Dec 04, 2024

2022-2023 UMaine Undergraduate Catalog

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2022-2023 UMaine Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics

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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS - Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Physics

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum number of credits required to complete the major: BA 38; BS 55 (plus requirements in related disciplines)

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: Physics courses require a C- or better to satisfy a prerequisite.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in the courses in the major field that are credited toward the major.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: PHY 400 and PHY 481 or PHY 400 and PHY 482. HON 498/ 499 are exempt from taking PHY481 (Project Laboratory in Physics I) and PHY482 (Project Laboratory in Physics II) but do have to complete the project assignments in those courses. Honors thesis proposal form must have the signature of the chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Courses satisfying the writing intensive requirement within the major: PHY 364 and PHY 365

Residency requirement: Majors in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences require a minimum of 15 institutional credits in the major.

Contact Information: MacKenzie Stetzer, Associate Professor, Acting Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 120 Bennett Hall, 207.581.1039, umphysicschair@maine.edu

The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences page of the catalog.

For more information about our undergraduate and graduate programs, program learning outcomes, internships, special resources and programs, and research and career opportunities, see our web site at https://physics.umaine.edu/.

Information about the Physics major

The Department also offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics in the College of Engineering. This BS degree is designed for students who are interested in both a particular engineering field and the physics and mathematics that provide a foundation for that field. This program is described under Engineering Physics in the College of Engineering section of this catalog.
Physics and Cooperative Education
Physics majors in good standing who have completed 18 credits in physics may participate in the Cooperative Education Program. Cooperative Education is the integration of practical work experience, obtained through specific periods of employment in industry, business, or government, into the on-campus classroom and laboratory course curriculum. A student in the Cooperative Education Program works as a paid employee in a professional environment at a job selected by mutual agreement with the student, employer, and the Cooperative Education Coordinator in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Academic credit is received through enrollment in PHY 496, Field Experience in Physics.

Requirements for the BA in Physics

A minimum of 38 credits in physics. The 38 credits in physics (beyond PHY 100 , our first-year success course) must include PHY 121 and PHY 122 (or PHY 111 and PHY 112 ), PHY 200 , PHY 223 , PHY 231 , PHY 236 , PHY 241 , PHY 261 , PHY 262 , PHY 364 (or PHY 365 ), PHY 400 , PHY 451 , PHY 454 , and PHY 481 and one Physics Elective for 3 credits.
CHY 121 CHY 123
ENG 101
15 credits in mathematics, which must include MAT 126 , MAT 127 , MAT 228 , MAT 259 or their equivalents.
First-year students must take PHY 100 .

Note: A student preparing for graduate work in physics is advised to take some or all of the following electives in his or her junior or senior year: PHY 463, Statistical Mechanics; PHY 470, Nuclear Physics; PHY 480, Physics of Materials; as well as additional courses in mathematics.

Suggested four-year plan for the B.A. in Physics Model 1

The following curriculum shows how a typical student can complete the requirements with physics courses spread out over four years. There are many other possible arrangements, and usually the student will design an individualized program with an advisor from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Minimum Total Credits in the BA in Physics Program: 120 (without PHY 100).

First Year - First Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
MAT 126 - Calculus I Credits: 4
PHY 100 - Introduction to Physics and Astronomy Credits: 1
PHY 121 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists I Credits: 4
or
PHY 111 - General Physics I Credits: 4
Human Value/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹Credits: 3

First Year - Second Semester

MAT 127 - Calculus II Credits: 4
PHY 122 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists II Credits: 4
or
PHY 112 - General Physics II Credits: 4
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹ Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Second Year - First Semester

CHY 121 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHY 123 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1
MAT 228 - Calculus III Credits: 4
PHY 200 - Career Preparation in Physics and Engineering Physics I Credits: 1
PHY 261 - Physical Measurements Laboratory Credits: 2
PHY 236 - Introductory Quantum Physics Credits: 3

Second Year - Second Semester

MAT 259 - Differential Equations Credits: 3
PHY 223 - Special Relativity Credits: 1
PHY 231 - Mathematical Methods in Physics Credits: 3
PHY 241 - Computational Physics Credits: 3
PHY 262 - Electronics Credits: 2
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹or Elective Credits: 3

Third Year - First Semester

PHY 364 - Modern Experimental Physics Credits: 2
PHY 451 - Mechanics Credits: 3
PHY 454 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credits: 3
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s) IV¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 6

Third Year - Second Semester

PHY 365 - Mechanics Laboratory Credits: 2
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 12

Fourth Year - First Semester

PHY 400 - Career Preparation in Physics and Engineering Physics II Credits: 1
PHY 481 - Project Laboratory in Physics I Credits: 3
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 12

Fourth Year - Second Semester

Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 15

Suggestedfour-year plan for the B.A. in Physics Model 2

The following curriculum is designed for those students who desire a degree in Physics but who wish greater breadth in background in other areas of science - such as biological, geological, chemical or environmental sciences. The program outlined below enables a student to begin a major in Physics during the sophomore year.

Minimum Total Credits in the BA in Physics Program: 120 (without PHY 100)

First Year - First Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
PHY 100 - Introduction to Physics and Astronomy Credits: 1
Human Value/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹ Credits: 3
Electives Credits: 9

First Year - Second Semester

Human Value/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹ Credits: 3
Electives Credits: 12

Second Year - First Semester

CHY 121 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHY 123 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1
MAT 126 - Calculus I Credits: 4
PHY 121 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists I Credits: 4
or
PHY 111 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHY 200 - Career Preparation in Physics and Engineering Physics I Credits: 1
Human Value/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹

Second Year - Second Semester

MAT 127 - Calculus II Credits: 4
PHY 122 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists II Credits: 4
or
PHY 112 - General Physics II Credits: 4
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹ and/or Elective Credits: 6

Fourth Year - Second Semester

PHY 365 - Mechanics Laboratory Credits: 2
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 13

Note

¹Human Values/Social Context and Ethics (HV/SC & E), part of the University General Education Requirement, can be satisfied by a careful selection of at least six three-credit courses.

Requirements for the BS in Physics

A minimum of 55 credits of physics (3 of which are elective; 56 credits if PHY 100 , our first-year success course, is taken). The physics electives must be chosen from AST 451 , PHY 447 , PHY 470 , PHY 471 , PHY 482 , PHY 496 , PHY 501, or PHY 574.
18 credits of mathematics (3 of which are elective; the mathematics elective is usually chosen from MAT 262 , STS 332 , STS 434 , MAT 452 , MAT 453 , MAT 454 or MAT 471 . PHY 574 may be used here as the mathematics elective, provided it is not also used as a physics elective.)
7 credits of approved science and computer science courses.
ENG 101
36 credits of additional electives (18 of which satisfy the University’s General Education Human Values/Social Context and Ethics requirements), for an overall total of 120 credits.
First-year students must take PHY 100 .
Note: Five courses in mathematics (in addition to a computer programming course) are required for the BS degree. A minor in mathematics can be earned with one additional mathematics course beyond these five and our required PHY 231 .

The following course schedule represents the suggested curriculum for a typical student in the Bachelor of Science in Physics program. Courses listed by number and name are required for the B.S. degree. Substitutions may be made for some courses on approval of the student’s advisor and of the Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Suggested four-year plan for the B.S. in Physics

First Year - First Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
MAT 126 - Calculus I Credits: 4
PHY 100 - Introduction to Physics and Astronomy Credits: 1
PHY 121 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists I Credits: 4
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹ Credits: 3

First Year - Second Semester

COS 125 - Introduction to Problem Solving Using Computer Programming Credits: 4
or
COS 220 - Introduction to C++ Programming Credits: 3
MAT 127 - Calculus II Credits: 4
PHY 122 - Physics for Engineers and Physical Scientists II Credits: 4
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹ Credits: 3

Second Year - First Semester

CHY 121 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHY 123 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1
MAT 228 - Calculus III Credits: 4
PHY 200 - Career Preparation in Physics and Engineering Physics I Credits: 1
PHY 261 - Physical Measurements Laboratory Credits: 2
PHY 236 - Introductory Quantum Physics Credits: 3

Second Year - Second Semester

MAT 259 - Differential Equations Credits: 3
PHY 223 - Special Relativity Credits: 1
PHY 231 - Mathematical Methods in Physics Credits: 3
PHY 241 - Computational Physics Credits: 3
PHY 262 - Electronics Credits: 2
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹or Elective Credits: 3

Third Year - First Semester

PHY 364 - Modern Experimental Physics Credits: 2
PHY 451 - Mechanics Credits: 3
PHY 454 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credits: 3
PHY 472 - Geometrical and Fourier Optics Credits: 3
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective¹or Elective Credits: 3

Third Year - Second Semester

PHY 365 - Mechanics Laboratory Credits: 2
PHY 455 - Electricity and Magnetism II Credits: 3
Mathematics Elective Credits: 3
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 9

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 480 - Physics of Materials Credits: 3
PHY 481 - Project Laboratory in Physics I Credits: 3
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 6

Fourth Year - Second Semester

PHY 463 - Statistical Mechanics Credits: 3
Human Values/Social Context and Ethics Elective(s)¹and/or Elective(s) and/or Physics Elective(s) Credits: 12