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Undergraduate 2019-2020

Physics B.S. – Astronomy Emphasis

College of Natural and Health Sciences

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

Location: Ross Hall 0232

Telephone: 970.351.2961

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 131Calculus I

4

MATH 132Calculus II

4

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I Laboratory

1

PHYS 240General 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 241General Physics II

5

PHYS 301Seminar in Physics

1

PHYS 320Mathematical Methods I

3

PHYS 321Elementary Modern Physics

4

PHYS 340Mechanics

4

PHYS 341Electricity and Magnetism

4

PHYS 345Quantum Mechanics I

3

PHYS 347Optics

4

PHYS 360Laboratory Physics I

2

PHYS 370Research I

1-3

PHYS 420Mathematical Methods II

3

PHYS 440Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4

PHYS 445Quantum Mechanics II

3

PHYS 448Nuclear and Particle Physics

4

PHYS 460Laboratory Physics II

2

PHYS 470Research II

1-3

AST 301Classical Astronomy and the Solar System

3

AST 302Stars and the Milky Way

3

AST 303Galaxy Formation and Cosmology

3

CS 101Introduction to Computer Science

3

MATH 233Calculus 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.