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Major

Major for teaching

Academic Standards for majors

Minor

Courses

Notes

Test-out & Credit-by-exam policy

Pre-engineering

 


Physics
(College of Letters and Science)
Katherine Jore, Chair of Physics and Astronomy
Room B-109, Science Building
Phone: 715-346-2139
Email: physics@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/physastr

Faculty: R Beeken, A Durbala, B Hinaus, K Jore, K Menningen, H Nguyen, R Olson, A Stevenson, D Tamres, C. Verzani, M. Veum.

Definition: Physics is the branch of science that investigates the laws of motion and properties of matter. It is often divided into the sub-disciplines of mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, atomic, and nuclear physics.

Courses in astronomy are listed under that title earlier in this catalog.

Physics Major
Consists of a minimum of 61 credits including:

  1. Math 120, 121, 213, 222.

  2. Chemistry 105 and 106; or 117.

  3. Physics 111, 150, 250, 300, 320, 335, 405, 435, 470, and one credit of 388 or 499.

  4. Physics 315 or 370.

  5. Additional physics courses numbered above 300 not including 390 or 490 to attain 61 credits.

Physics Major with Applied Mechanics Emphasis

Consists of a minimum of 59 credits including:

  1. Math 120, 121, 213, 222.

  2. Chemistry 105 or 117.

  3. Physics 111, 150, 250, 300, 315, 335, 370, 435, 470.

  4. Physics 490, 6 cr.

  5. Economics 210 or Business 320.

NOTE: Enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking the physics major with applied mechanics emphasis. Please contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy early for entrance requirements and application procedures.

 

Physics Major with Applied Electronics Emphasis

Consists of a minimum of 60 credits including:

  1. Math 120, 121, 213, 222.

  2. Chemistry 105 or 117.

  3. Physics 111, 150, 250, 300, 315, 320, 370, 470.

  4. Physics 383 or 385.

  5. Physics 490, 6 cr.

  6. Economics 210 or Business 320.

NOTE: Enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking the physics major with applied mechanics emphasis. Please contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy early for entrance requirements and application procedures.
 

Physics Major for Teacher Certification
Consists of a minimum of 49 credits including:

  1. Math 120, 121, 213, 222.

  2. Physics 111, 150, 250, 300, 320, 335, 470.

  3. Physics 315 or 370.

  4. Astronomy 205 or 206 or 311 or physics courses numbered above 300 not including 390 or 490 to attain 49 credits.

NOTE: Enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking teacher certification. Contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy early for entrance requirements and application procedures. Also see information about the Professional Education Program and the secondary education curriculum for teacher certification in the Education section of this catalog.

Academic Standards for Major

  1. To be accepted as a physics major, register with the department office no later than the first semester of your junior year. To be retained and approved for graduation, you must have a 2.00 cumulative GPA (2.75 to student teach) in all courses in the major, regardless of any declaration of academic bankruptcy.

  2. No more than one grade below C- in physics courses numbered 300 or above may be applied to the major.

  3. If you do not meet these standards, you may petition the department chair for consideration. See the Academic Information section of this catalog for the policy on repeating courses.

  4. All upper division physics courses (300 and above) are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

Physics Minor

  1. A minimum of 25 credits including Physics 111, 150, 250, 300 and other physics courses numbered above 300 not including 390 and 490. At least one elective must include a laboratory.

  2. Math 120, 121, 222.

  3. If you are entering a teaching field, you may select Astronomy 311 as an elective. A minor in physics is certifiable for teaching only when accompanied by a major in another science or a major in mathematics.

  4. When you decide to minor in physics, register in the department office to be assured of proper advising. To be accepted as a minor you must have a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (2.75 to student teach), regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy. The department may grant exceptions. No more than one grade below C- in physics courses numbered 300 or above may be applied to the minor.

Notes: 

  1. To major or minor in physics, you should register for acceptance no later than the first semester of your junior year.

  2. Physics 320, 370, 435 will be offered first semester only in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

  3. Physics 335, 383, 385 will be offered first semester only in 2008-09 and 2010-11.

  4. Physics 315, 470 are offered second semester only.

  5. Physics 405 will be offered second semester only in 2007-08.

  6. Physics 384 will be offered second semester only in 2008-09.

  7. You will not receive credit for a course if you have already successfully completed a similar or more advanced course in the same area. The following restrictions apply:

If you received
credit for:		 You cannot receive
credit for:
Physics 100 Physics 101
Physics 101 Physics 100
Physics 150 Physics 100, 101, 201, 203
Physics 201 Physics 100, 101, 150, 203
Physics 202 Physics 100, 101, 204, 250
Physics 203 Physics 100, 101, 150, 201
Physics 204 Physics 100, 101, 202, 250
Physics 250 Physics 100, 101, 202, 204


Test-out, Credit-by-Exam Policy
 We will offer test-out examinations for all general degree requirement (GDR) physics and astronomy. The exams will cover both lecture and laboratory topics.

If you wish to take a test-out exam, confer with the department chair who will arrange for a faculty member to administer and grade a comprehensive written exam. A passing grade will be at least five percent above the most recent class average. You will be informed of the required passing score before taking the exam. Results will be evaluated and (if appropriate) credit granted by the departmental Educational Policies Committee. You may not take an exam more than once.

Course credit can be granted for Astronomy 205, 206, 311; Physics 115, 150, 203, 204, 250. Credit will NOT be granted for Astronomy 100 and Physics 100 and 101, but the GDR science credit will be waived.

Pre-Engineering
For all pre-engineering programs except pre-chemical engineering, you should take the following science and mathematics courses in your freshman and sophomore years: Math 120, 121, 220, 222; Physics 150, 250, 300. Chemistry 115, 116 (or 105, 106) are also recommended. Specific engineering curricula and universities have individual requirements. See a pre-engineering advisor for additional information and suggested electives. For pre-chemical engineering, see Chemistry in this catalog. For paper science, see Paper Science and Engineering in this catalog.

Courses in Physics

PHYS 100. Energy in Today's World. 3 cr. Basic energy concepts; energy sources and processes; projected depletion of present resources; role of conservation, research, development; alternatives and prospects for the future. 2 hrs lec, 2 hrs lab per wk. GDR:NS,EL

 

PHYS 101. General Physics. 5 cr. Fundamental principles of physics for a general audience; for students in elementary education, general education, communicative disorders, and physical education. 2 hrs lec, 1 hr disc, 4 hrs lab per wk. GDR:NS

 

PHYS 111. Seminar: Introduction to Physics. 1 cr; pass/fail. For students interested in a physics major/minor. Topics include careers, areas of current research, and library research techniques. Does not count toward physics requirements of natural science major.

 

PHYS 115. Acoustics. 4 cr. Multidisciplinary introduction to the principles of acoustics integrating information from physics, music, communicative disorders, and psychology. Topics include waves, sound, speech, hearing, resonance, harmonics, analysis and synthesis of sounds. Applications to speech production and music/musical instruments. 3 hrs lec, 2 hrs lab per wk. Does not count toward physics requirements of natural science major. Prereq: Math 100 or equiv recommended. GDR:NS

 

PHYS 150. University Physics I. 5 cr. Mechanics, heat, and sound.
3 hrs lec, 1 hr disc, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: Math 120, or con reg, or cons instr. GDR:NS

 

PHYS 201. Applied Principles of Physics I. 4 cr. Topics in mechanics, heat, and sound. 2 hrs lec, 1 hr disc, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: Math 100 or equiv, or cons instr. For natural resources students.

 

PHYS 202. Applied Principles of Physics II. 3 cr. Topics in electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. 2 hrs lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 201 or equiv, or cons instr. For natural resources students.

 

PHYS 203. College Physics I. 5 cr. Mechanics, heat, and sound. For students in general education, biology, premedical and related fields.
3 hrs lec, 1 hr disc, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 1 yr high school algebra and 1 yr high school geometry, or equiv. GDR:NS

 

PHYS 204. College Physics II. 5 cr. Light, electricity and magnetism, and topics in modern physics. For students in general education, biology, premedical and related fields. 3 hrs lec, 1 hr disc, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 203 or equiv, or cons instr. GDR:NS

 

PHYS 250. University Physics II. 5 cr. Electricity, magnetism, and optics. 3 hrs lec, 1 hr disc, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 150, Math 121 or con reg or cons instr. GDR:NS

 

PHYS 300. Modern Physics. 3 cr. Special relativity, quantization, Bohr atom, matter waves, solutions to the one-dimensional Schroedinger equation, nuclear physics. Prereq: 250 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 315. Computational Physics. 3 cr. Solving problems in physics using numerical methods, programming and data manipulation software. 2 hr lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 250 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 320. Electricity and Magnetism. 4 cr. Introduction to theory of electrostatics, potentials and fields, dielectrics, magnetostatics, magnetic properties of materials, Maxwell’s equations. Prereq: 250, Math 222 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 335. Advanced Mechanics. 3 cr. Vectors; rectilinear and curvilinear motions, including simple harmonic and damped vibrations; rotation of rigid bodies; Lagrangian mechanics. Prereq: 250, Math 213 and 222 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 370. Electronics. 4 cr. Theory, application, and practice of analog and digital electronics. 3 hrs lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 202 or 204 or 250 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 381. Selected Topics. 1-3 cr. Advanced coursework in specialized areas of physics. May repeat under different subtitles. Prereq: Cons instr.

 

PHYS 383. Solid State Physics. 3 cr. Conductivity, optical properties of conductors and insulators, polarization, magnetization, free electron theory, band theory, and semiconductors. Prereq: 300, Math 222 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 384. Astrophysics. 3 cr. Selected topics in areas of astrophysics including planetary physics, stellar physics, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, and cosmology. Prereq: 250 and 300, Math 222 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 385. Optics. 3 cr. Wave, ray, and photon modes of light; geometrical optics with emphasis on imaging; physical optics including polarization, interference, and diffraction; modern optics including lasers and nonlinear optics. 2 hrs lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 250 and 300, Math 222 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 388. Research Participation. 1-4 cr. Investigate current problems in physics; 3-12 hrs lab per wk. For physics majors/minors. May repeat for 4 cr max. Prereq: Cons research supervisor.

 

PHYS 390. Cooperative Internship in Applied Physics. 1-6 cr. Supervised work program in applied physics at a cooperating agency or business. Credit determined by internship director. Credit does NOT apply to major. May be repeated for 6 cr max. Prereq: Physics majors only; cons internship director.

 

PHYS 405. Quantum Mechanics. 3 cr. In-depth study of Schroedinger’s equation, the harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, the hydrogen atom, and Dirac formalism, spin, approximation methods, selection rules, transitions, and multi-electron atoms. Prereq: 300, Math 213 and 222 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 435. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. 3 cr. Introduction to laws of thermodynamics and their explanation by statistical mechanics. Applications to gases, liquids, solids; boson and fermion systems; phase and chemical equilibrium. Prereq: 250, Math 222.

 

PHYS 470. Experimental Physics. 2 cr. Experiments and laboratory practice in electricity, magnetism, optics; atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics. 1 hr lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 300 or cons instr.

 

PHYS 490. Internship in Applied Physics. 1-6 cr. Supervised work program in applied physics at a cooperating agency or business. Credit determined by internship director. Credit applies for applied physics emphasis majors only. May repeat for 6 cr max. Prereq: Physics majors only; cons internship director.

 

PHYS 496. Independent Study. 1-4 cr. Planned study to supplement preparation in area of specialization; regular scheduled conferences with staff supervisor. For physics majors/minors. Prereq: Cons chair.

 

PHYS 499. Special Work. Upperclass physics majors or minors may arrange for independent study with cons chair. Credit based on scope of project.

 

PHYS 796. Independent Study. 1-4 cr. Planned study to supplement preparation in area of specialization. Prereq: Maturity to work independently; must supplement current graduate work.

 

Physics Latent Courses:  Not offered recently. See full course description in indicated (xx-xx) catalog.

  • 206          Basic Electricity, 3 cr, (99-01)

  • 220          Statics, 3 cr, (91-93)

  • 221          Dynamics, 3 cr, (91-93)

  • 391          Digital Systems and Microprocessors I, 4 cr, (95-97)

  • 392          Digital Systems and Microprocessors II, 3 cr, (95-97)

  • 701          Physical Science 3-4 cr, (01-03)

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