Physics
This is an archived copy of the 2022-23 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.
Major Requirements
Major: Physics (Standard & Optical Science and Engineering Options)
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institution.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories. |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
College Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree – An additional 12 credits Humanities and Social Sciences and proficiency at the second year level in a modern foreign language. * | 12 | |
| Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree – An additional 6 credits in Humanities or Social Sciences * | 6 | |
| * | Humanities and Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education courses in humanities and social sciences (general education categories A and B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student’s major. |
Physics Major Requirements
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for all PHYS and AST prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core Requirements | ||
| PHYS 171 | Introductory Projects in Physics | 1 |
| PHYS 251 & 251L | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 251R | University Physics I Recitation | 1 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 252R | University Physics II Recitation | 1 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 361 | Electromagnetic Theory (or PHY 370: Electromagnetic Theory from MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 411 & 411L | Optics for Scientists & Engineers and Optics for Scientists and Engineers Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 462 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 486 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 488 | Senior Project I | 1 |
| PHYS 489 | Senior Project II | 2 |
| CSCI 160 | Computer Science I | 4 |
| or ECE 173 | Introduction to Computing | |
| MATH 129 | Basic Linear Algebra | 3 |
| or MATH 329 | Intermediate Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R) | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 265 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH Electives - Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Abstract Mathematics | ||
MATH 400 Level | ||
| Select one of the following chemistry sequences (150/160 is recommended): | 4 | |
| Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Select one of the following chemistry sequences (151/161 recommended): | 4 | |
| Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Option Requirement | 10 | |
Student must select either the Standard option or the Optical Science and Engineering option (see below). | ||
| Total Credits | 90 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD OPTION | ||
| CSCI 161 | Computer Science II | 4 |
| Physics Electives: Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Research For Undergraduates | ||
| Lasers for Scientists and Engineers | ||
| Elements of Photonics | ||
| Condensed Matter Physics | ||
| MSUM AST | Astronomy courses (300/400 level) with departmental approval | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OPTICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OPTION | ||
| PHYS 413 | Lasers for Scientists and Engineers | 3 |
| PHYS 415 | Elements of Photonics | 3 |
| EE 206 | Circuit Analysis I | 4 |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Program Notes
- Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
Minor Requirements
Minor: Physics
Required Credits: 19
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHYS 251 | University Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 252 | University Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 252L | University Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| Electives: Select 7 credits from the following: | 7 | |
| Introductory Projects in Physics | ||
| University Physics I Laboratory | ||
| University Physics I Recitation | ||
| University Physics II Recitation | ||
| Research For Undergraduates | ||
Any 300-400 level Physics course | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.