Offered by Department of Physics and Physical Science

Physics and Physical Science Major

Physics Option
Bachelor of Arts

• General Studies Program Hours = 45
  General Studies coursework required by major = 64
  • Foundational Core (Written, Math, Oral, Democracy) = 30 including
    • (Maximum of 1 MATH course will count in this section.)
    • MATH 102GS*, College Algebra - 3 hours
    • MATH 103GS*, Plane Trigonometry - 3 hours
    • MATH 115*, Calculus I with Analytic Geometry - 5 hours
    • MATH 202*, Calculus II with Analytic Geometry - 5 hours
    • MATH 260, Calculus III - 5 hours
    • *Students with sufficient preparation may enter the mathematics program at a higher level, reducing the total hours needed to complete the major.
  • Portal = 3
  • Distribution = 28
    • Aesthetics minimum = 3
    • Humanities minimum = 6
    • Social Sciences minimum = 6
    • Natural Sciences minimum = 13 including:
      • PHYS 275GS, General Physics I (Calculus) - 4 hours
      • PHYS 275LGS, General Physics I Laboratory - 1 hour
      • PHYS 276GS, General Physics II (Calculus) - 4 hours
      • PHYS 276LGS, General Physics II Laboratory - 1 hour
    • Analytical and Quantitative Thought minimum = 0
    • Wellness minimum = 0
  • Capstone = 3
• BA Language requirement = a minimum of 6
• For specific language requirements see #2 of Bachelor of Arts Degree requirements.
• Major Option = 31
• Minor or 2nd Major = 24
• For specific requirements see #3 of Bachelor of Arts Degree requirements. Selecting a minor or second major less than or greater than 24 hours will alter the number of unrestricted electives.
• Minimum total hours required coursework = 125
• Unrestricted electives in 125 hour program = 0
• Minimum total hours required for BA in Physics = 125
• All UNK degrees require a minimum of 125 hours. Forty (40) of the hours required for all UNK degrees must be upper division hours, which are courses numbered 300 or above taken at a 4-year college or university.

1. Physics Requirements (31 hours required)
   • Take all of the following:
     • PHYS 346, Modern Physics I - 4 hours
     • PHYS 400, Analytic Mechanics I - 3 hours (Prereq: PHYS 410, MATH 305 OR permission of instructor)
     • PHYS 401, Analytic Mechanics II - 3 hours
     • PHYS 405, Electricity and Magnetism I - 3 hours (Prereq: PHYS 410, MATH 305 OR permission of instructor)
     • PHYS 406, Electricity and Magnetism II - 3 hours
     • PHYS 410, Mathematical Techniques in Physics - 4 hours
     • PHYS 417, Quantum Mechanics - 3 hours (Prereq: PHYS 416 or permission of instructor)
     • PHYS 430, Optics - 4 hours
     • PHYS 440, Heat and Thermodynamics - 4 hours