Physics (PHYS)
Department of Physics
College of Arts and Sciences

125 Centennial Science Hall
(715) 425-3235
www.uwrf.edu/physics/

James Madsen-Chair, Earl Blodgett, Eileen Korenic, Lowell McCann, and Glenn Spiczak

General Education Requirements

BA and BS Liberal Arts majors as listed on pages 22-23.
BS Education majors as listed on pages 31-32.

Physics Major–Liberal Arts

Physics Core Requirements: 25 cr. hrs.
The prerequisite courses for all courses required in the physics major must be passed with a grade of C or better
PHYS 101 General Physics Laboratory I 1 cr.
PHYS 102 General Physics Laboratory II 1 cr.
PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Laboratory 1 cr.
PHYS 161 General Physics I 4 cr.
PHYS 162 General Physics II 4 cr.
PHYS 264 General Physics III 4 cr.
PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I (writing intensive) 3 cr.
PHYS 302 Advanced Physics Laboratory II (writing intensive) 3 cr.
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices 3 cr.
PHYS 485 Seminar (writing intensive) 1 cr.
Required Supporting Courses: 20 cr. hrs.
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
MATH 331 Differential Equations 3 cr.
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming 3 cr.
or CSIS 162 Programming II
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
PHYS 362 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II 3 cr.

Option I 50 Total Credits
Recommended as preparation for graduate studies in physics or for industrial research.
Physics Major Core 25 cr. hrs.
Directed Electives in Physics 25 cr. hrs.
Choose from courses below:

Option II 36 Total Credits
Recommended for students wanting maximum flexibility for study in other areas
Physics Major Core 25 cr. hrs.
Directed Electives in Physics 11 cr. hrs.
Choose from courses below:

Directed Electives in Physics
PHYS 279 Cooperative Education and Internship 1 cr.
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits 3 cr.
or PHYS 313 Electronics: Digital Circuit Theory and Applications
PHYS 318 Astrophysics 3 cr.
PHYS 321 Physical Acoustics I 2 cr.
PHYS 322 Physical Acoustics II 2 cr.
PHYS 379 Cooperative Education and Internship 3 cr.
PHYS 415 Thermodynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 420 Optics 4 cr.
PHYS 426 Nuclear and Particle Physics 4 cr.
PHYS 427 Condensed Matter Physics 4 cr.
PHYS 441 Classical Mechanics 4 cr.
PHYS 442 Electricity and Magnetism 4 cr.
PHYS 465 Quantum Mechanics 3 cr.

Applied Option 49-50 Total Credits
Recommended as preparation for a career in an industrial or government laboratory, or for graduate study in Applied Physics, Electronics, Engineering Physics, and Geophysics.
Core Requirements 25 cr. hrs.
Required Courses in Physics 21 cr. hrs.
PHYS 250 Statics 3 cr.
PHYS 252 Dynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 254 Deformable Body Mechanics 3 cr.
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits 3 cr.
PHYS 313 Electronics: Digital Circuit Theory and Applications 3 cr.
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
PHYS 362 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II 3 cr.
Directed Electives 3-4 cr. hrs.
Choose an internship 3 cr.
or advanced courses of an applied nature elected from Physics, Chemistry, or Geology.

Physics Major–Secondary Education

Major Requirements 36 Total Credits
Core Requirements: 25 cr. hrs.
Required Course: 3 cr. hrs.
PHYS 331 Curriculum Physics 3
Directed Electives in Physics 8 cr. hrs.
As listed for Liberal Arts excluding PHYS 279 and 379 Internship course

Physics Major–Dual Degree

This major is awarded jointly with a B.S. in engineering after the student has successfully completed a three-year program at UW-River Falls with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and a two-year program at either UW-Madison or the University of Minnesota.

General Education requirements

As listed for Liberal Arts excluding PHYS 279 and 379 Internship courses

Required Courses in Physics at UW-River Falls: 10 cr. hrs.
PHYS 101 General Physics Laboratory I (meets Gen Ed req) 1 cr.
PHYS 102 General Physics Laboratory II 1 cr.
PHYS 161 General Physics I (meets Gen Ed req) 4 cr.
PHYS 162 General Physics II 4 cr.
Directed Electives: 20 cr. hrs.
PHYS 250 Statics 3 cr.
PHYS 252 Dynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 254 Deformable Body Mechanics 3 cr.
PHYS 264 General Physics III 4 cr.
PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I 3 cr.
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices 3 cr.
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
PHYS 362 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II 3 cr.
MATH 326 Applied Statistics 3 cr.
MATH 346 Numerical Analysis I 3 cr.
Credits Transferred from Engineering School 20 cr. hrs.
Required Supporting Courses: 30 cr. hrs.
MATH 166 Calculus I (meets Gen Ed req) 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
MATH 256 Linear Algebra 3 cr.
MATH 266 Calculus III 3 cr.
MATH 331 Differential Equations 3 cr.
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming 3 cr.
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 5 cr.
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II 5 cr.

Minor in Physics–Liberal Arts or Education

Physics Minor Requirements 24 Total Credits
Required Courses 14 cr. hrs.
PHYS 101 General Physics Laboratory I 1 cr.
PHYS 102 General Physics Laboratory II 1 cr.
PHYS 161 General Physics I 4 cr.
PHYS 162 General Physics II 4 cr.
PHYS 264 General Physics III 4 cr.
Directed Electives for Both Minors: 10 cr. hrs.
PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Laboratory (writing intensive) 1 cr.
PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I (writing intensive) 3 cr.
PHYS 302 Advanced Physics Laboratory II (writing intensive) 3 cr.
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices 3 cr.
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits 3 cr.
or PHYS 313 Electronics: Digital Circuit Theory and Applications
PHYS 318 Astrophysics 3 cr.
PHYS 321 Physical Acoustics I 2 cr.
PHYS 322 Physical Acoustics II 2 cr.
PHYS 415 Thermodynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 420 Optics 4 cr.
PHYS 426 Nuclear and Particle Physics 4 cr.
PHYS 427 Condensed Matter Physics 4 cr.
PHYS 441 Classical Mechanics 4 cr.
PHYS 442 Electricity and Magnetism 4 cr.
PHYS 465 Quantum Mechanics 3 cr.
Additional Choice for Directed Elective for Secondary Education Minor:
PHYS 331 Curriculum Physics 3 cr.
Required Supporting Courses 11 cr. hrs.
(may be taken under Gen Ed or under Major)
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
or MATH 266 Calculus III

Pre-Engineering

Pre-Engineering 68 Total Credits
Required Courses: 55 cr. hrs.
PHYS 101 General Physics Laboratory I 1 cr.
PHYS 102 General Physics Laboratory II 1 cr.
PHYS 161 General Physics I 4 cr.
PHYS 162 General Physics II 4 cr.
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming 3 cr.
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 5 cr.
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II 5 cr.
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
MATH 256 Linear Algebra 3 cr.
MATH 266 Calculus III 3 cr.
MATH 331 Differential Equations 3 cr.
ENGL 111 Freshman English I 3 cr.
ENGL 112 Freshman English II 3 cr.
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr.
ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 cr.
SCTA 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication 3 cr.
Electives depending on final engineering major: 13 cr. hrs.
Select from MATH, PHYS, CSIS, CHEM, GENG, BIOL, GEOL

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