Engineering Physics

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The Engineering Physics Program, offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is designed for students who are interested in not only a particular engineering field, but also the physics and mathematics that provide a foundation for that field. Thus, the mission of the Engineering Physics Program is to offer an accredited Bachelor of Science degree that combines a meaningful sequence of engineering courses within a particular engineering field with a traditional high quality undergraduate physics education. The goals of the program are to prepare graduates to directly enter the modern workplace or go on to graduate study, either in their chosen engineering field or in physics.

The educational objectives of the program are to provide students with:

a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of engineering and physics, together with an appropriate mathematical background for these subjects.
problem solving experience in engineering and physics, in both the classroom and the laboratory learning environment.
an understanding of the role of the engineer/scientist in today’s society.

Therefore, preparation also includes an introduction to the humanities, social sciences, communications and a sensitivity to issues of ethics and professional practice.

Furthermore, the program encourages majors to participate in student professional organizations, including the Society of Physics Students, the Society of Women Engineers and the various student societies within the student’s chosen engineering field. In addition, majors frequently qualify for membership in the honor societies Sigma Pi Sigma and Tau Beta Pi, among others.

For further information visit our website
http://www.umephy.maine.edu/programs/programs.html

Program Description
The basic curriculum of required courses, combined with electives in science, engineering, the humanities and social sciences, culminates in a two-semester engineering design capstone experience. Of the 127 credits, 45 are electives, permitting each major, in consultation with his/her advisor, to put together a significant core of engineering courses in their engineering field of choice, and to satisfy the University General Education Requirements through electives supportive of their professional goals.

The program consists of a minimum of eight engineering courses, most of which lie in the student’s area of engineering specialization, along with a technical elective and an engineering elective for a total of 24-30 credits. (A technical elective can be an Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science or other approved science course, generally at the 300-level or higher.) The engineering sequence is chosen from the engineering major offerings (Chemical and Biological, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Mechanical, etc) of the College of Engineering. Engineers teach all engineering courses taken by engineering physics majors.

The program requires a laboratory course in physics in each of eight semesters. These laboratory experiences emphasize the ability to conduct experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, working with modern instrumentation and meeting deadlines. When possible, students work in teams often alongside majors outside the College of Engineering. Most experiments require written laboratory reports. The junior year laboratory sequence is also a writing intensive experience. An English instructor meets regularly with majors to develop their technical writing skills, through assignments, guided revision and assessment.

Five courses in mathematics (in addition to a computer programming course) are required, with the upper level selections involving topics pertinent to engineering. A minor in mathematics can be earned with one additional mathematics course beyond these five plus PHY 476. Approximately 50% of graduating Engineering Physics majors earn a minor in mathematics.

The Engineering Physics program requires satisfactory completion of at least 127 credits at an accumulative grade point of not less than 2.0. The undergraduate degree is accredited by the Engineering Association Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees: Master of Engineering in Engineering Physics, Master of Science in Physics, and Doctor of Philosophy in Physics. Further information about these programs is contained in the Graduate School online Catalog.

Cooperative “Work Experience” Program Option
Engineering Physics majors who have completed both their sophomore year and 16 credits in physics courses can participate in the cooperative education program. This program integrates a practical work opportunity at an industrial facility (obtained through a specific period of employment) with on-campus classroom and laboratory experiences. Academic credit is received through enrollment in PHY 495 Engineering Physics Practice.

Employment Opportunities
Engineering Physics graduates work in industry, universities, government agencies and private practice. Most go directly to an engineering/physics employment opportunity immediately after graduation. Others continue their education in graduate programs in engineering, physics, law (patent law), business and medicine. Employment in industries producing electronics products, optical products and the nuclear/radiation medicine field is popular. Because the Engineering Physics major is familiar with both the practice of engineering and the scientific approach to problem solving, our students are often sought out for multidisciplinary employment opportunities. Recent multidisciplinary employment examples include navigation instrumentation (Lincoln Laboratories), nuclear radiation monitoring (The State of Maine), and optical and acoustical effects (The Walt Disney Corporation).

Scholarships
The Department of Physics and Astronomy has several large scholarship endowments. The Department awards between 25 and 35 scholarships each year to its undergraduate majors. The College of Engineering also offers scholarships and awards supported by endowments within the College and from Maine industries.

Suggested curriculum for the B.S. in Engineering Physics

The recommended sequence of the four-year curriculum is shown below. Copies of the curriculum with detailed explanations of the recommendations can be obtained in Office of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. There are possible alterations to this schedule and substitutions may be made for some courses on approval of the Chairperson of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students desiring to transfer from another engineering program in their first or second year, into Engineering Physics, may do so without loss of credit or delays in graduation. The considerable flexibility in the Engineering Physics program will allow a student to design an individual curriculum with the assistance of his/her advisor.

First Year - First Semester

CHY 121 - Introduction to Chemistry Credits: 3
CHY 123 - Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 1
MAT 126 - Calculus I Credits: 4
PHY 121 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists I Credits: 4
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective I³

First Year - Second Semester

COS 220 - Introduction to C++ Programming Credits: 3
See footnote 1.
ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
MAT 127 - Calculus II Credits: 4
PHY 122 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists II Credits: 4
Engineering Sequence I²

Second Year - First Semester

MAT 228 - Calculus III Credits: 4
PHY 229 - Physical Measurements Laboratory I Credits: 2
PHY 236 - Introductory Quantum Physics Credits: 3
Engineering Sequence II ²

Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective II³

Second Year - Second Semester

MAT 259 - Differential Equations Credits: 3
MET 107 - Machine Tool Laboratory I Credits: 2
See footnote 2.
PHY 200 - Career Preparation in Physics and Engineering Physics I Credits: 1
PHY 223 - Special Relativity Credits: 1
PHY 230 - Physical Measurements Laboratory II Credits: 2
PHY 238 - Mechanics Credits: 3
Engineering Sequence III²

Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective III³

Third Year - First Semester

PHY 441 - Physical Electronics Laboratory Credits: 2
PHY 454 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credits: 3
PHY 476 - Mathematical Methods in Physics Credits: 3
See footnote 7.
Engineering Sequence IV ²

Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective IV³

Third Year - Second Semester

PHY 442 - Modern Experimental Physics Credits: 2
PHY 455 - Electricity and Magnetism II Credits: 3
PHY 472 - Geometrical and Fourier Optics Credits: 3
Engineering Sequence V ³

MAT Elective⁴

Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective V³

Fourth Year - First Semester

PHY 400 - Career Preparation in Physics and Engineering Physics II Credits: 1
PHY 469 - Quantum and Atomic Physics Credits: 3
PHY 481 - Project Laboratory in Physics I Credits: 3
PHY Elective⁵

Engineering Sequence VI²

Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective VI³

Fourth Year - Second Semester

PHY 482 - Project Laboratory in Physics II Credits: 3
Technical Elective⁶

Engineering Sequence VII and VIII²

Free Elective

Special Requirements:

¹ Students with programming experience may substitute ECE 171, Microcomputer Architecture and Applications (Cr. 4). Other COS courses (e.g., COS 215) can be substituted. Course substitutions require the permission of the student’s academic advisor.

² The Engineering Sequence consists of at least eight three-credit engineering courses, of which a minimum of five courses are from the engineering concentration: Chemical and Biological, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Mechanical or Spatial Information. Engineering Technology courses can not be used for the Engineering Sequence, or the technical electives. Engineering sequence courses can not be used for the technical elective.

³ Human Values/Social Context and Ethics, part of the university’s general education requirements, can be satisfied by careful selection of at least six three-credit courses.

⁴ Choose from MAT 262, MAT 332, MAT 434, MAT 452, MAT 453, MAT 454, MAT 459, MAT 471, PHY 574 or approved similar mathematics courses. PHY 574 may be counted as either a mathematics elective or a physics elective, but not both.

⁵ Any physics or astronomy course at the 400-level or higher is appropriate. Students may elect to take PHY 462 Physical Thermodynamics, instead of MEE 230 Thermodynamics I; however, PHY 462 cannot be used as one of the seven required engineering courses.

⁶ A technical elective can be an Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science or other approved science course, generally at the 300-level or higher.

⁷ PHY 476 can be used as one of the courses needed to obtain a minor in mathematics provided it is the only non-MAT course used for the minor.

All Engineering Physics students must take: MET 107, ECE 210 Electrical Networks I (part of the engineering sequence) and a thermodynamics course such as PHY 462 or MEE 230 (see Note 5 above).