Physics, BS

General Requirements

I. First Year Seminars

All full-time, first-year students are required to take the following courses:

• UCCP 1101 - First-Year Seminar I. 1 sem. hrs.
• UCCP 1102 - First-Year Seminar II. 1 sem. hrs.

II. Core Curriculum Program

Students majoring in physics must take the following courses to fulfill the corresponding requirements of the University Core Curriculum. See catalog section on University Core Curriculum Programs .

• MATH 2413 - Calculus I 4 sem. hrs. *
• PHYS 2425 - University Physics I 4 sem. hrs. *
• PHYS 2426 - University Physics II 4 sem. hrs. *

• * Only 3 sem. hrs. of each of these courses count toward the Core Curriculum, so these courses are also listed below.

III. Supporting Courses

These courses from outside the Physics program are required as part of the Joint BS in Physics degree.  These courses may not be taken on a pass/no pass (P/NP) basis.

• MATH 2413 - Calculus I 4 sem. hrs. *

• * Three sem. hrs. of MATH 2413 were included in the University Core Curriculum tally above, and these are not included in the total in this section.

• MATH 2414 - Calculus II 4 sem. hrs.
• MATH 3470 - Calculus III 4 sem. hrs.
• MATH 3315 - Differential Equations 3 sem. hrs.
• COSC 1435 - Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers I 4 sem. hrs.

IV. Physics Major

• PHYS 2425 - University Physics I 4 sem. hrs. *
• PHYS 2426 - University Physics II 4 sem. hrs. *

• * Six sem. hrs. of University Physics were used to fulfill the University Core Curriculum natural sciences requirement.  These are not included in the total.

• PHYS 3331 - Mechanics I 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 3334 - Modern Physics I 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 3332 - Electromagnetism 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 3333 - Thermodynamics 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 4330 - Mathematical Methods for Physicists 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 4335 - Quantum Physics 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 4337 - Nuclear Physics 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 4340 - Physics Advanced Lab 3 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 4161 - Physics Research Project 1 sem. hrs.
• PHYS 4162 - Physics Research Seminar 1 sem. hrs.

V. Electives

• PHYS 3490 - Selected Topics
   : Advanced Physics Electives 6 sem. hrs.
• Support Field Electives 18 sem. hrs.
• General Electives 10 sem. hrs.

The Advanced Physics Electives consist of two courses in upper-level physics selected by the student from a small number of available courses in the Texas Physics Consortium.  See the TPC web page (www.tarleton.edu/tpc/) for the schedule of which courses are being offered in the current and future semesters.  The course  will be used for these offerings.

The Support Field enables students the flexibility to tailor their degree to meet various academic and career goals, including teaching certification and interdiciplinary studies.  The courses must be chosen in consultation with their physics faculty advisor.  For students transferring into the Physics Major, these courses may be selected from those already taken from the student’s former major.

The General Electives can include additional science, mathematics, or engineering courses, chosen with approval of the student’s faculty mentor.

• The Support Field Electives should be chosen from the following courses:

• COSC 1436 - Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers II 4 sem. hrs.
• ENGR 3315 - Fluid Mechanics 3 sem. hrs.
• ESCI 3351 - Oceanography 3 sem. hrs.
• ESCI 4335 - Climate and Climate Variability 3 sem. hrs.
• ESCI 4360 - Physical Oceanography 3 sem. hrs.
• MATH 3311 - Linear Algebra 3 sem. hrs.
• MEEN 3345 - Heat Transfer 3 sem. hrs.