Course Descriptions

PHY 150 Physics I  (4 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Introductory physics for majors.  Kinematics, Newton's laws, basic forces, energy, momentum, special relativity. 

PHY 151 Physics II  (4 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Continuation of PHY 150. Electomagnetic fields, Ampere's and Faraday's laws, Maxwell's equations, basic circuit elements.

PHY 201 Mathematical Methods in Physics I  (3 credits)  Offered in spring

Differential equations, linear equations, vectors, matrices, Fourier series, and numerical methods.

PHY 252 Physics III  (4 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Continuation of PHY 151. Wave physics, oscillations, harmonic systems, physical optics, thermodynamics, kinetic theory.

PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II  (2 credits)  Offered in fall

Continuation of PHY 201. Vector calculus, complex variables, partial differential equations, special functions, numerical methods. 

PHY 310 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter I  (3 credits)  Offered in fall

Particle kinematics, mechanics, conservation laws, particle motion in force fields, dynamics of two-body systems, reference frames, rigid body motion, relativity. 

PHY 311 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter II  (3 credits)  Offered in spring

Electrostatic and gravitational fields, Poisson and Laplace equations, dielectric materials, magnetic fields and materials, magnetic induction, Faraday's law.

PHY 314 Quantum Physics I  (3 credits)  Offered in fall

Photons, models of the atom, wave properties of matter, introduction to wave mechanics, 1-D systems in quantum mechanics.

PHY 315 Quantum Physics II  (3 credits)  Offered in spring

General principles of quantum mechanics, 3-D problems, approximation methods, spin, introduction to many-particle systems.

PHY 333 Electronics Circuits and Measurements  (3 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Basic principles of electronic circuit analysis and measurement techniques using modern instrumentation and computer-aided analysis of data.

PHY 334 Advanced Laboratory I  (2 credits)  Offered in spring

Selected experiments from contemporary physics. Emphasizes modern instrumentation, computer-assisted acquisition and analysis of data, and report form writing.

PHY 412 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter III  (3 credits)  Offered in fall

Electromagnetic fields of moving charges, Maxwell's equations, harmonic phenomena, oscillations, waves, electromagnetic radiation, covariant electromagnetism, introduction to general relativity.

PHY 416 Quantum Physics III  (3 credits)  Offered in fall

Introduces the quantum theory of atoms, molecules, solids and nuclei, Dirac's equation. 

PHY 420 Research Paper  (1 credit)  Offered in fall and spring

Scientific report writing.  Culminates in a paper based on library or lab research or both.  Taken in conjunction with other courses as approved.

PHY 441 Statistical and Thermal Physics  (3 credits)  Offered in fall

Statistical and experimental basis of heat, temperature, and entropy.  Mechanical and statistical basis of the laws of thermodynamics.  Applies macroscopic thermodynamics.  Phase equilibrium.

PHY 462 Subatomic Physics   (3 credits)  Offered in spring

Nuclear properties, models, decays and reactions; fundamental forces, field theories, symmetry principles; hadrons, quarks, and leptons; the Standard Model.

PHY 465 Advanced Laboratory II  (2 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Continuation of PHY 334. 

PHY 466 Advanced Laboratory III  (1-3 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Continuation of PHY 465.

PHY 480 Methods of Teaching Physics  (3 credits)  Offered in spring

Evaluates various approaches to the teaching of high school physics.  Preparation of demonstrations and experimentes.  Organization of a lab.  Designed for secondary school physics teachers.

PHY 481 Materials Physics I  (3 credits)  Offered in fall

Fundamentals of materials physics: crystal structure, diffraction, elasticity, point defects, dislocations, lattice vibrations, thermal properties, periodic potential, band structure.

PHY 482 Materials Physics II  (3 credits)  Offered in spring

Electronic behavior of materials: energy bands, electronic properties, metals, semiconductors, insulators, optical properties, superconductivity, biophysics.

PHY 484 Internship  (1-12 credits)  Offered during selected semesters

PHY 495 Project Research  (1-3 credits)  Offered in fall and spring

Supervised project in physics or astrophysics.

PHY 499 Individualized Instruction  (1-3 credits)  Offered in fall and spring