Physics (AS)
College: College of Natural & Health Sciences
The associate of science degree with a major in physics is designed for students who are interested in acquiring a solid understanding of physics to be able to join the technical workforce in the technical industry. This program specifically embodies the two years of courses needed in preparation for students transferring to UW-Milwaukee’s engineering program. The program consists of 60-68 credits that includes university skills requirements, general education requirements, an ethnic diversity requirement and the program-specific requirements.
Requirements for the A.S. in Physics
To complete this degree program students must complete all required courses and earn a minimum cumulative degree grade point average of 2.00.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Skills Requirements | ||
| English/Writing Skills Course | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading 1 | 3 |
| Computational and Quantitative Skills Courses | ||
| MATH 111 | College Algebra I | 5 |
| Basic Skills Requirements Subtotal | 8 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Humanities and the Arts Courses | ||
| Select four courses from three different departments 3,4 | 12 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Courses | ||
| Select four courses from three different departments 3 | 12 | |
| Natural Sciences Courses | ||
| Select one course not from math (MATH) or physics (PHYS) 3,5 | 2 | |
| General Education Requirements Subtotal | 26 | |
| Ethnic Diversity Course | ||
| Select one course that carries “DV” credit 3,6 | 0-3 | |
| Ethnic Diversity Course Subtotal | 0-3 | |
| Math and Physics Requirements | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 3 | 5 |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 3 | 5 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I 3 | 5 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II 3 | 5 |
| Electives Courses / Required Engineering Major Specific Courses | ||
| Select ten to eighteen credits of the following: 7 | 10-18 | |
| Statics | ||
| Dynamics | ||
| Electrical Circuits I | ||
| Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| Engineering Drawing and Computer Aided Design | ||
| Modern Physics | ||
| Scientific Programming | ||
| Classical Mechanics | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Thermodynamics | ||
| Math and Physics Requirements Subtotal | 30-38 | |
| Total Credits | 64-75 | |
- 1
This course fulfills the university writing skills requirements.
- 2
This course (or a higher-level math course if determined through placement or transfer) fulfills the university computational skills requirements.
- 3
Check the course schedule and work with your advisor to find courses that fulfill your general education and/or ethnic diversity requirements.
- 4
COMM 105 Public Speaking for the 21st Century is highly recommended.
- 5
Required courses fulfill part of this requirement.
- 6
A course that also is a general education course may be used to satisfy this requirement.
- 7
Students seeking the associate of science degree with a major in physics must complete a minimum of 10 credits chosen from the list below. Selection of courses to fulfill these credits should be in consultation with an academic or a faculty advisor.
Students intending to earn the associate of science degree with a major in physics and continue on to a UWM engineering program must complete 15 or more credits depending on their chosen engineering major. Selection of courses to fulfill these credits should be in consultation with an academic or a faculty advisor.
How credits count:
Courses can count for multiple requirements such as a program requirement and a general education requirement but, the credits only count once. Therefore, depending on how many courses are chosen that fulfill both program and general education requirements, students may be required to take additional elective courses (from those not already taken in areas above) to reach the required minimum of 60 credits for an associate degree.
Depth, two-course sequence requirement:
The University of Wisconsin system has a requirement that each associate degree program must contain at least one two-course sequence in which the first course provides the foundation for the second course. There are multiples of sequential courses in this program including but not limited to: MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I & MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II; PHYS 201 General Physics I & PHYS 202 General Physics II or PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics; PHYS 202 General Physics II & PHYS 205 Modern Physics or PHYS 302 Electricity and Magnetism.