Physics and Physics Education
Major/Minor
Physics is a fundamental science with a goal of determining the laws of nature that underlie the phenomena we observe in the universe and explaining all of the laws of nature. A degree in physics is a good background for a wide range of fields such as medicine, business, engineering, and computer science. In the Bachelor of Science in Physics program, interdisciplinary study options are available in biophysics, geophysics, and computer physics. Students interested in teaching physics at the secondary school level should pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics education.
- All students are involved in a research project during their senior year and may work in research labs as sophomores and juniors. Recent research projects have included: solid state physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, medical physics, and geophysics.
| Bachelor of Science in Physics—Suggested Curriculum |
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Calculus I, II, & III
Physics I, II, III, & Labs
GE History
GE Non-Western Course
Electives
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Reaction Dynamics |
Sophomore
Intro to Modern Physics
GE Human Expression
GE Human Behavior
College Component
Electives
Electives Outside of COSM & CECS
Calculus IV
Differential Equations
Metric Algebra
FORTRAN Programming |
Junior
Analytical Mechanics I & II
Physics Instrumentation I & II
Applied Optics
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Courses (2)
Electives
Electives Outside of COSM & CECS |
Senior
Thermodynamics
Electives
Electives Outside of COSM & CECS
Electricity & Magnetism I, II, & III
Quantum Mechanics
Solid State Physics
Nuclear & Particle Physics
Senior Project |
| Bachelor of Arts in Physics Education Concentration—Suggested Curriculum |
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Calculus I, II, & III
Gen Physics I, II, III, & Labs
GE History
GE Non-Western Course
Electives |
Sophomore
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Reaction Dynamics
Calculus IV
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Physical Geology &
Geomorphology I, II, &
Labs
GE Human Expression
GE Human Behavior
College Component
Electives |
Junior
Human Biology
Cell Biology & Genetics
Biology Diversity & Ecology
Stars, Galaxies, & Cosmos
Intro to Modern Physics
Practicum Experience I & II
Intro to Learning Differences
Intro to Educational Psychology
Schooling in a Pluralistic Society
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Courses (2)
Electives |
Senior
Physics Instrumentation I & II
Analytical Mechanics I & II
Thermodynamics
Integrating Physical Sci &
Mathematics I, II, & III
Electricity & Magnetism
Electives |
What Can I Do With a Degree in...
Discover what some of WSU’s alumni are doing with a degree in:
Physics—research physicist, professor
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