Physics Major (BS)
College: College of Natural & Health Sciences
- Students will demonstrate scientifically literate in the foundations of physics, both theoretical and practical
- Students will be able to take data in either a laboratory experiment or computer simulation, analyze and present the data coherently in a written format, and draw from the analysis a convincing conclusion based upon the principles of the scientific method.
- Students will have ave mastered the tools of modern physics, mathematical, computational, and experimental, and developed quantitative, analytic, and critical thinking skills to apply the principles of physical theory to the solution of complex problems.
- Students will be able to communicate in a professional, lucid manner the results and analysis of their own or other research and address questions effectively on the topic of their work in a scientific seminar or report format.
- Student will have mastered mastered the methods of modern scientific exploration at an undergraduate level, engaging in continual self-improvement to prepare fully for postgraduate studies or industrial vocation.
Requirements for the Physics Major
To be eligible for entrance into the physics major students must have successfully completed MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II and PHYS 201 General Physics I, PHYS 202 General Physics II with a grade of C or better in each, or at the discretion of the Department.
At least 15 credits of upper level courses must be completed at UW-Parkside.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College of Natural and Health Sciences requirement | ||
| New entering students, and transfer students with less than 30 college credits, choosing a major in the College of Natural and Health Sciences are required to take this course. | ||
| UWP 101 | First Year Seminar: Natural and Health Sciences | 1 |
| Required Core Courses | ||
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I | 5 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II | 5 |
| PHYS 205 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 241 | Scientific Programming | 3 |
| PHYS 295 | Physics Research Seminar I | 1 |
| PHYS 297 | Physics Research Seminar II | 1 |
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 302 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 303 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 306 | Advanced Experiments in Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 403 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 413 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 441 | Quantum Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 495 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| PHYS 401 | Mathematical Methods of Physics | 3 |
| or MATH 401 | Applied Mathematics | |
| Required Core Courses Subtotal | 48 | |
| Required Support Courses | ||
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 5 |
| MATH 223 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 5 |
| MATH 301 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 317 | Differential Equations and their Applications | 4 |
| Required Support Courses Subtotal | 23 | |
| Total Credits | 71 | |
Students planning graduate work in physics will generally take more than the minimum number of credit hours in physics and additional mathematics courses. Reading proficiency (equivalent to about two years of study at the college level) in one foreign language is also recommended for such students.
General University Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Skills | 7-8 |
| General Education | 36 |
| Foreign Language** | 6-8 |
| Ethnic Diversity | 3 |
| Total | 52-55 |
** Transfer students in sustainable management, and health information management and technology collaborative, online degree-completion programs, the business management online degree-completion program, and the flexible option degree-completion program will be exempt from the university’s foreign language requirement. See appropriate academic section for further information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| Computational Skills | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| College Mathematics with Applications | ||
| College Algebra I | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
Cumulative Degree GPA: 2.0 minimum
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| MATH 102 | Quantitative Reasoning | 4 |
| ENGL 100 | Fundamentals of English | 3 |
| Introductory Language | 4 | |
| COMM 107 | Communication and the Human Condition | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| COMM 105 or COMM 205 |
Public Speaking for the 21st Century or Oral Interpretation |
3 |
| COMM 108 | Media and Society | 3 |
| Introductory Language | 4 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |