Offered by Department of Physics and Physical Science

Physics and Physical Science Major

Physics
Bachelor of Science

• General Studies Program Hours = 45
  General Studies coursework required by major = 47
  • Foundational Core (Written, Math, Oral, Democracy) = 14 including:
    • MATH 115*, Calculus I with Analytic Geometry - 5 hours
    • *Students without sufficient preparation will also need to take the following courses, increasing the total hours needed:
      • MATH 102GS*, College Algebra - 3 hours
      • MATH 103GS*, Plane Trigonometry - 3 hours
  • Portal = 3
  • Distribution = 27
    • Aesthetics minimum = 3
    • Humanities minimum = 6
    • Social Sciences minimum = 6
    • Natural Sciences minimum = 8 including:
      • PHYS 275GS, General Physics I (Calculus) - 4 hours
      • PHYS 275LGS, General Physics I (Calculus) Laboratory - 1 hour
    • Analytical and Quantitative Thought minimum = 0
    • Wellness minimum = 0
  • Capstone = 3
• BS Science-related course requirements = 8 including:
  • MATH 202, Calculus II with Analytic Geometry - 5 hours
  • MATH 305, Differential Equations - 3 hours
• Major Option = 36
• Minor or 2nd Major = 24
• For specific requirements see #3 of Bachelor of Science 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 = 115
• Unrestricted electives in 120 hour program = 5
• Minimum total hours required for BS in Physics = 120
• All UNK degrees require a minimum of 120 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 (15 hours required)
   • Take all of the following:
     • PHYS 276GS, General Physics II (Calculus) - 4 hours
     • PHYS 276LGS, General Physics II (Calculus) Laboratory - 1 hour
     • PHYS 323, Analog and Digital Electronics - 3 hours
     • PHYS 346, Modern Physics I - 4 hours
     • PHYS 410, Mathematical Techniques in Physics I - 3 hours
2. Physics Electives (16 hours required)
   • Take 16 hours from:
     • PHYS 402, Analytic Mechanics - 4 hours
     • PHYS 407, Electricity and Magnetism - 4 hours
     • PHYS 419, Quantum Mechanics - 4 hours
     • PHYS 420, Advanced Physics Laboratory - 3 hours
     • PHYS 430, Optics - 3 hours
     • PHYS 440, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics - 3 hours
     • PHYS 495, Research in Physics - 1-3 hours
3. Physics Math Requirements (5 hours required)
   • Take:
     • MATH 260, Calculus III - 5 hours