UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Majors & Minors

Physics Plan

Bachelor of Science Degree. Physics.

Please visit the Physics Department to learn more about this program.

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year

PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I-5
MATH 166 Calculus I - 4
General Education CW (ENGL 100) – 3
PHYS xxx First-Year Intro– 1
UNIV 101 - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II - 5
MATH 167 Calculus II - 4
General Education CS (COMS 101) - 3
General Education HW (PE 108) - 1
General Education CA (ENGL 200) - 3

Total semester credits - 16
 

Second Year

MATH 268 Calculus III - 4
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices - 4
PHYS 279 Internship - 1 
PHYS 361 Math. of Physics and Engineering I - 3
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming - 3

Total semester credits - 15

PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Lab - 1
PHYS 264 Modern Physics - 4
PHYS 362 Math. of Phys. and Eng. II - 3
MATH 331 Differential Equations - 3
General Education SB - 3

Total semester credits - 14

Third Year

PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I - 3
General Education HF - 3
General Education SI (not physics) - 3
Upper level physics elective - 4
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 302 Advanced Physics Laboratory II - 3
Upper level physics elective - 3
General Education SB - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3
Univ. Requirement (Diversity) - 3

Total semester credits - 15

Fourth Year

Upper level physics elective - 4
General Education EC - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 485 Capstone - 1
Upper level physics elective - 3
Univ. Requirement (Global) - 3
General Education HF - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3

Total semester credits - 13

Summary of
Degree Requirements

Physics core courses - 26 cr. 
Physics electives in major - 11 cr. required
Required supporting courses - 20 cr.
General Education - 37 cr. 
University Requirements - 9 cr. 

Credits to Degree - 121 cr.

This sample plan illustrates an Option II physics major, which allows more flexibility in taking courses outside physics and math. Many physics majors choose to minor in math to make use of the required supporting courses.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. Advisers and students work closely to meet students’ academic needs and professional goals, optimize course choices and maximize efficiency in completion of degrees. Plans can be adapted for transfer, post-baccalaureate, returning and international students; students who aren’t ready for calculus; and those who’ve already completed an associate’s degree.
 

 

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year

PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I-5
MATH 166 Calculus I - 4
General Education CW (ENGL 100) – 3
PHYS xxx First-Year Intro– 1
UNIV 101 - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II - 5
MATH 167 Calculus II - 4
General Education CS (COMS 101) - 3
General Education HW (PE 108) - 1
General Education CA (ENGL 200) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

Second Year

MATH 268 Calculus III - 4
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices - 4
PHYS 279 Internship - 1 
PHYS 361 Math. of Physics and Engineering I - 3
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming - 3

Total semester credits - 15

PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Lab - 1
PHYS 264 Modern Physics - 4
PHYS 362 Math. of Phys. and Eng. II - 3
MATH 331 Differential Equations - 3
General Education SB - 3

Total semester credits - 14

Third Year

PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I - 3
General Education HF - 3
General Education SI (not physics) - 3
APIE certificate course - 4
Directed Elective - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 302 Advanced Physics Laboratory II - 3
APIE certificate course - 4
General Education SB - 3
Directed Elective - 3
Univ. Requirement (Diversity) - 3

Total semester credits - 15

Fourth Year

PHYS 485 Capstone - 1
APIE certificate course - 4
General Education EC - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 485 Capstone - 1
APIE certificate course - 4
Univ. Requirement (Global) - 3
General Education HF - 3
Elective (major/minor/other) - 3

Total semester credits - 13

Summary of
Degree Requirements

APIE core courses - 37 cr. 
Directed electives in major - 6 cr. required
Required supporting courses - 17 cr.
APIE certificate 14-16 cr.
General Education - 37 cr. 
University Requirements - 9 cr. 

Credits to Degree - 121 cr.
 

The Applied Physics for Industry and Engineering (APIE) major requires the completion of at least one certificate in Mechanical Design, Opto-electronics, Entrepreneurship or Biology.  

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. Advisers and students work closely to meet students’ academic needs and professional goals, optimize course choices and maximize efficiency in completion of degrees. Plans can be adapted for transfer, post-baccalaureate, returning and international students; students who aren’t ready for calculus; and those who’ve already completed an associate’s degree.

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year

PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I-5
MATH 166 Calculus I - 4PHYS xxx First-Year Intro - 1
UNIV 101 - 3
General Education HW (PE 108) - 1

Total semester credits - 14

PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II - 5
MATH 167 Calculus II - 4
General Education CW (ENGL 100) - 3
General Education HF - 3 

Total semester credits - 15
 

Second Year

PHYS 250 Engineering Statics - 3
MATH 268 Calculus III - 4
CHEM 111/116 Chemistry I - 5
PHYS 279 Intro to Internships - 1
General Education SB - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 254 Mechanics of Materials - 3 
PHYS 264 Modern Physics - 4
MATH 256 Linear Algebra - 3
General Education EC – 3
General Education CA (ENGL 200) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

Third Year

PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices - 4
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming - 3
MATH 331 Differential Equations - 3
Univ. Requirement (Diversity) - 3
General Education CS (COMS 101) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 252 Engineering Dynamics - 3
Directed Elective - 3 
Univ. Requirement (Global) - 3
General Education HF - 3
General Education SB - 3

Total semester credits - 15

Fourth Year

Upper-division coursework at engineering school

Total semester credits - 15

Upper-division coursework at engineering school

Total semester credits - 15

Fifth Year

Upper-division coursework at engineering school

Total semester credits - 15

Upper-division coursework at engineering school

Total semester credits - 15

Summary of
Degree Requirements

Physics core courses - 14 cr. 
Directed electives in major - 21 cr. 
Required supporting courses - 26 cr.
General Education - 37 cr. 
University Requirements - 9 cr. 

Thirty or more credits are transferred back to UWRF from the engineering school to complete student’s Applied Physics for Industry & Engineering (APIE) degree. The UWRF APIE degree is awarded upon completion of the engineering degree.
 

Students earn TWO Bachelor’s degrees in the Dual Degree Physics and Engineering program: a B.S. in Applied Physics for Industry & Engineering from UWRF and an ABET-accredited, major-specific B.S. in Engineering from the engineering school. A Dual Degree in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is also available.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. Advisers and students work closely to meet students’ academic needs and professional goals, optimize course choices and maximize efficiency in completion of degrees. Plans can be adapted for transfer, post-baccalaureate, returning and international students; students who aren’t ready for calculus; and those who’ve already completed an associate’s degree.

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year

PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I-5
MATH 166 Calculus I - 4
TED 100 Intro. To Teaching – 3
BIOL 160 Gen. Biology – 4

Total semester credits - 16

PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II - 5
MATH 167 Calculus II - 4
Univ. Requirement (Global) and General Education (SB)  GEOL 250 - 3
General Education CW (ENGL 100) - 3
General Education HW (PE 108) - 1


Total semester credits - 16

Second Year

PHYS 361 or MATH 268 Calculus III - 4
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices - 4
CHEM 111/116 - 5
General Education (SB) TED 250 Ed. Psych. - 3
Univ. Requirement (Diversity) TED 252 - 3

Total semester credits - 18
 

PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Lab - 1
PHYS 264 Modern Physics - 4
PHYS 362 Math. of Phys. and Eng. II - 3
MATH 331 Differential Equations - 3
CHEM 112/117 - 5

Total semester credits - 14

Third Year

PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I - 3
General Education CA (ENGL 200) - 3
General Education SI (BIOL 103 or 240) - 3
GEOL 102 Intro. Geology Lab - 1
General Education (EC) GEOL 269 - 3
General Education HF - 3

Total semester credits - 16

SPED 330 Intro to Special Education - 3
TED 434 Methods for High School Science - 4
TED 462 Content Area Literacy in Science - 3
GEOL 150 - 3
General Education CS (COMS 101) - 3

Total semester credits - 16

Fourth Year

TED 454 Methods for Middle School Science - 4
TED 459  Diverse Learners in Science - 3
ESM 302 Environ. Educ. Lab - 1
PHYS 117 Astronomy - 3
Physics Elective - 4
General Education HF - 3

Total semester credits - 18

TED 472 Student Teaching - 10
TED 421 Student Teaching Seminar - 2

Total semester credits - 12

Summary of
Degree Requirements

General Science Educ. Core courses – 28 cr.
Physics core courses - 25 cr. 
Physics electives in major - 3 cr. 
Required supporting courses - 15 cr.
Professional Education courses – 38 cr.
General Education - 37 cr. 
University Requirements - 9 cr. 
(Note: multiple course count in multiple categories.)

Credits to Degree - 128 cr.
 

This sample plan illustrates a Physics and General Science Education degree for students wishing to teach physical science at the middle or high school level.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. Advisers and students work closely to meet students’ academic needs and professional goals, optimize course choices and maximize efficiency in completion of degrees. Plans can be adapted for transfer, post-baccalaureate, returning and international students; students who aren’t ready for calculus; and those who’ve already completed an associate’s degree.