Physics - Undergraduate Programs
Academic Advising: 107 Life Science Building • 817.272.9685
Degree Programs
The Department of Physics offers five Bachelor of Science degree programs, a Bachelor of Arts degree program, and a Bachelor of Science in Physics/Master's in Materials Science and Engineering Fast Track Program.
The Bachelor of Science degree programs include one which prepares students for careers in science and technology, another for medical school preparation, and a third for students wanting to minor in an Engineering discipline. When combined with the required UTeach education courses, the Bachelor of Science program is also appropriate for students who are interested in becoming schoolteachers.* The Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics is intended for students who seek a broader education while retaining a firm foundation in Physics. The Bachelor of Science degree in Physics/Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering Fast Track Program enables outstanding senior undergraduate students in Physics to satisfy degree requirements leading to a Bachelor's degree in Physics while simultaneously pursuing a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering.
Students considering a Physics major should schedule an appointment with the undergraduate advisor in Physics to discuss their degree and career options. Physics majors are encouraged to participate in research projects under faculty guidance for course credit or financial reward. In this way, undergraduate students have the choice of gaining hands-on experience from a variety of research disciplines, including astrophysics, biophysics, computational physics, high energy physics, medical physics, optics, space physics, and theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics.
The faculty of the Physics Department encourages qualified students to participate in the university’s Honors College. Scholarships may be offered every year to new students majoring in Physics.
- *
Students desiring certification for teaching at the secondary level must fulfill specific requirements for the appropriate Physics B.S. Teacher Certification degree.
Second Major in Physics
Students who satisfy the requirements for any other baccalaureate degree qualify to have Physics named as a second major upon completion of the following courses:
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
Teacher Certification
Students who are interested in earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics with Secondary Teacher Certification should refer to the Bachelor of Science in Physics with Physical Science Teacher Certification and the Bachelor of Science in Physics with Physics/Mathematics Teacher Certification degree plans for requirements. Teacher certification is offered through the UTeach program.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Physics
This program provides students with a rigorous training in Physics, which is designed to prepare for a career in science, technology, and/or engineering research.
The University Core Curriculum consists of 42 credit hours from University Core Curriculum.
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 2321 | WORLD HISTORY TO 1400 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | ||
| DATA 3401 | PYTHON FOR DATA SCIENCE 1 | 4 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| CHEM 1441 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 4 |
| CHEM 1442 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 4 |
| courses for majors offered in the departments of Biology and/or Earth and Environmental Sciences | 6 | |
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| or MATH 3318 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| MATH 4000-level elective | 3 | |
| Students may obtain a Mathematics minor by consulting with the undergraduate advisor for the Department of Mathematics to discuss additional requirements. | ||
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4319 | ADVANCED MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4324 | ADVANCED ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 14 | |
| General Electives | 10 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree. | ||
| Total Hours | 123 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Typical Course Sequence
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor, particularly since many courses in Physics are not offered every semester. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1443 | 4 | PHYS 1444 | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3313 | 3 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 3183 | 1 |
| MATH 3319 or 3318 | 3 | BIOL or GEOL course for majors | 3 |
| Creative Arts* | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 |
| CHEM 1441 | 4 | CHEM 1442 | 4 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | PHYS 4324 | 3 |
| approved PHYS elective | 4 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| Data Science Course (DATA 3401 or CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 4 | MATH 4000-level elective | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | PHYS 4319 | 3 |
| approved PHYS course | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 3 |
| BIOL or GEOL course for majors | 3 | Foundational Component Area* | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Electives | 4 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Physics with Engineering Emphasis
This program allows students to augment a rigorous training in Physics with the choice of a minor in a suitable engineering discipline, thus combining a theoretical understanding of the basic physical theories with a practical, more detailed understanding given in the College of Engineering. Such a combination would be a bonus for employment in the engineering-type professions often chosen by Physics majors.
The University Core Curriculum consists of 42 credit hours from University Core Curriculum.
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | ||
| DATA 3401 | PYTHON FOR DATA SCIENCE 1 | 4 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| CHEM 1441 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 4 |
| course for majors in the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, or Earth and Environmental Sciences | 4 | |
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| or MATH 3318 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| ENGINEERING MINOR: 18 or more hours as required by the appropriate Engineering department | 18 | |
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4324 | ADVANCED ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 12 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree. | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Typical Course Sequence
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor as well as the undergraduate advisor in the appropriate Engineering department. Many courses in Physics are not offered every semester, and Engineering coursework and sequences are determined by individual departments in the College of Engineering. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1443 | 4 | PHYS 1444 | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3313 | 3 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 3183 | 1 |
| MATH 3319 or 3318 | 3 | Engineering minor course** | 3 |
| Engineering minor course** | 3 | BIOL, CHEM, or GEOL course for majors | 4 |
| CHEM 1441 | 4 | Creative Arts* | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | PHYS 4324 | 3 |
| approved PHYS elective | 4 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| Engineering minor course** | 3 | Engineering minor course** | 3 |
| Data Science Course (DATA 3401 or CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 3-4 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 |
| 16-17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| Engineering minor course** | 3 | Engineering minor course** | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 | Foundational Component Area* | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective(s) | 3-4 |
| 15 | 14-15 | ||
| Total Hours: 119-121 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
- **
Actual number of courses/hours and course sequence determined by appropriate Engineering department.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Physics with Medical School Preparation
This program offers the broad background in fundamental science and strong problem-solving ability of a Physics degree as well as specific Biology and Chemistry medical school requirements. The combination of skills developed in this program is designed to provide the intellectual foundation necessary for excellence in research and the practice of medicine.
The University Core Curriculum consists of 42 credit hours from University Core Curriculum.
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | 3 | |
| DATA 3401 | PYTHON FOR DATA SCIENCE 1 | 4 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| CHEM 1441 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 4 |
| CHEM 1442 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 4 |
| CHEM 2321 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| CHEM 2181 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 1 |
| CHEM 2322 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II | 3 |
| CHEM 2182 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 1 |
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| or MATH 3318 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| BIOLOGY MINOR | ||
| BIOL 1441 | BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS: CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 1442 | BIOLOGY II FOR SCIENCE MAJORS: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | 4 |
| BIOL electives to give the total of 18 hours, 6 hours of which must be advanced (3000/4000-level) | 10 | |
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| or PHYS 4319 | ADVANCED MECHANICS | |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 11 | |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree. | ||
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Typical Course Sequence
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor, particularly since many courses in Physics are not offered every semester. Consultation with the Health Professions advisor is also encouraged. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1443 | 4 | PHYS 1444 | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| CHEM 1441 | 4 | CHEM 1442 | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 3319 or 3318 | 3 | BIOL 1441 | 4 |
| CHEM 2321 | 3 | CHEM 2322 | 3 |
| CHEM 2181 | 1 | CHEM 2182 | 1 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| 13 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3313 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| PHYS 3183 | 1 | approved PHYS elective | 3 |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | BIOL minor course** | 3 |
| BIOL 1442 | 4 | Data Science Course (DATA 3401 or CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 3-4 |
| BIOL minor course** | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 |
| 14 | 16-17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| BIOL minor course** | 4 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | Creative Arts* | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 | Foundational Component Area* | 3 |
| General Elective | 2-3 | ||
| 16 | 16-17 | ||
| Total Hours: 119-121 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
- **
Coursework for Biology minor should be chosen in consultation with a Biology undergraduate advisor.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Physics
This program is intended for students who seek a broader education while retaining a firm foundation in Physics.
The University Core Curriculum consists of 42 credit hours from University Core Curriculum.
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | 3 | |
| CSE 1311 | INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| courses for majors in the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and/or Earth and Environmental Sciences | 8 | |
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| or MATH 3318 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| Modern and Classical Languages | 4 | |
| MINOR: 18 or more hours as required by the appropriate department | 18 | |
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 11 | |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree. | ||
| Total Hours | 123 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor, particularly since many courses in Physics are not offered every semester. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS ICALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | PHYS 1443 | 4 |
| BIOL, CHEM, or GEOL course for majors | 4 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1444 | 4 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 3313 | 3 |
| MATH 3319 or 3318 | 3 | PHYS 3183 | 1 |
| minor course** | 3 | BIOL, CHEM, or GEOL course for majors | 4 |
| Creative Arts* | 3 | minor course** | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| approved PHYS elective | 4 | minor course** | 3 |
| minor course** | 3 | Computer Science course (CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 3 |
| Modern/Classical Language | 4 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 3 |
| minor course** | 3 | minor course** | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 | Foundation Component Area* | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective(s) | 4 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
- **
Actual number of courses/hours and course sequence determined by appropriate department.
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | 3 | |
| CSE 1311 | INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by UTeach advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| CHEMISTRY MINOR | ||
| CHEM 1441 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 4 |
| CHEM 1442 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 4 |
| CHEM 2335 | QUANTITATIVE CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| CHEM 2285 | QUANTITATIVE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 2 |
| CHEM 3315 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| CHEM 3321 | PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| CHEM 3181 | PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 1 |
| TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (UTEACH) | ||
| SCIE 1201 | STEP 1: INQUIRY APPROACHES TO TEACHING | 2 |
| SCIE 1202 | STEP 2: INQUIRY-BASED LESSON DESIGN | 2 |
| SCIE 4107 | CAPSTONE TEACHING EXPERIENCE SEMINAR | 1 |
| SCIE 4607 | CAPSTONE TEACHING EXPERIENCE FOR STEM SECONDARY GRADES | 6 |
| EDUC 4331 | KNOWING AND LEARNING IN MATH AND SCIENCE | 3 |
| EDUC 4332 | CLASSROOM INTERACTIONS | 3 |
| EDUC 4333 | MULTIPLE TEACHING PRACTICES IN MATH AND SCIENCE | 3 |
| PHIL 2314 | PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS | 3 |
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4319 | ADVANCED MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4391 | SPECIAL TOPICS (Research Methods) | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by UTeach advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 6 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree. | ||
| Total Hours | 130 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor, particularly since many courses in Physics are not offered every semester. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS ICALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | PHYS 1443 | 4 |
| CHEM 1441 | 4 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| SCIE 1201 | 2 | SCIE 1202 | 2 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1444 | 4 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 3313 | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | 3 | PHYS 3183 | 1 |
| CHEM 1442 | 4 | CHEM 2335 | 3 |
| EDUC 4331 | 3 | CHEM 2285 | 2 |
| EDUC 4332 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | PHYS 4391 (Research Methods) | 3 |
| CHEM 3315 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 3 |
| Computer Science course (CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 3 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | Creative Arts* | 3 |
| PHIL 2314 | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | PHYS 4319 | 3 |
| approved PHYS elective | 3 | Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 |
| CHEM 3321 | 3 | Foundational Component Area* | 3 |
| CHEM 3181 | 1 | SCIE 4107 | 1 |
| EDUC 4333 | 3 | SCIE 4607 | 6 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Total Hours: 127 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | 3 | |
| CSE 1311 | INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by UTeach advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| CHEM 1441 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 4 |
| CHEM 1442 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 4 |
| MATHEMATICS MINOR | ||
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 2330 | FUNCTIONS AND MODELING | 3 |
| MATH 3300 | INTRODUCTION TO PROOFS | 3 |
| MATH 3301 | FOUNDATIONS OF GEOMETRY | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 3321 | ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I | 3 |
| TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (UTEACH) | ||
| SCIE 1201 | STEP 1: INQUIRY APPROACHES TO TEACHING | 2 |
| SCIE 1202 | STEP 2: INQUIRY-BASED LESSON DESIGN | 2 |
| SCIE 4107 | CAPSTONE TEACHING EXPERIENCE SEMINAR | 1 |
| SCIE 4607 | CAPSTONE TEACHING EXPERIENCE FOR STEM SECONDARY GRADES | 6 |
| EDUC 4331 | KNOWING AND LEARNING IN MATH AND SCIENCE | 3 |
| EDUC 4332 | CLASSROOM INTERACTIONS | 3 |
| EDUC 4333 | MULTIPLE TEACHING PRACTICES IN MATH AND SCIENCE | 3 |
| PHIL 2314 | PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS | 3 |
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4319 | ADVANCED MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4391 | SPECIAL TOPICS (Research Methods) | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by UTeach advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 6 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree. | ||
| Total Hours | 130 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor, particularly since many courses in Physics are not offered every semester. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS ICALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | PHYS 1443 | 4 |
| CHEM 1441 | 4 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| SCIE 1201 | 2 | SCIE 1202 | 2 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1444 | 4 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 3313 | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | 3 | PHYS 3183 | 1 |
| CHEM 1442 | 4 | MATH 3300 | 3 |
| EDUC 4331 | 3 | MATH 3301 | 3 |
| EDUC 4332 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | PHYS 4391 (Research Methods) | 3 |
| approved PHYS elective | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 3 |
| MATH 2330 | 3 | POLS 2311 | 3 |
| Computer Science course (CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 3 | Creative Arts* | 3 |
| PHIL 2314 | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | PHYS 4319 | 3 |
| MATH 3321 | 3 | Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | 3 | Foundational Component Area* | 3 |
| EDUC 4333 | 3 | SCIE 4107 | 1 |
| SCIE 4607 | 6 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Total Hours: 127 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
| FOUNDATION COURSES – Required for Admission into the Fast Track Program | ||
| MSE 3300 | INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| RECOMMENDED CORE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| Creative Arts * | 3 | |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture * | 3 | |
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| MATH 1426 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 2425 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Science * | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| Foundational Component Area * | 3 | |
| PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Communication Competence - satisfied by PHYS 4117 | ||
| Computer Use Competence - satisfied by Computer Science requirement for major | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COURSES | ||
| Select one of the following for Computer Science requirement: | 3 | |
| CSE 1311 | INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
or higher-numbered CSE course | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS | ||
| NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
or other suitable course approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | ||
| CHEM 1441 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 4 |
| CHEM 1442 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 4 |
| course for majors offered in the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, or Earth and Environmental Sciences | 4 | |
| MATH 2326 | CALCULUS III | 3 |
| MATH 3319 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| or MATH 3318 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| MSE 3300 | INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING | 3 |
| MSE graduate or advanced (3000/4000-level) courses approved by MSE graduate advisor | 9 | |
| MAJOR | ||
| PHYS 2311 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3183 | MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 3321 | INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | 3 |
| PHYS 3445 | OPTICS | 4 |
| PHYS 4117 | INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BY SEMINAR | 1 |
| PHYS 4315 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 4326 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 12 | |
| General Electives | 8 | |
| 36 hours of coursework must be advanced (3000/4000-level) to earn degree; up to 9 hours can be graduate-level (only for approved MSE coursework). | ||
| Total Hours | 123 | |
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
Details of a personal course sequence should be made with the guidance of the Physics undergraduate advisor, particularly since many courses in Physics are not offered every semester. For all entering freshmen, it is important to begin the mathematics sequence, starting with MATH 1426 CALCULUS ICALCULUS I, in the first semester.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 1426 | 4 | PHYS 1443 | 4 |
| CHEM 1441 | 4 | MATH 2425 | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | CHEM 1442 | 4 |
| HIST 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 1444 | 4 | PHYS 2311 | 3 |
| MATH 2326 | 3 | PHYS 3313 | 3 |
| MATH 3319 or 3318 | 3 | PHYS 3183 | 1 |
| MSE 3300 | 3 | BIOL, CHEM, or GEOL course for majors | 4 |
| Creative Arts* | 3 | Language, Philosophy and Culture* | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 3321 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| PHYS 3445 | 4 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| Computer Science course (CSE 1311 or higher-numbered CSE course, PHYS 2321, or MATH 3345) | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science* | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 4315 | 3 | PHYS 4117 | 1 |
| PHYS 4326 | 3 | approved PHYS elective | 4 |
| approved MSE course** | 3 | approved MSE course** | 3 |
| approved MSE course** | 3 | Foundational Component Area* | 3 |
| General Elective(s) | 4 | General Elective(s) | 4 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
- *
See General Core Requirements for approved courses.
- **
Actual courses and course sequence determined by Materials Science and Engineering Department.
Minor in Physics
A minimum total of 18 credit hours (including a minimum of 6 hours at the 3000/4000 level) are required. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 9 hours at UTA, 6 of which must be 3000/4000-level. A 2.0 GPA is required for coursework in the minor.
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| PHYS 3313 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS electives approved by Physics undergraduate advisor and/or Chair of the Department of Physics | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Minor in Astronomy for Non-Physics Majors
A minimum total of 18 credit hours (including a minimum of 6 hours at the 3000/4000 level) are required. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 9 hours at UTA, 6 of which must be 3000/4000-level. A 2.0 GPA is required for coursework in the minor.
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| PHYS 1441 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1442 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II | 4 |
| PHYS 2315 | INTRODUCTORY ASTROPHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3315 | ASTROPHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY | 3 |
| PHYS 3316 | ASTROBIOLOGY I | 3 |
| Elective Courses - choose from the following (approval from the Physics undergraduate advisor is required): | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Minor in Astrophysics for Non-Physics Majors
A minimum total of 18 credit hours (including a minimum of 6 hours at the 3000/4000 level) are required. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 9 hours at UTA, 6 of which must be 3000/4000-level. A 2.0 GPA is required for coursework in the minor.
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| PHYS 1443 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHYS 1444 | GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| PHYS 2315 | INTRODUCTORY ASTROPHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3315 | ASTROPHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY | 3 |
| Elective Courses - choose from the following: | 4 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS | ||
| ASTROBIOLOGY I | ||
| OPTICS | ||
| NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS | ||
| Approval from the Physics undergraduate advisor is required for Special Problems and Special Topics courses. | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |