B.A., B.S.
Physics majors and minors should see the department advisor,
Lynn Higgs, 201-E JFB, for counseling and schedule planning.
(Students can easily waste a year by not obtaining proper
counseling.) The Physics Undergraduate Handbook is available
to all potential physics majors.
The time and
effort needed to finish the physics degree depends on the
student’s precollege preparation. The best high school
preparation is to take all mathematics, physics, chemistry,
biology, and English courses offered. Many high schools
offer advanced placement (AP) physics. A score of 3, 4, or 5
on the AP Physics C exams may provide eight hours of credit,
but waiving of the PHYS 2210 or 2220 requirement may be done
only with departmental approval. Hours of AP credit received
upon admission do not automatically release a student from a
course requirement. Requests to exempt a class must be
approved by the department advisor or associate chair.
Students who took AP physics in high school and receive a 4
or 5 on the AP test are urged to start with the PHYS 2210 or
3210 series. Entering freshmen normally begin mathematics
studies in the MATH 1210, 1220 sequence, depending upon
preparation. Students should refer to the placement and
prerequisites listing under Mathematics elsewhere in this
section of the catalog to determine appropriate placement in
math courses.
Many students have been able to get both physics and
mathematics degrees with only minor changes in a typical
program. If interested, see Lynn Higgs, 201 JFB, for
details.
Physics classes numbered below the PHYS 2210, 2220
sequence do not count toward the 30 hours required for a
physics degree. Students who have not taken high school
physics should consider taking PHYS 1100 to prepare for PHYS
2210.
Physics majors and minors must complete all general
education and College of Science requirements and have a GPA
of at least 2.0 in physics courses combined. All required
physics, math, and chemistry classes must be passed with at
least a C- grade. The CR/NC option may not be elected for
any course used to fulfill the degree requirements for a
physics major or minor.
All beginning or transfer physics majors must meet before
registration with Lynn Higgs, 201 JFB, to work out
individual schedules.
Although more frequent counseling is recommended,
students must meet with their advisor at least two semesters
before graduation for an exit interview and to ensure their
program meets all requirements.
Three different undergraduate tracks are offered: the
preprofessional option, the applied option, and the pre-med
option. The preprofessional option is designed to serve as
preparation for graduate study in physics or other
scientific or engineering disciplines. The applied program
is intended for students aiming for a technical career in
which a grounding in physics will be important. The applied
program is also an excellent preparation for secondary
school science teaching, science or technology related
administration, etc. The premed physics program replaces
some of the elective requirements with courses in biology
and chemistry. This program is designed to give the best
preparation to a student planning on medical school. A
physics degree is an excellent preparation for a career in
medicine, law, secondary school science teaching, science-
or technology-related administration, technical writing, or
business.
The preprofessional technical curriculum consists
approximately of the following:
1. One-fourth mathematics beyond algebra and
trigonometry, chemistry, and other sciences;
2. One-fourth general education courses; and
3. One-half physics from the introductory level through
specialized courses in particular fields. Many of these
include laboratory work.
The applied program is for students who want considerable
physics knowledge but do not necessarily plan to obtain the
doctoral degree in physics. Many applied-physics graduates
work in high-tech industry or related areas. The degree is
also used by students contemplating graduate work in other
areas such as materials science, meteorology, and
engineering. Many graduates find the degree a powerful
background for entering law school, medical school, or
M.B.A. programs. Some have gone on to obtain the
master’s degree in instrumentation physics. An applied
program requires fewer physics and mathematics courses than
the preprofessional program, and provides time for more
courses in other areas. Students planning on medical careers
should definitely consider a physics major.
The physics bachelor’s degree normally requires four
years. Both programs require a minimum of 30 semester hours
of approved physics courses. PHYS 1100, 2010 and all courses
listed under physics courses for nonscientists do not count
toward the 30 hours.
The preprofessional program is a rigorous one designed for
students intending to go on to a doctoral program in physics
or a closely related discipline. The model program below is
for the well-prepared student who has had AP calculus and AP
physics in high school. Many students in the preprofessional
program are also in the Honors Program.
I. Course Requirements
PHYS 3210 and 3220 Physics for Scientists I and II
PHYS 2215, 2225 Physics for Scientists Laboratory
PHYS 3730 Introduction to Computing in Physics
PHYS 3740 Introduction to Quantum Theory and Relativity
PHYS 5110 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
PHYS 3760 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 4410 Classical Physics I
PHYS 4420 Classical Physics II
PHYS 3719 Undergraduate Laboratory
PHYS 5450 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 5460 Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
A suggested model sequence of recommended courses for the
well-prepared student would also include, in order of
importance:
PHYS 3610 Electronics I
PHYS 3410 Modern Optics
PHYS 3620 Electronics II
Preprofessional Program
First Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 1210 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 1230 General Chemistry Lab I (1)
MATH 1260 **Honors Calculus (H) (4)
PHYS 1970 Undergraduate Seminar (1)
General education requirements (6)
Total Hours: 16
Spring Semester
CHEM 1220 General Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 1240 General Chemistry Lab II (1)
MATH 2250 Ordinary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
(3)
PHYS 1980 Undergraduate Seminar (1)
PHYS 3210 Physics for Scientists I (H) (4)
PHYS 2215 Physics Lab I (1)
Total Hours: 14
Second Year
Fall Semester
MATH 3150 Partial Differential Equations (2)
MATH 3160 Complex Variables (2)
PHYS 3220 Physics for Scientists II (H) (4)
PHYS 2225 Physics Lab II (1)
General education requirements and technical elective (6)
Total Hours: 15
Spring Semester
PHYS 3740 Introduction to Quantum Theory and Relativity
(3)
PHYS 3760 Thermo & Statist. Mech. (3)
General education requirements and technical elective (9)
Total Hours: 15
Third Year
Fall Semester
PHYS 3730 Intro to Comput. Physics (4)
PHYS 4410 Classical Physics I (H) (4)
General education requirements and technical elective (9)
Total Hours: 17
Spring Semester
PHYS 4420 Classical Physics II (H) (4)
PHYS 5110 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics (3)
General education requirements and technical elective (9)
Total Hours: 16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PHYS 3719 Undergrad. Physics Lab (4)
PHYS 5450 Intro. to Quant. Mech. (H) (4)
General education requirements and technical elective (8)
Total Hours: 16
Spring Semester
PHYS 5460 Introduction to Statistical Mechanics (H) (4)
General education requirements and technical elective (12)
Total Hours: 16
------------------
** Assumes student has a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP
calculus BC test. The starting course in math depends on the
AP calculus score. Other starting points for the
Preprofessional Program are possible.
Note: This model program assumes a well-prepared student
who has had AP calculus and AP physics in high school.
Less well prepared students are encouraged to major in
physics, but may need to start with Math 1210 the first
year. Students should see an advisor to make appropriate
adjustments to the program.
Variations are possible. Consult with Mr. Higgs.
This model program contains 60 hours required by the Physics
Department. The remaining 62 hours need to be selected to
fill general education requirements. Check with the
University College, 450 SSB, to make certain all University
general requirements are filled.
The Applied Physics Program is for those who in all
likelihood will stop their formal education at the bachelor
level or who will continue their training in some other
field. However, this program leads naturally into the
master’s of instrumentation physics degree. It is an
excellent program for prelaw students and for students
planning on other professional graduate programs.
I. Course Requirements
PHYS 2210, 2220 Physics for Scientists
PHYS 2215, 2225 Physics Laboratory
PHYS 3410 Modern Optics I & II
PHYS 3610 Electronics I
PHYS 3719 Undergraduate Lab
PHYS 3730 Introduction to Computing in Physics
PHYS 3740 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Relativity
PHYS 5110 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
PHYS 3760 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 5010 Theoretical Physics Mechanics
PHYS 5020 Theoretical Physics, Electricity and Magnetism
Applied Program
First Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 1210 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 1230 General Chemistry Lab I (1)
MATH 1210 Calculus I (4)
PHYS 1970 Undergraduate Seminar (1)
General education requirements and technical electives (6)
Total Hours: 16
Spring Semester
CHEM 1220 General Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 1240 General Chemistry Lab II (1)
MATH 1220 Calculus II 1 (4)
PHYS 2210 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (4)
PHYS 2215 Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab I (1)
PHYS 1980 Undergraduate Seminar (1)
Total Hours: 15
Second Year
Fall Semester
MATH 2210 Calculus III (Multvariate Calculus) (3)
PHYS 2220 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (4)
PHYS 2225 Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab II (1)
General education requirements and technical elective (9)
Total Hours: 17
Spring Semester
MATH 2250 Ordinary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
(3)
General education requirements and technical elective (12)
Total Hours: 15
Third Year
Fall Semester
MATH 3150 Partial Differential Equations (2)
MATH 3160 Complex Variables (2)
PHYS 3410 Modern Optics (4)
PHYS 3610 Electronics I (3)
General education requirements and technical elective (3)
Total Hours: 14
Spring Semester
PHYS 3620 Electronics II (3)
PHYS 3760 Thermodynamics (3)
PHYS 3740 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Relativity
(3)
General education requirements and technical elective (6)
Total Hours: 15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PHYS 3719 Undergraduate Physics Lab (4)
PHYS 3730 Intro to Computing in Physics (4)
PHYS 5010 Theoretical Mechanics (3)
General education requirements and technical elective (4)
Total Hours: 15
Spring Semester
PHYS 5020 Theoretical Electricity & Magnetism & Statistical
Physics (3)
PHYS 5110 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics (3)
General education requirements and technical elective (10)
Total Hours: 16
----------------------
Note: Students who have had AP calculus and
physics in high school may start with more advanced courses.
Students should see an advisor to make appropriate
adjustments to the program.
Pre Medical Physics Program T
his new program is designed to prepare the student for
acceptance into a medical school program. It is a very
rigorous course and is intended to develop the analytical
and critical thinking skills required in medical school. The
program would also be a great preparation for dental or
veterinary school or a career in a related medical field.
First Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 1210 Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 1230 Chemistry I Lab (1)
MATH 1220 Calculus II (4)*
PHYS 2210 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (4)
PHYS 2215 Physics Lab I (1)
PHYS 1970 Physics Undergrad Sem (1)
Total Hours: 15
Spring Semester
BIOL 1000 General Biology (4)**
CHEM 1220 Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 1240 Chemistry Lab II (1)
MATH 2210 Calculus III (3)
PHYS 2220 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (4)
Total Hours: 16
Second Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 2310 Organic Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 2330 Organic Lab I (1)
MATH 2250 Ordinary Dif Eq & Lin Algebra (3)
BIOL 2020 Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 3215 Cell Biology Lab (2)
Gen Ed Req (3)
Total Hours: 16
Spring Semester
CHEM 2320 Organic Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 2340 Organic Lab II (1)
MATH 3150 PDE’s (2)
PHYS 1980 Physics Undergrad Sem II (1)
PHYS 2225 Physics Lab II (1)
BIOL 2030 Genetics (3)
Gen Ed Req (3)
Total Hours: 15
Third Year
Fall Semester
MATH 3160 Complex Variables (2)
PHYS 3740 Intro to Quantum Mechanics and Relativity (3)
PHYS 3110 Physics of the Body I (3)
BIOL 2320 Human Physics (3)
Gen Ed Req (3)
Total Hours: 14
Spring Semester
PHYS 5020 Theory Electricity & Magnetism (3)
PHYS 3111 Physics of the Body II (4)
BIOL 3510 Biological Chemistry (3)
BIOL 3515 Biological Chemistry Lab (2)
Gen Ed Req (3)
Total Hours: 15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PHYS 3410 Optics (4)
PHYS 3610 Electronics I (3)
PHYS 3719 Modern Physics Lab (4)
Gen Ed Req (3)
Total Hours: 14
Spring Semester
PHYS 3760 Thermo Physics (3)
PHYS 4910 Technical Comm & Sci Judgement (4)***
PHYS 5110 Particle & Nuclear Physics (3)
Gen Ed Req (6)
Total Hours: 16
------------------
*This program assumes AP math preparation in
high school. Other starting points are possible but may
require an additional semester or a summer semester.
**A 4 or 5 on the AP Exam will exempt this course
***Fills upper division writing NOTE: Some of the courses
are offered during summer semester and could be taken then
to lighten couse loads other semesters.
Additional Requirements for All Degrees
Exit Interview. Graduating undergraduates must meet with
the administrative manager at least one semester before
graduation to have their programs checked to see that they
meet all the requirements. Students must also fill out an
exit interview form. Exit interview forms may be picked up
in 201D JFB, or call the records secretary at 581-5697. In
addition to the exit interview, all students are encouraged
to make suggestions or comments at any time to the
undergraduate advisor or to the department chairperson.
Engineering Physics Programs. Variations in the
applied physics and preprofessional programs to allow
preparation for specific graduate engineering programs may
be arranged. See the department advisor. ]
Allied Work. The minimum mathematics requirements
for a physics major are MATH 1210, 1220, 2210, 2250, 3150,
and 3160. Substitutions are possible with prior written
approval from the assigned faculty advisor. Computer science
literacy is important for the physics major. Students are
also encouraged to take PHYS 6740 in addition to PHYS 3730
for greater depth.
CHEM 1210, 1220, 1230, and 1240 are required. Courses in
allied fields such as chemistry, computer science, and
mathematics are recommended, particularly advanced courses
in mathematics, in addition to the prerequisites for
individual physics courses. All students are required to
have 40 hours of course work above the 3000 level. The
outlined applied program only provides 37 of those hours.
Students must plan on taking an additional three hours of
upper-division course work. Several special double-major
programs can be arranged (for example, physics/geophysics,
physics/materials science). For details, see the department
advisor.
A few physics courses are listed under the general
education program. (See courses for nonscientists listed
among physics courses.)
Requirements for the Major and Minor
Physics majors and minors must complete all general
education and College of Science requirements and have a GPA
of at least 2.0 in physics courses combined. All physics,
math, and chemistry classes must be passed with at least a
C- grade. The credit/no-credit option may not be elected for
any course used to fulfill the degree requirements for a
physics major or minor.
Physics Minor
To obtain an undergraduate minor in physics, a student must
complete at least 16 hours of approved course work. The
following courses would count toward the 16 hours.
PHYS 2210, 2220, 2215, 2225
PHYS 3740, 3760, 5110
PHYS 4410, 4420; or 5010, 5020
Two essentially similar courses (e.g., PHYS 4410 and 5010)
cannot both be counted toward a minor. Additional
recommended courses include PHYS 3410, 3730, 5450, 5460 and
5510, 5520. Courses that may not be counted for a physics
minor include courses lower than the PHYS 2210, 2220; PHYS
3060, 3110 and PHYS 3970. Students may obtain proposed minor
approval from Lynn Higgs, 201 JFB.
Teaching Major, Minor, Certification. Please refer
to Education in the Colleges section for information on
teaching major and minor course requirements and state
secondary teacher certification.
M.A., M.S., M.Phil,
Ph.D. in physics. See also the Graduate Information section
of this catalog.
Detailed information about the graduate programs,
examinations, financial aid, and research areas is found in
the department’s Graduate Student Handbook or the Graduate
Studies in Physics brochure, available in the department
office. For more information, contact Lynn Higgs, 201 JFB.
Areas of Specialization. Areas include the theoretical and
experimental study of condensed-matter physics; cosmic rays
and fundamental particles and their interactions; general
relativity and cosmology; and laser physics. A Ph.D. in
physics with a medical physics emphasis is available. A
specialty at the master’s level in instrumentation physics
is also offered. Also a physics M.S. with Computational
Physics Emphasis is offered. Interdisciplinary studies are
available in chemical physics and other fields by special
arrangement.
Admission to Candidacy. The GRE Advanced Test in
Physics is required of all incoming graduate students. A
written and oral common examination is given at the
beginning of graduate study. It includes material from
general physics, PHYS 3760, 4410, 4420, 5450, 5460. Students
must pass this exam before candidacy in the physics Ph.D.
program.
Master’s Degree. A supervisory committee is
appointed to guide the study and thesis research of
acceptable candidates. The final examination is usually
oral, but a written part may be required. The thesis is
optional. Early consultation with the supervisory committee
is extremely important.
Instrumentation Specialty. This program qualifies
those with training in science and engineering fields to
work with and develop modern instrumentation and control.
Study includes numerical analysis by computer, electronics,
microprocessor and minicomputer data acquisition and control
techniques, and the physical principles of the operation of
various measurement transducers. The student takes part in
developing an instrumentation project selected from a
variety of research and industrial test areas. In many
cases, the project occurs in disciplines other than physics.
Computational Physics Emphasis. This Physics
Masters of Science program provides interdisciplinary
training in the use of computers to solve problems in
Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics. With advice and
assistance from a supervisory committee the student selects
a computational project connected with ongoing campus
research or with his or her employment. The project report
and documentation constitutes the Master’s thesis.
M.S. Degree Program in Computational Engineering and
Science. The Department of Mathematics and Physics and
the School of Computing have established a special degree
program in Computational Engineering and Science. This
degree program provides interdisciplinary experience in the
computational solution of scientific or engineering
problems, including an understanding of the scientific or
engineering context of the problem, the mathematical
modeling of the problem, the choice of numerical
methodology, the selection of computer architecture and
algorithms, and the visual and/or statistical rendering of
computational results. The program is designed for students
with a B.S. in engineering or scientific discipline, but is
open to all fields. For further information and application
forms see the URL
www.ces.utah.edu
Ph.D. Degree. Those who perform satisfactorily on
the common examination may arrange for a physics thesis
supervisor through the director of graduate studies. Ph.D.
candidates must pass a specialized examination and publish
results of research. The Chemical Physics Executive
Committee chair acts as graduate advisor for those in this
interdisciplinary program. Those interested in
interdisciplinary study in other specialized areas should
contact the director of graduate studies.
Medical Physics Program. The medical physics
program is designed to give an appropriate education to
physics Ph.D. students desiring to specialize in some branch
of medical physics. This program will provide students with
a solid physics background (through core and elective
courses) but will still allow enough flexibility for
students to perform research in medical and other
interdisciplinary areas (through elective courses). The
research will normally be supervised jointly by faculty from
the Physics Department and from medical departments.
Areas of current research in medical physics in the
Physics Department include nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applied to lungs
(Professor Ailion), MRI with hyperpolarized noble gases
(Professor Saam), biomedical optics and materials research
for medical and laser applications (Professor Gellerman),
imaging of biological structures and surfaces using Scanning
Probe Microscopy (Professor Williams). Professors Symko and
Vardeny also have some connection in their research to
medical physics.
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