Physics Major (BS)
The bachelor of science degree with a major in physics opens the way to students for a wide variety of careers in physical science and engineering as well as preparing those interested for continued education in graduate school.
- 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
At least 15 credits of upper-level courses must be completed at UW-Parkside.
At least 15 credits of upper-level courses in the major must be completed at UW-Parkside. Physics majors must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 in all courses required for the major, including math. The following courses are required of all physics majors. Students are expected to pay attention to required prerequisites and then follow the additional requirements associated with their specific concentration. Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Introductory Physics Courses | ||
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I | 5 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II | 5 |
| Required Introductory Physics Courses Subtotal | 10 | |
| Required Physics Courses | ||
| PHYS 205 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 241 | Scientific Programming | 3 |
| PHYS 295 | Research Seminar I | 1 |
| PHYS 297 | Research Seminar II | 1 |
| PHYS 302 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 306 | Advanced Experiments in Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 403 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 441 | Quantum Physics | 4 |
| Required Physics Courses Subtotal | 22 | |
| Required Courses in Mathematics | ||
| 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 Courses in Mathematics Subtotal | 23 | |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| PHYS 495 | Senior Seminar | 1-2 |
| or PHYS 497 | Senior Thesis | |
| Concentration Options (choose one) | 13-27 | |
| Total Credits | 69-84 | |
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.
Concentration Options
General Physics Concentration
The general physics concentration provides advanced theoretical and computational experience compared to the engineering concentration and is best suited to students continuing in graduate school or physics-focused careers.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Physics Courses | ||
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 303 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 401 | Mathematical Methods of Physics | 3 |
| or MATH 401 | Applied Mathematics | |
| PHYS 413 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Engineering Concentration
The engineering concentration provides students with design and engineering-focused courses to prepare for graduate school in engineering or entry into general engineering careers.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Chemistry Courses | ||
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| Required Design Courses | ||
| ART 104 | Introduction to Digital Art | 3 |
| Select one option: | 3 | |
| CAD I - Sketchup and CAD I - AutoCAD and CAD I - Vectorworks | ||
| Engineering Drawing and Computer Aided Design | ||
| DFAB 270 | Digital Fabrication I | 3 |
| Required Design Courses Subtotal | 14 | |
| Required Pre-Engineering Courses | ||
| PENG 211 | Statics | 3 |
| PENG 212 | Dynamics | 3 |
| PENG 214 | Electrical Circuits I | 3 |
| PENG 215 | Materials Science and Engineering | 4 |
| Required Pre-Engineering Courses Subtotal | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements.
- Complete 120 credits of college work. This must include 36 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Certain elementary courses are identified in the catalog and/or course schedule as not counting toward the 120 credits required for graduation. In addition, only the first 8 credits of physical education activity courses (100-level) may be counted toward graduation or grade point averages (GPA).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits toward their undergraduate degree at UW-Parkside. Individual departments and programs may require that certain courses must be taken at UW-Parkside. Students must complete all course work to be counted toward graduation by the end of the semester/subscription period in which they graduate.
- Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Some programs have higher GPA requirements. Transfer students must also have a cumulative 2.00 GPA on the combination of transfer credits accepted and credits attempted at UW-Parkside.
- Complete an approved major program of study with the minimum major GPA as specified by the program or department. Usually, the minimum GPA is 2.00 on a 4.00 scale, but some majors require a higher GPA. Students who apply transfer credits to their majors must also meet the minimum major GPA requirement on the combination of transfer credits and UW-Parkside credits. At least 15 credits of upper level course work (courses numbered 300 or higher) must be completed at UW-Parkside. A student may not graduate with an incomplete grade in major course work if failure in that course would reduce the GPA in the major below the minimum GPA.
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Core General Education | 35 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
See the undergraduate policy section for more specific information about Core General Education Requirements. A list of approved courses is available in the General Education program section of the catalog.