Bachelor of Science in Physics - Astronomy Focus (120 Hours)

Essential Liberal Arts Courses (31 hours)

Required

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
CCC100Introduction to College Writing

3

CCC102Public Speaking

3

 

MATH100Mathematics for the Liberal Arts

4

Or

MATH101Intermediate Algebra

4

 

XXXX
Scientific Inquiry

4

XXXX
Experiential Learning

2

Great Conversation Series

Required

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
GCON110Great Conversation: The Meaning of Life

3

GCON120Great Conversation: Western Civilization

3

GCON130GCON130 - Great Conversation: Global Civilization

3

GCON140GCON140 - Great Conversation: Art

3

GCON150GCON150 - Great Conversation: What It Means to Be A U.S. Citizen

3

Physics Core (21 hours)

Required

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS201General Physics: Mechanics

3

PHYS202General Physics: Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism

3

PHYS203Mechanics Lab

1

PHYS204Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism Laboratory

1

PHYS301Oscillations, Waves and Light

3

PHYS303Oscillations, Waves and Light Laboratory

1

PHYS375Quantum Physics

3

PHYS38520th Century Physics

3

PHYS424Junior Physics Lab

3

Astronomy Core (10 hours)

Required

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS109Introductory Astronomy

4

PHYS305Tools of Astronomy

3

 

PHYS350Stellar Astrophysics

3

Or

PHYS355Galaxies & Cosmology

3

Physics Electives (9 hours)

Choose 9 hours from the following:

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS310Computational Physics

3

PHYS315Mathematics for Physics

3

PHYS350Stellar Astrophysics

3

PHYS355Galaxies & Cosmology

3

PHYS401Classical Mechanics

3

PHYS402Mechanics II

3

PHYS403Electromagnetic Theory I

3

PHYS404Electromagnetic Theory II

3

PHYS430Topics in Physics

0

PHYS450Physics Research

1

Physics B.S. Capstone Requirement (2 hours)

Required

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS455Capstone: Senior Research I

1

PHYS456Capstone: Senior Research II

1

Astronomy Track Cognates (22 hours)

Required

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
CS103Programming for Everyone I

3

MATH135Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

4

MATH205Calculus and Analytic Geometry II

4

MATH215Calculus and Analytic Geometry III

4

MATH305Differential Equations

3

Plus complete a 4-hour Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, ESS, or Geology laboratory course

Four Year Plan

Fall - First Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
CCC100Introduction to College Writing

3

MATH115Pre-Calculus Mathematics

4

SCI/ELEC
Scientific Inquiry Course with Lab

4

GCON
Great Conversation

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

Spring - First Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
CCC102Public Speaking

3

MATH135Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

4

CS103Programming for Everyone I

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

GCON
Great Conversation

3

Fall - Second Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
MATH205Calculus and Analytic Geometry II

4

PHYS109Introductory Astronomy

4

PHYS201General Physics: Mechanics

3

PHYS203Mechanics Lab

1

GCON
Great Conversation

3

Spring - Second Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
MATH305Differential Equations

3

PHYS202General Physics: Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism

3

PHYS204Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism Laboratory

1

GCON
Great Conversation

3

GCON
Great Conversation

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

Fall - Third Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
MATH215Calculus and Analytic Geometry III

4

PHYS301Oscillations, Waves and Light

3

PHYS303Oscillations, Waves and Light Laboratory

1

PHYS375Quantum Physics

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

Spring - Third Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS38520th Century Physics

3

PHYS/ELEC
Physics/Elective

3

PHYS424Junior Physics Lab

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

Fall - Fourth Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS350Stellar Astrophysics

3

Or

PHYS355Galaxies & Cosmology

3

 

PHYS/ELEC
Physics/Elective

3

PHYS455Capstone: Senior Research I

1

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

Spring - Fourth Year

Course NumberCourse TitleCredits
PHYS305Tools of Astronomy

3

PHYS/ELEC
Physics/Elective

3

PHYS456Capstone: Senior Research II

1

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

ELE/ELEC
General Elective

3

Note:

  • General elective credit hours will vary dependent upon the following degree requirements:
    • Must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
    • Must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework at the 300 or 400-level
  • Courses requiring prerequisites and corequisites are noted on the course which can be found in the course description section of the catalog.
  • The expected first mathematics course for this degree is MATH135. Students who do not place into MATH135 based on the Mathematics Placement Policy may need to complete the following prerequisite courses listed below, in addition to the courses listed above:

    MATH101 - Intermediate Algebra (4)

    MATH115 - Pre-Calculus Mathematics (4)

    C- or higher is required for all prerequisite courses in the Department of Mathematics.