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Undergraduate programs

Physics is the branch of knowledge that attempts to explain all of the phenomena we observe or infer on earth and in the universe. Its study has made possible a modern understanding of the origin of the universe as well as the behavior of biological materials and chemical processes. Scientists trained in this field can engage in such diverse areas as solid state devices, particle physics, energy and the environment, biotechnology, and space travel.

The study of physics does not involve the following of a specific recipe or set of rules; rather it entails developing an attitude or way of looking at phenomena and asking questions. Physicists seek to understand how the physical universe works, no matter what the scale of observation—from quarks to quasars, from the time it takes the proton to spin, to the age of the cosmos. The answers to these questions are summarized into statements called laws. We live in the age of physical law. Awareness of the beauty, harmony, and interplay of the laws of physics greatly enhances our view and appreciation of our environment.

As an undergraduate, you will take a group of core courses that will give you a general background in the subject. You will study force and motion, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and the physical properties of materials, learning both the theoretical and the experimental aspects.

Physicists are employed by almost all industries, particularly by the technical industries and by government laboratories. Roughly half of all students with a bachelor’s degree in physics go on to graduate work. In addition to a traditional graduate curriculum in physics or astronomy, they can enter programs in optics, applied physics, engineering physics, and education. Biophysics, material science, atmospheric physics, environmental science, medical physics, and finance are particularly popular fields now. Environmental programs, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, and computer science are common graduate school tracks. Medicine and law are also fields that welcome students with physics degrees. Many physicists are entrepreneurs who start their own companies.

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

Physics B.A./B.S.

Physics Minor

Physics Honors Track

Physics Secondary Education Program

Physics B.A./B.S.

It is important that students planning to major in physics contact the Department of Physics prior to the start of their work in order that a coherent program can be planned with their assigned adviser.

Students planning to transfer to PSU from community colleges or other universities are strongly advised to contact the Department of Physics well ahead of their proposed date of transfer so that a smooth transition, which avoids course duplication and untimely delays, can be accomplished. Students need to choose between the standard option, the environmental physics option, the engineering physics option, and the biomedical option.

Requirements

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the student must meet the following minimal departmental course requirements:

Standard Option

Ph 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus) I

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus) II

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus) III

3
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233

1
  
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 315Experimental Physics II

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4
Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

One year of general chemistry:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4
Ch 222General Chemistry II

4
Ch 223General Chemistry III

4
Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 229General Chemistry Laboratory

1

At least two of the following courses:

Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 412Quantum Mechanics II

4
Ph 425Classical Mechanics II

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 434Methods of Mathematical Physics

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4

Two courses in a related area of science or technology (minimum 6 credits total):

biology, geology, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, or physics

6
Total Credit Hours:101-104

Environmental Option

Ph 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus) I

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus) II

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus) III

3
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233

1
 
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Ph 471/ESM 471Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change

4
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4
Stat 451Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I

4

One year of general chemistry:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4
Ch 222General Chemistry II

4
Ch 223General Chemistry III

4
Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 229General Chemistry Laboratory

1

Choose two of the following courses:

Ph 315Experimental Physics II

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 434Methods of Mathematical Physics

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 473Alternative Energies

4
Ph 490Cellular and Molecular Biophysics

4

Choose 12 credits of electives from the following:

Bi 211Principles of Biology: Biology of Cells

4
Bi 212Principles of Biology: The biology of organisms

4
Bi 213Principles of Biology: Evolution and ecology of living organisms

4
Bi 214Principles of Biology Lab I

1
Bi 215Principles of Biology Lab II

1
Bi 216Principles of Biology Lab III

1
Bi 357General Ecology

4
Bi 476Population Ecology

5
Ch 360UOrigins of Life on Earth

4
Ch 426Instrumental Analysis

4
Ch 427Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

4
CE 371Environmental Engineering

4
ESM 220Introduction to Environmental Systems

4
ESM 221Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving

4
ESM 222Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration

4
ESM 320Environmental Systems I

4
ESM 321Environmental Systems II

4
ESM 322Environmental Risk Assessment

4
ESM 324Environmental Systems Laboratory II

2
ESM 460/CE 488Air Quality

4
G 322Global Biogeochemical Cycles

5
G 351Introduction to Oceanography

4
G 426Numerical Modeling of Earth Systems

4
G 426LLab for G 426

0
G 434Structural Geology and Tectonics

5
G 458Astrobiology

4
G 462Hillslope Materials and Processes

4
G 476Earthquake Geology

4
Geog 310U/Sci 333UClimate and Water Resources

4
Geog 311UClimatology

4
Geog 312U/Sci 334UClimate Variability and Change

4
Geog 314USevere Weather

4
ME 320Fluid Mechanics

4
ME 415Advanced Topics in Energy Conversion

4
ME 426Solar Engineering

4
Ph 333U/Geog 333UWeather

4
Total Credit Hours:103-106

See adviser for substitutions.

Biomedical Option

Required physics courses:

Ph 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
or
Ph 231General Physics I with Life Science and Medical Applications

4
Ph 232General Physics II with Life Science and Medical Applications

4
Ph 233General Physics III with Life Science and Medical Applications

4
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233

1
 
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4

Required non-physics courses:

Bi 211Principles of Biology: Biology of Cells

4
Bi 214Principles of Biology Lab I

1
Ch 221General Chemistry I

4
Ch 222General Chemistry II

4
Ch 223General Chemistry III

4
Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 229General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 334Organic Chemistry I

4
Ch 337Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

2
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

At least 12 credits of the following electives:

a) Courses particularly recommended for pre-professionals in biophysics, biomedical engineering, medical physics:
Ph 315Experimental Physics II

4
Ph 337Physics in Biomedicine

4
Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 451Electron Microscopy

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 490Cellular and Molecular Biophysics

4
b) Courses particularly recommended for pre-health care professionals:
Bi 212Principles of Biology: The biology of organisms

4
Bi 213Principles of Biology: Evolution and ecology of living organisms

4
Bi 215Principles of Biology Lab II

1
Bi 216Principles of Biology Lab III

1
Bi 301Human Anatomy and Physiology

4
Bi 302Human Anatomy and Physiology

4
Bi 303Human Anatomy and Physiology

4
Ch 335Organic Chemistry II

4
Ch 336Organic Chemistry III

4
Ch 338Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (nonmajors)

2
Ph 337Physics in Biomedicine

4
Ph 490Cellular and Molecular Biophysics

4

Please see the undergraduate adviser to register for the following OHSU substitute courses:

RDTT 331Radiation Therapy Physics I

3
RDTT 430Radiation Therapy Physics II

3
Total Credit Hours:101

Engineering Physics Option

Ph 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233

1
 
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

4
 
Ph 319Solid State Physics for Engineering Students

4
or
Ph 413Introduction to Solid State Physics

4
  
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 315Experimental Physics II

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

At least four of the following electives

Ph 401Research

4
Ph 402Independent Study

4
Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 434Methods of Mathematical Physics

4
Ph 440Physics of Solid State Devices

4
Ph 445Microelectronic Device Fabrication I

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 481Introduction to Nano(materials)-Science and –Engineering

4
Ph 495Materials Physics: Structure and Physical Properties of Ordered and Disordered Condensed Matter

4

Three courses in a related area of science or engineering (minimum 9 credits):

chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or statistics

9-12
Total Credit Hours:100-103

Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) are not acceptable toward fulfilling department major requirements except for those major courses offered on a pass/no pass basis only.