Physics

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 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

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

Communication (C)12
ENGL 110
College Composition I
ENGL 120
College Composition II
COMM 110
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 Credits39
*

 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

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.

Major Core Requirements
PHYS 171Introductory Projects in Physics1
PHYS 251
& 251L		University Physics I
and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)		5
PHYS 252
& 252L		University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)		5
PHYS 350Modern Physics3
PHYS 355Classical Mechanics3
PHYS 360Modern Physics II3
PHYS 361Electromagnetic Theory (or PHY 370: Electromagnetic Theory from MSUM)3
PHYS 370Introduction to Computational Physics3
PHYS 411
& 411L		Optics for Scientists & Engineers
and Optics for Scientists and Engineers Lab		4
PHYS 462Thermal and Statistical Physics3
PHYS 485Quantum Mechanics I3
PHYS 486Quantum Mechanics II3
PHYS 488Senior Project I1
PHYS 489Senior Project II2
CSCI 160Computer Science I4
or ECE 173 Introduction to Computing
MATH 129Basic Linear Algebra3
or MATH 329 Intermediate Linear Algebra
MATH 165Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R)4
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 265Calculus III4
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
MATH Electives - Select 6 credits from the following:6
MATH 270
Introduction to Abstract Mathematics
MATH 400 Level
Select one of the following chemistry sequences (150/160 is recommended):4
CHEM 150
& CHEM 160
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 121
& 121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
Select one of the following chemistry sequences (151/161 recommended):4
CHEM 151
& CHEM 161
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 122
& 122L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
Option Requirement
Select either the Standard option or the Optical Science & Engineering option to complete this major (requirements below).10
Total Credits88
STANDARD OPTION
CSCI 161Computer Science II4
Physics Electives: Select two courses from the following:6
PHYS 215
Research For Undergraduates
PHYS 413
Lasers for Scientists and Engineers
PHYS 415
Elements of Photonics
PHYS 481
Materials Physics
MSUM AST
Astronomy courses (300/400 level) with departmental approval
PHYS 357
Concordia College Astrophysics
PHYS 419
Concordia College Introduction to General Relativity
Total Credits10
OPTICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OPTION
PHYS 413Lasers for Scientists and Engineers3
PHYS 415Elements of Photonics3
EE 206Circuit Analysis I4
Total Credits10

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

Required Courses
PHYS 251University Physics I4
PHYS 252University Physics II4
PHYS 252LUniversity Physics II Laboratory1
PHYS 350Modern Physics3
Electives: Select 7 credits from the following:7
PHYS 171
Introductory Projects in Physics
PHYS 251L
University Physics I Laboratory
PHYS 215
Research For Undergraduates
Any 300-400 level Physics course
ME 221 and ME 222 may be substituted for PHYS 251 and PHYS 251L
Total Credits19

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.