Physics Major

Physics Major-Liberal Arts

Physics Core Requirements: 26 credits
The prerequisite courses for all courses required in the physics major must be passed with a grade of C or better.
PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I 5 cr.
PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II 5 cr.
PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Laboratory 1 cr.
PHYS 264 Modern Physics 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 4 cr.
PHYS 485 Seminar (writing intensive) 1 cr.

Required Supporting Courses: 20 credits
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 CIDS 162 Programming II 3 cr.
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 26 credits
Electives in Physics 24 credits
Choose from courses below:

Option II 36 Total Credits
Recommended for students wanting maximum flexibility for study in other areas.
Physics Major Core 26 credits
Electives in Physics 10 credits
Choose from courses below:

Electives in Physics
PHYS 279 Introduction to Internships 1 cr.
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits
or PHYS 313 Digital Electronics 4 cr.
PHYS 318 Astrophysics 3 cr.
PHYS 324 Acoustics 3 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 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 26 credits
Required Courses in Physics 24 credits
PHYS 250 Statics 3 cr.
PHYS 252 Dynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 254 Mechanics of Materials 3 cr.
PHYS 279 Introduction to Internships 1 cr.
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits 4 cr.
PHYS 313 Digital Electronics 4 cr.
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
PHYS 362 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II 3 cr.

Physics Major–Secondary Education

Major Requirements 36 Total Credits

Physics Core Requirements: 26 credits
The prerequisite courses for all courses required in the physics major must be passed with a grade of C or better.
PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I 5 cr.
PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II 5 cr.
PHYS 204 Intermediate Physics Laboratory 1 cr.
PHYS 264 Modern Physics 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 4 cr.
PHYS 485 Seminar (writing intensive) 1 cr.

Required Course: 3 credits
PHYS 331 Curriculum Physics 3 cr.

Electives in Physics 7 credits
As listed for Liberal Arts excluding PHYS 279 and PHYS 379 Internship course.

Broadfield Science Licensure

Physics/Engineering Dual Degree

Dual Degree students earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics (APIE option) from UWRF and an ABET accredited Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from a partner school. This two-degree program typically takes five years. Students must meet GPA requirements for admission to the engineering partner school.

Required Courses in Physics: 14 credits
PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I 5 cr.
PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II 5 cr.
PHYS 264 Modern Physics 4 cr.

Required Supporting Courses: 25 credits
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
MATH 256 Linear Algebra 3 cr.
MATH 268 Calculus III or PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
MATH 331 Differential Equations 3 cr.
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming 3 cr.
CHEM 111 and CHEM 116 General Chemistry I 5 cr.

Directed Electives: Minimum 21 credits
PHYS 204 Intermediate Lab 1 cr.
PHYS 250 Statics 3 cr.
PHYS 252 Dynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 254 Mechanics of Materials 3 cr.
PHYS 279 Introduction to Internships 1 cr.
PHYS 301 Advanced Physics Laboratory I 3 cr.
PHYS 302 Advanced Physics Laboratory II 3 cr.
PHYS 311 Electronics: Circuits and Devices 4 cr.
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits 4 cr.
PHYS 313 Digital Electronics 4 cr.
PHYS 318 Astrophysics 3 cr.
PHYS 324 Acoustics 3 cr.
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
PHYS 362 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II 3 cr.
PHYS 379 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.
MATH 326 Applied Statistics 3 cr.
CIDS 162 Programming II 3 cr.
CHEM 112 and CHEM 117 General Chemistry II 5 cr.
 

Pre-Engineering 68 Total Credits

Required Courses: 55 credits
PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I 5 cr.
PHYS 132 Calculus-Based Physics II 5 cr.
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming 3 cr.
CHEM 111 and CHEM 116 General Chemistry I 5 cr.
CHEM 112 and CHEM 117 General Chemistry II 5 cr.
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
MATH 256 Linear Algebra 3 cr.
MATH 268 Calculus III 3 cr.
MATH 331 Differential Equations 3 cr.
ENGL 100 Academic Reading and Writing 3 cr.
ENGL 200 Investigating Ideas: Reading, Writing and the Disciplines 3 cr.
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr.
ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 cr.
CSTA 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication 3 cr.

Electives depending on final engineering major: 13 credits
Select from MATH, PHYS, CIDS, CHEM, GENG, BIOL, GEOL

Applied Physics for Industry and Engineering

Applied Physics for Industry and Engineering (APIE)
Provides more flexibility for students to tailor their program to fit future careers. Our APIE program maintains the physics core, reduces the required courses from 26 to 17 credits, and adds a requirement to complete a certificate option in at least one of four areas. A second semester of Capstone Design course is added to provide an extensive design experience. The number of required supporting courses increases in lieu of requiring a mathematics minor.

APIE: 55-59 Total Credits
Prepares highly-competitive graduates for industry, graduate school, or starting a business.  APIE provides a solid physics foundation with written and oral professional communication proficiency, and focused skills in at least one of four certificate areas:
Opto-Electronics, Biology, Entrepreneurship, and Mechanics.

Core Requirements - 26 credits

Required Courses 17 credits
PHYS 211 Scientific Programming or CSIS 162 Programming II 3 cr.
PHYS 279  Introduction to Internships 1 cr.
PHYS 361 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I 3 cr.
PHYS 362 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II 3 cr.
PHYS 485 Capstone Design Course * (Second Semester) 1 cr.
Directed Electives ** 6 cr.
* Taken twice with a mid-project presentation at the end of the first semester.
** These electives broaden experience by exploring an additional area of interest or deepen knowledge in one area. Completion of a second certificate is also an option.

Choose one of the following certificate options: 12-16 credits

Opto-Electronics (16)
PHYS 312 Electronics: Linear Integrated Circuits 4 cr.
PHYS 313 Digital Electronics 4 cr.
PHYS 420 Optics 4 cr.
PHYS 442 Electricity & Magnetism 4 cr.

Biology (14)
BIOL 160 General Biology 4 cr.
BIOL 240 Cell and Molecular Biology 3 cr.
BIOL 341 Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr.
BIOL 464 Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine 3 cr.

Entrepreneurship (15)
CIDS 215 Info Systems for Business Management 3 cr.
MARC 200 Intro to Marketing Communications 3 cr.
ACCT 231 Accounting 3 cr.
PSYC 250 Industrial & Organizational Psychology 3 cr.
COMS 318 Communication & Leadership 3 cr.

Mechanics (12)
PHYS 250 Statics 3 cr.
PHYS 252 Dynamics 3 cr.
PHYS 254 Mechanics of Materials 3 cr.
GENG 345 Machine Design 3 cr.

Required Supporting Courses: 20 credits
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
MATH 167 Calculus II 4 cr.
MATH 268 Calculus III 3 cr.
MATH 256 Linear Algebra 3 cr.
MATH 331 Differential Equations 3 cr.
GENG 121 Engineering Drawing 3 cr.