Science and Mathematics
Physics
Professors Bambakidis (chair), Martin (Emeritus) Associate Professors Clark, Farlow, Foy, Hemsky (Emeritus), Listerman (Emeritus), Skinner, Wood (Emeritus)
Assistant Professor Basista, Kozlowski
The Department of Physics offers programs leading either to a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics. The Department of Physics and the Department of Electrical Systems Engineering jointly offer a program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in engineering physics; see the Electrical Systems Engineering section of the College of Engineering and Computer Science chapter for more information on this program. Students in secondary education may earn the Bachelor of Arts degree in physics and enter the Professional Year Experience program of the College of Education and Human Services for licensure in physical sciences (life sciences/physics or earth sciences/physics).
Minimum requirements for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in physics include successfully completing the required courses, with a GPA of at least 2.0 for all physics courses, as well as completing university and college degree requirements.
In addition to the required courses, the department requires, for the Bachelor of Science degree, that every physics major take PHY 494 or 499. The physics major who plans to pursue graduate study is also strongly urged to take the following courses: PHY 480, 481, 482; one to two years of a foreign language, either French, German, or Russian; and additional mathematics courses.
Degree Requirements—Physics
Bachelor of Science Degree
| General Education Requirements | 42 |
|
Areas one through four (not counting
substitutions listed below) Required Substitutions, which are also major program requirements: MTH 229, 230 PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 |
|
|
Departmental Requirements |
67 |
| PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204; or equivalent | 16 |
| PHY 260, 371, 372 | 10 |
| PHY 315, 316, 322 | 10 |
| PHY 420, 450, 451, 452, 460, 461, 462 | 25 |
| PHY 494 | 6 |
|
Related Course Requirements |
53 |
| MTH 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 253 | 28 |
| MTH 332, 333 | 6 |
| CHM 121, 122, 123, or 191, 192, 193 (or 361) | 15 |
| EGR 153 or equivalent | 4 |
| Electives | 30 |
|
Total |
192 |
Since the order in which courses are taken is important, students should closely follow the suggested programs for the required courses.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
| General Education Requirements | 42 |
| Areas one through four (not counting substitutions listed below) Required Substitutions, which are also major program requirements: PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 MTH 229, 230 |
|
|
Departmental Requirements |
45 |
| PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204, or equivalent | 16 |
| PHY 260, 315, 371, 450 | 13 |
| PHY 316, 322, 372, 420, 451 (for licensure in physical sciences, PHY 446 is a required substitution for one of these courses) | 16 |
|
Related Course Requirements |
40 |
| CHM 121, 122, 123 | 15 |
| MTH 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 | 25 |
| Electives outside of the Colleges of Science and Mathematics and Engineering and Computer Science | 27 |
| General Electives | 29 |
|
Total |
183 |
The department will use the results of the mathematics placement examination to determine the initial mathematics course best suited for the student. Students who do not have a strong science and mathematics background might choose to delay PHY 240, 242, 244. If these students are in the honors program, their schedule will need to be adjusted in the junior and senior years. They should consult their advisor as soon as possible to arrange a suitable program.
The Department of Physics encourages students interested in interdisciplinary study to pursue a double major in physics and a related discipline. A departmental advisor will help students arrange a suitable program of study. In addition, there are three formal physics degree option programs that follow.
Degree Requirements— Physics/Geophysics Option
Bachelor of Science Degree
The Department of Physics, in cooperation with the Department of Geological Sciences, offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a geophysics option. This option is designed for students who plan a career in physics in a geology-related setting or who plan to pursue graduate study in geophysics.
Students following the physics program with the geophysics option must meet the requirements of the basic physics degree program. In addition, the following courses are required.
| Geophysics Option Requirements | 34 |
| GL 251, 253 | 6 |
| GL 252, 254 | 3 |
| PHY 422, 423, 424 | 13 |
| Electives chosen from: GL 255, 311, 333, 420, 450, 463 |
12 |
In addition to these required courses, the department recommends that students pursuing the geophysics option also take GL 434 and participate in the geophysics seminars.
Degree Requirements— Physics/Computing Option
Bachelor of Science Degree
The Department of Physics offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in physics with a computing option. This option is designed for students who plan a career in any of the many areas of theoretical or experimental physics that involve extensive use of digital computers.
Students following the physics program with the computing option must meet the requirements of the basic physics degree program. In addition, the following courses are required.
| Computing Option Requirements | 27 |
| CS 240, 241, 242 | 12 |
| MTH 257 | 3 |
| CS 400 | 4 |
| CS 316, 317 | 8 |
Students who wish to learn about micro-processors may wish to take further courses in computer engineering, such as CEG 260, 320, and 360. For these students, CEG 430 and 431 may be taken in place of CS 316 and 317.
Degree Requirements— Physics/Biology Option
Bachelor of Science Degree
The Department of Physics, in cooperation with the Department of Biological Sciences, offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in physics with a biology option. This option is designed for students who plan a physics career in a biology-related setting or who want to pursue graduate study in biophysics or medical physics.
Students following the physics program with the biology option must meet the requirements of the basic physics degree program. In addition, the following courses are required.
| Biology Option Requirements | 35 |
| BIO 112, 114, 115 12 BIO 492 (biophysics emphasis) | 2 |
| CHM 211, 212 | 12 |
| Electives
chosen from: BIO 202, 306, 307, 402/405; BMB 421, 422 |
9 |
Physics Education
Students who wish to teach physical sciences in Ohio public high schools can pursue the B.A. degree in physics. Upon completion of this under-graduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then need to complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) through Wright State’s College of Education and Human Services. Graduates of the B.A. in physics and the Professional Educators Program are then eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in Physical Sciences. Licensure in Life Sciences/Physics, or Earth Sciences/Physics, can also be sought upon completion of programs based on the B.A. in Physics and PEP.
Degree Requirements— Physical Sciences Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree (Physical Sciences)
The Adolescence to Young Adult Physical Sciences Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in physics.
| General Education Requirements | 42 |
| Required Substitutions: PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 MTH 229, 230 |
|
| Departmental Requirements | 48–49 |
| PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 | |
| PHY 107/117, 315, 371, 446, 450 | 36 |
| Physics Electives (15 cr. chosen from the following): PHY 316, 322, 372, 420, 451 |
12–13 |
| Related Course Requirements | 117 |
| BIO 112, 114 | 8 |
| CHM 121, 122, 123 | 15 |
| CHM 211/215, 212/216, 213/217, 312/314, 451 | 28.5 |
| GL 251/252, 253/254, 255/256 | 13.5 |
| MTH 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 | 25 |
| Electives outside the Colleges of Science and Mathematics and Engineering and Computer Science (must include ED 221, 223, 301, 303, EDS 333) | 27 |
| Total | 207 |
Degree Requirements— Life Sciences/Physics Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree
The Adolescence to Young Adult Life Sciences/Physics Licensure Program is based on an under-graduate Bachelor of Arts degree in physics.
| General Education Requirements | 42 |
| Required Substitutions: PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 MTH 229, 230 |
|
|
Departmental Requirements |
48–49 |
| PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 | |
| PHY 107/117, 260, 315, 371, 446, 450 | 36 |
| Physics Electives Select from the following: PHY 316, 322, 372, 420, 451 |
12–13 |
|
Related Course Requirements |
114.5 |
| BIO 112, 114, 115, 210, 211, 212, 252, 278, 279, 426, 492 | 43 |
| CHM 121, 122, 123 | 15 |
| GL 251/252 | 4.5 |
| MTH 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 | 25 |
| Electives outside the Colleges of Science and Mathematics and Engineering and Computer Science (must include ED 221, 223, 301, 303, EDS 333) | 27 |
| Total | 204.5- 205.5 |
Degree Requirements— Earth Sciences/Physics Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree
The Adolescence to Young Adult Earth Sciences/Physics Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in physics.
| General Education Requirements | 42 |
| Required Substitutions: PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 MTH 229, 230 |
|
|
Departmental Requirements |
48–49 |
| PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 | |
| PHY 107/117, 260, 315, 371, 446, 450 | 36 |
| Physics Electives Select from the following: PHY 316, 322, 372, 420, 451 |
12–13 |
|
Related Course Requirements |
114.5 |
| BIO 112 | 4 |
| GL 201 or 304, 251/252, 253/254, 255/256, 309, 311 or 420, 401, 485, 486 or 342 or 399 (four cr.), 499 (Oceanography) | 43.5 |
| MTH 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 | 25 |
| Electives outside the Colleges of Science and Mathematics and Engineering and Computer Science (must include GEO 330 or 331, and ED 221, 223, 301, 303; EDS 333) | 27 |
| Total | 204.5- 205.5 |
Physics Honors Program
The Department of Physics has an Honors Program designed to provide superior students with a program that offers greater creativity and intellectual challenge. Students who wish to participate in this program must apply to the department during the spring quarter before they plan to enter the Honors Program. Interested students should have at least a 3.0 GPA overall and at least a 3.0 in physics courses numbered 300 and above. To graduate with honors in physics, students are required to complete PHY 480, 481, 482, and nine hours of honors research (499) with grades of “B” or better.
Dual Major Program in Physics and Mathematics
The dual major in physics and mathematics is designed for students majoring in physics who wish to gain a strong background in mathematics. This can be particularly valuable for those planning graduate study.
Since the physics major program for the Bachelor of Science degree requires 34 hours of mathematics, and the mathematics component of the major requires 45 hours, 11 additional hours of mathematics need to be taken. To earn a dual major, students must take the following mathematics courses:
| 1.MTH 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 332, 333 | 31 |
| 2.MTH 255 and 355 (Matrix Algebra) must be taken in place of MTH 253. If MTH 253 has already been taken, the student must still take MTH 355 | 6 |
| 3.Eight hours of electives must be selected from restricted lists of courses. For a student in this program, the natural choice would be to select three courses from MTH 431, 432, 433, 480, 481, 482. | 8 |
|
Total |
45 |
In addition, students must:
| 4. take CS 141 and CS 142 or EGR 153 or equivalent (total eight hours); and |
| 5.complete the other nonmathematical requirements of the physics major. |
Minor Programs
Students majoring in another department may earn a minor in physics. A minor can help prepare students for an interdisciplinary graduate program or serve as a supportive credential for employment. The minor requires a minimum of 35 credit hours as specified in the following:
Minor Requirements—Physics
| Departmental Requirements | 35 |
| Required Courses PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 (or PHY 111/101, 112/102, 113/103, 240, 242) |
16 |
| PHY 260, 315, 371 | 10 |
| Elective Courses (Nine hours chosen from the following courses as approved in advance by the Department of Physics) PHY 316, 322, 372, 400, 401, 420, 432, 450, 451, 452, 460, 461, 462, 494 (maximum three hours) |
9 |
.
