| Physics
is the branch of knowledge that attempts to explain all
of the phenomena we observe or infer on earth and in the
universe. Its study has made possible a modern understanding
of the origin of the universe as well as the behavior
of biological materials and chemical processes. Scientists
trained in this field can engage in such diverse areas
as solid state devices, particle physics, energy and the
environment, and space travel. As an undergraduate, you
will take a group of core courses that will give you a
general background in the subject. You will study force
and motion, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism, atomic
and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and the physical
properties of materials, learning both the theoretical
and the experimental aspects. Physicists are employed
by almost all industries, particularly by the technical
industries and by government laboratories. Although you
can work in the field with a bachelor's degree, graduate
work will give you a strengthened background that will
increase your opportunities. |
| |
|
|
Additional
Useful Links
|
| |
|
Physics
Major
In
addition to meeting all university requirements for
the bachelor's degree, the following outlines the requirements
for the BA/BS degree in Physics. The student will take
a minimum of 47 credits in Physics, 24 credits in Mathematics,
and 15 credits in Chemistry. Also, the student will
choose either the Standard Physics Option (13-16 credits)
or the Environmental Physics Option (30 credits).
|
|
PHYSICS
REQUIREMENTS
|
| PH
201, 202, 203 General Physics or PH 211, 212, 213
General Physics with Calculus or PH 221, 222, 223
General Physics with Calculus |
9-12
|
| PH
204, 205, 206 Lab for General Physics or PH 214,
215, 216 Lab for General Physics with Calculus |
3
|
| PH
311, 312 Introduction to Modern Physics |
8
|
| PH
314, 315 Experimental Physics |
8
|
| PH
321 Current Electricity |
4
|
| PH
322 Computational Physics |
4
|
| PH
424 Classical Mechanics I |
3
|
| Upper-division
electives |
8
|
|
Total
|
47-50
|
AND
|
MATHEMATICS
REQUIREMENTS
|
| MTH
251, 252, 253, 254 Calculus |
16
|
| MTH
256 Applied Differential Equations |
4
|
| MTH
343 Applied Linear Algebra |
4
|
|
Total
|
24
|
AND
|
CHEMISTRY
REQUIREMENTS
|
| CH
221, 222, 223 General Chemistry |
12
|
| CH
227, 228, 229 Lab for General Chemistry |
3
|
|
Total
|
15
|
AND
| COMPUTER
SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS |
| CS 161, 162 Intro to Computer
Science |
8 |
Total |
8 |
AND CHOOSE
EITHER
|
STANDARD
PHYSICS OPTION
|
| PH
316 Methods of Experimental Physics I |
4
|
| PH
425 Classical Mechanics or PH 432 Electricity
and Magnetism II |
3-4
|
| Two
courses in a related area of science or technology
(biology, geology, additional chemistry, computer
science, electrical circuitry) |
6-8
|
|
Total
|
13-16
|
|
OR |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL
PHYSICS OPTION
|
|
Choose
30 credits from the following list.
|
| PH
451 Electron Microscopy |
4
|
| PH
471 Atmospheric Physics |
4
|
|
PH
490 Biophysics
|
4
|
| PH
492 Radiation in the Environment |
4
|
| BI
251, 252, 253 Principles of Biology |
12
|
| BI
357 General Ecology |
4
|
| BI
475 Limnology and Aquatic Ecology |
4
|
| BI
476 Population Biology |
4
|
| GEOL
443 Ground Water Geology |
4
|
| GEOL
444 Well Dynamics |
4
|
| GEOL
484 Field Geophysics |
4
|
| CH
426 Instrumental Analysis |
3
|
| CH
427 Instrumental Analysis Lab |
3
|
| CE
371 Environmental Engineering |
3
|
|
Total
|
30
|
|
|
|
Physics
Minor
To
earn a minor in physics a student must complete 27 credits
(9 credits of which must be taken in residence at PSU,
and 12 to 15 credits of which must be upper division),
to include the courses in the following table. A maximum
of one-third of the courses taken under the undifferentiated
grading option (pass/no pass) is acceptable toward fulfilling
the department minor requirements. Additional courses
may be required as prerequisites.
|
|
PHYSICS
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
|
| PH
201, 202, 203 General Physics or PH 211, 212, 213
General Physics with Calculus |
9-12
|
| PH
204, 205, 206 Lab for General Physics or PH 214,
215, 216 Lab for General Physics with Calculus |
3
|
| Upper-division
physics electives |
12-15
|
|
Total
|
27
|
|
 Return
to Top
|
| Dual
Degree in Computer Engineering and Physics
How
Computer Engineering majors can look at the physics
program:
Common
to both options:
|
Physics
requirements
|
CMPE
requirements
|
|
Ph
211, 212, 213 General Physics (with Calculus)
|
Ph
221, 222, 223 General Physics
|
|
Ph
214, 215, 216 Lab for Ph 211, 212, 213
|
Ph
214, 215, 216 Lab
|
|
Ph
311, 312 Introduction to Modern Physics
|
Ph
317, 318
|
|
Ph
314, 315 Methods of Experimental Physics
|
EE
201, 202, 203, 301, 302
|
|
Ph
321 Current Electricity
|
EE
321
|
|
Ph
322 Computational Physics
|
CS
162, EE 371
|
|
Ph
424 Classical Mechanics I
|
Ph
411 (?)
|
|
Ph
464 Applied Optics (elective)
|
Ph
464
|
|
Ph
431 Electricity and Magnetism (elective)
|
Ph
431 or EE 331
|
|
Mth
251, 252, 253, 254 Calculus
|
Mth
251, 252, 253, 460
|
|
Mth
256, 322 Applied Differential Equations
|
Mth
256, 343
|
|
One
year of general chemistry: Ch 221, 222,
223, 227, 228, 229
|
Substitute
another year of science or technology (CMPE
electives)
|
|
Standard
Option Physics Requirements
|
|
|
Ph
316 Methods of Experimental Physics I
|
EE
485 (?)
|
|
Ph
425 Classical Mechanics II or Ph 432 Electricity
and Magnetism
|
Ph
432 or EE 332
|
|
One
year of approved courses in a related area
of science or technology (biology, geology,
additional chemistry, computer science, electrical
engineering)
|
Substitute
another year of science or technology (CMPE
electives)
|
The
question marks in the above list indicate a less than
ideal fit between the physics and CMPE programs, but
in some approximation these courses are acceptable.
In fact, these courses are highly desirable for both
the CMPE and the Physics major. From this analysis,
the following can be deduced. Besides completing
the BS in CMPE, CMPE majors need to take four additional
courses in physics to qualify for a BS degree in physics
(based on the Portland State University Bulletin '97/'98).
Since some of these courses will help in completing
your CMPE degree, the net impact is just two extra
courses before you can graduate with two bachelor's
degrees.
In
particular:
Ph 464: Applied Optics
Ph 411: Quantum Mechanics
Ph 431 Electricity and Magnetism or EE 331
Ph 432 Electricity and Magnetism or EE 332
Administrative
detail: You can fill out the "student information
change form" to add physics as your second major.
The code for computer engineering is CMPE and for
physics is PH.
These
courses are of great importance in high technology
and will add considerable value to your computer engineering
degree. The minimum acceptable grade in these
courses is C.
If
for some reason (class time conflicts and/or other
reasons) you can not take one of these courses, you
can substitute any two courses in physics for the
course that you missed. Thus, in this case,
you will have to take five additional courses, three
from the list above and two other ones. Any
course of two or more credits will do. The minimum
acceptable grade in these courses is C.
|
|
Return
to Top
|
|
Electrical
Engineering/Physics Dual Major
How
Electrical Engineering majors can look at the physics
program:
Common
to both options:
|
Physics
requirements
|
EE
requirements
|
|
Ph
211, 212, 213 General Physics (with Calculus)
|
Ph
221, 222, 223 General Physics
|
|
Ph
214, 215, 216 Lab for Ph 211, 212, 213
|
Ph
214, 215, 216 Lab
|
|
Ph
311, 312 Introduction to Modern Physics
|
Ph
317, 318
|
|
Ph
314, 315 Methods of Experimental Physics
|
EE
201, 202, 203, 301, 302
|
|
Ph
321 Current Electricity
|
EE
321
|
|
Ph
322 Computational Physics
|
EAS
101, 102, EE371
|
|
Ph
424 Classical Mechanics I
|
Ph
411 (?)
|
|
Ph
426 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
(elective)
|
EAS
341
|
|
Ph
431 Electricity and Magnetism (elective)
|
EE
331
|
|
Mth
251, 252, 253, 254 Calculus
|
Mth
251, 252, 253, 460
|
|
Mth
256, 322 Applied Differential Equations
|
Mth
256, 343
|
|
One
year of general chemistry: Ch 221, 222,
223, 227, 228, 229
|
Substitute
another year of science or technology (EE
electives)
|
|
Standard
Option Physics Requirements
|
|
|
Ph
316 Methods of Experimental Physics I
|
Ph
464 (?)
|
|
Ph
425 Classical Mechanics II or Ph 432 Electricity
and Magnetism
|
EE
332
|
|
One
year of approved courses in a related area
of science or technology (biology, geology,
additional chemistry, computer science, electrical
engineering)
|
Substitute
another year of science or technology (EE
electives)
|
The
question marks in the above list indicate a less than
ideal fit between the physics and EE programs, but
in some approximation these courses are acceptable.
In fact, these courses are highly desirable for both
the EE and the Physics major. From this analysis,
the following can be deduced. Besides completing
the BS in EE, EE majors need to take two additional
courses in physics to qualify for a BS degree in physics
(based on the Portland State University Bulletin '97/'98).
In
particular:
Ph 464: Applied Optics
Ph 411: Quantum Mechanics
Administrative
detail: You can fill out the "student information
change form" to add physics as your second major.
The code for electrical engineering is EE and for
physics is PH.
These
courses are of great importance in high technology
and will add considerable value to your electrical
engineering degree. The minimum acceptable grade
in both these courses is C.
If
for some reason (class time conflicts and/or other
reasons) you can not take one of these courses, you
can substitute any two courses in physics for the
course that you missed. Thus, in this case,
you will have to take three additional courses.
Any course of two or more credits will do. The minimum
acceptable grade in these courses is C.
|
|
