	Calculus II	4

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

CHEM 111	Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 111L	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	1
PHYS 240	General Physics I	5

Remaining LAC — 22 credits

See “Liberal Arts Core”.

NOTE: Students need to select courses from Areas 7 and/or 8 that also count for Areas 3, 4, or 5.

2. Required Major — 64-68 credits

Take all of the following courses:

PHYS 241	General Physics II	5
PHYS 301	Seminar in Physics	1
PHYS 320	Mathematical Methods I	3
PHYS 321	Elementary Modern Physics	4
PHYS 340	Mechanics	4
PHYS 341	Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 345	Quantum Mechanics I	3
PHYS 347	Optics	4
PHYS 360	Laboratory Physics I	2
PHYS 370	Research I	1-3
PHYS 420	Mathematical Methods II	3
PHYS 440	Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	4
PHYS 445	Quantum Mechanics II	3
PHYS 448	Nuclear and Particle Physics	4
PHYS 460	Laboratory Physics II	2
PHYS 470	Research II	1-3
AST 301	Classical Astronomy and the Solar System	3
AST 302	Stars and the Milky Way	3
AST 303	Galaxy Formation and Cosmology	3
CS 101	Introduction to Computer Science	3
MATH 233	Calculus III	4

3. University-Wide Credits — 12-16 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 12-16 credits.