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Physics (B.A., B.S.)

The science of physics seeks understanding of the behavior of matter and energy at the most general and fundamental level. The physicist is trained to explore the physical universe in which people live and seeks interpretations of the natural phenomena found there. While much is known about the physical universe, many phenomena still remain to be investigated, understood, and exploited to the ultimate benefit of humankind. This is the challenge that a modern physicist faces.

Faculty

Professors: Roy C. Chaney, Carl B. Collins, Jr., Austin J. Cunningham, Da Hsuan Feng, Ervin J. Fenyves, Robert Glosser, Roderick A. Heelis, John H. Hoffman, Joseph M. Izen, Francis S. Johnson (Emeritus), Xinchou Lou, Alan J. MacDiarmid, Wolfgang A. Rindler, Brian A. Tinsley, Robert H. Wallace, B. Hobson Wildenthal
Associate Professors: Phillip Anderson, Gregory D. Earle, Yuri Gartstein
Assistant Professors: Peter in het Panhuis
Senior Lecturers: Paul MacAlevey, Bea Rasmussen
Affiliated Faculty: Dale Byrne (Engineering), Cyrus D. Cantrell (Engineering), John Ferraris (Chemistry), Mary Urquhart (Science/Math Ed.)

The Degrees

The student majoring in Physics must meet the general university requirements for admission and for the specific degree the student is seeking. The Physics Program offers both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees.

Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science is intended for students interested in a professional career in physics or closely related fields. Fifty-six hours of physics, eight hours of chemistry and 16 hours of mathematics are included in the 122 credit hours required for the degree.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts program provides an opportunity for a strong base in physics for students wishing to pursue graduate studies (non-physics) in, for example, medicine, business administration, biophysics, oceanography, and patent or high technology law. Additionally, students seeking certification as high school teachers with physics as a major specialization and those seeking employment in industry, government service, and computer technology have the opportunity to obtain the necessary physics background through this program. The lower-division course requirements for the B.A. degree are the same as those for the B.S. degree. At the upper-division level, 26 hours of physics and 15 hours of science electives are required, making a total of 122 credit hours.

Graduate Studies Track

The recommended course of study toward a Bachelor of Science degree for those students who intend to pursue graduate studies in Physics begins with a two semester Honors sequence of fundamentals of physics that gives the student a more extensive foundation in basic physics. The remainder of the program is the same as the regular B.S. program. A total of 122 credit hours is required.

Algebra Based Physics

An algebra based general physics course (PHYS 1301, 1302) with lab (PHYS 1101, 1102) is offered for students interested in the health sciences and those curious about the physical world in which we live. It stresses understanding the workings of nature and the physical processes and phenomena occurring therein.

Minor in Physics (20 hours)

A minor is offered that consists of PHYS 2325/2125 and 2326/2126, 3311, 3352 and two other upper-division physics courses.

Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master’s Degrees

For students interested in pursuing graduate studies in physics, the Physics Department offers an accelerated B.S./M.S. Fast Track that involves taking graduate courses in lieu of several advanced undergraduate courses. Acceptance into the Fast Track is based on the student’s attaining a GPA of at least 3.0 on a minimum of 30 hours of upper division courses that include PHYS 3311, 3312, 3416, 3330 and 3352. Eligible students may take up to 15 credit hours of selected graduate courses that may be used to complete the baccalaureate degree and also satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. These credits will partially satisfy the M.S. degree requirements when the student completes the B.S. degree. Interested students should contact their advisor during their junior year to apply to the Fast Track program.

Bachelor of Arts in Physics
Degree Requirements (122 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
        6 hours Calculus (MATH 2417 and 2419)³
    E. Science (9 hours)
        8 hours Chemistry (CHEM 1311, 1111, 1312, 1112)³
        1 hour Physics (PHYS 11002125)³

¹ Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 62 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (21 hours)
        MATH 2417 Calculus I²
        MATH 2419 Calculus II²
        MATH 2420 Differential Equations with Applications*
        MATH 2451 Multivariable Calculus with Applications*
        PHYS 1100 Fun of Physics
        PHYS 2303 Contemporary Physics*
        PHYS 2325/2125 Mechanics and Heat with Recitation/Laboratory*
        PHYS 2326/2126 Electromagnetism and Waves with Recitation/Laboratory*
    Major Core Courses (26 hours)
        PHYS 3125 Electronics Lab
        PHYS 3311 Theoretical Physics
        PHYS 3312 Classical Mechanics
        PHYS 3325 Electronics
        PHYS 3330 Numerical Methods in Physics and Computational Techniques
        PHYS 3352 Modern Physics I
        PHYS 3416 Electricity and Magnetism
        PHYS 4311 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
        PHYS 4373 Physical Measurements Laboratory
    Major Related Courses (15 hours)
        15 hours Science Electives
    Advanced Writing
        PHYS 4399 Senior Honors in Physics
            or NATS 4310 Advanced Writing in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics
            or Summer Research Project or COOP program with written final report

² Two hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory credit; six hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
³ Required preparatory coursework.
⁴ Counted in Core Curriculum
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.

III. Elective Requirements: 18 hours
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
        All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major
        field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that
        have prerequisites.
    Free Electives (12 hours)
        Both lower- and upper-division courses may count as electives, but the student must
        complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.
    Physics Electives
        PHYS 3324 Scientific Computing
        PHYS 3380 Astronomy
        PHYS 43021 Quantum Mechanics II
        PHYS 4318 Particle Physics
        PHYS 4352 Modern Physics II
        PHYS 4371 Solid State Physics
        PHYS 4372 Solid State Devices
        PHYS 4381 Space Science
        PHYS 4383 Plasma Physics
        PHYS 4384 Astrophotography
    Other Courses
        PHYS 1101 College Physics Laboratory I
        PHYS 1102 College Physics Laboratory II
        PHYS 1301 College Physics I with Laboratory
        PHYS 1302 College Physics II with Laboratory
        PHYS 3341 Physics for Bio Science I
        PHYS 3342 Physics for Bio Science II

Bachelor of Science in Physics
Degree Requirements (122 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
        6 hours Calculus (MATH 2417 and 2419)³
    E. Science (9 hours)
        8 hours Chemistry (CHEM 1311, 1111, 1312, 1112)³
        1 hour Physics PHYS 11002125)³

1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 62 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (21 hours)
        MATH 2417 Calculus I²
        MATH 2419 Calculus II²
        MATH 2420 Differential Equations with Applications*
        MATH 2451 Multivariable Calculus with Applications*
        PHYS 1100 Fun of Physics
        PHYS 2303 Contemporary Physics*
        PHYS 2325/2125 Mechanics and Heat with Recitation/Laboratory*
        PHYS 2326/2126 Electromagnetism and Waves with Recitation/Laboratory*
    Major Core Courses (26 hours)
        PHYS 3125 Electronics Laboratory
        PHYS 3311 Theoretical Physics
        PHYS 3312 Classical Mechanics
        PHYS 3325 Electronics
        PHYS 3330 Numerical Methods in Physics and Computational Techniques
        PHYS 3352 Modern Physics I
        PHYS 3416 Electricity and Magnetism
        PHYS 4311 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
        PHYS 4373 Physical Measurements Laboratory
    Major Related Courses (15 hours)
        PHYS 4301 Quantum Mechanics I
        PHYS 4328 Optics
        PHYS 4352 Modern Physics II
    6 hours Physics Electives
    Advanced Writing (fulfills 3 hours of Core Communications requirement)
        PHYS 4399 Senior Honors in Physics
            or NATS 4310 Advanced Writing in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics
            or Summer Research Project or COOP program with written final report

² Two hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory credit; six hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
³ Required preparatory coursework.
⁴ Counted in Core Curriculum
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.

III. Elective Requirements: 18 hours
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
        All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major
        field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that
        have prerequisites.
    Free Electives (12 hours)
        Both lower- and upper-division courses may count as electives, but the student must
        complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.
    Physics Electives
        PHYS 3324 Scientific Computing
        PHYS 3380 Astronomy
        PHYS 4302 Quantum Mechanics II
        PHYS 4318 Particle Physics
        PHYS 4371 Solid State Physics
        PHYS 4372 Solid State Devices
        PHYS 4381 Space Science
        PHYS 4383 Plasma Physics
        PHYS 4384 Astrophotography
        PHYS 4V07 Senior Projects Laboratory
    Other Courses
        PHYS 1101 College Physics Laboratory I
        PHYS 1102 College Physics Laboratory II
        PHYS 1301 College Physics I
        PHYS 1302 College Physics II
        PHYS 3341 Physics for Bio Science I
        PHYS 3342 Physics for Bio Science II

The University of Texas at Dallas 2004-2006 Undergraduate Catalog
Volume 30, Number 1
Copyright © The University of Texas at Dallas

This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and The University of Texas at Dallas or The University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Dallas reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled.

Statement on Equal Educational Opportunity
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and veteran status. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is also prohibited pursuant to University policy.