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.
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 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) I | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) II | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) III | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 221 | General Physics (with Calculus) I | 3 |
Ph 222 | General Physics (with Calculus) II | 3 |
Ph 223 | General Physics (with Calculus) III | 3 |
| With | |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233 | 1 |
| | |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics I | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics II | 4 |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 315 | Experimental Physics II | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics III | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 426 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 4 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Ordinary Differential Equations | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
One year of general chemistry:
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
At least two of the following courses:
Ph 411 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 412 | Quantum Mechanics II | 4 |
Ph 425 | Classical Mechanics II | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 4 |
Ph 434 | Methods of Mathematical Physics | 4 |
Ph 464 | Applied 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 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) I | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) II | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) III | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 221 | General Physics (with Calculus) I | 3 |
Ph 222 | General Physics (with Calculus) II | 3 |
Ph 223 | General Physics (with Calculus) III | 3 |
| With | |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233 | 1 |
| | |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics I | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics II | 4 |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
Ph 426 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 4 |
Ph 471/ESM 471 | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change | 4 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Ordinary Differential Equations | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
Stat 451 | Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I | 4 |
One year of general chemistry:
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Choose two of the following courses:
Ph 315 | Experimental Physics II | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics III | 4 |
Ph 411 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 4 |
Ph 434 | Methods of Mathematical Physics | 4 |
Ph 464 | Applied Optics | 4 |
Ph 473 | Alternative Energies | 4 |
Ph 490 | Cellular and Molecular Biophysics | 4 |
Choose 12 credits of electives from the following:
Bi 211 | Principles of Biology: Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics | 4 |
Bi 212 | Principles of Biology: Development, Evolution & Ecology | 4 |
Bi 213 | Principles of Biology: Organisms, Biodiversity & Conservation | 4 |
Bi 214 | Principles of Biology Lab I | 1 |
Bi 215 | Principles of Biology Lab II | 1 |
Bi 216 | Principles of Biology Lab III | 1 |
Bi 357 | General Ecology | 4 |
Bi 476 | Population Ecology | 5 |
Ch 360U | Origins of Life on Earth | 4 |
Ch 426 | Instrumental Analysis | 4 |
Ch 427 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
CE 371 | Environmental Engineering | 4 |
ESM 220 | Introduction to Environmental Systems | 4 |
ESM 221 | Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving | 4 |
ESM 222 | Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration | 4 |
ESM 320 | Environmental Systems I | 4 |
ESM 321 | Environmental Systems II | 4 |
ESM 322 | Environmental Risk Assessment | 4 |
ESM 324 | Environmental Systems Laboratory II | 2 |
ESM 460/CE 488 | Air Quality | 4 |
G 322 | Global Biogeochemical Cycles | 5 |
G 351 | Introduction to Oceanography | 4 |
G 426 | Numerical Modeling of Earth Systems | 4 |
G 426L | Lab for G 426 | 0 |
G 434 | Structural Geology and Tectonics | 5 |
G 458 | Astrobiology | 4 |
G 462 | Hillslope Materials and Processes | 4 |
G 476 | Earthquake Geology | 4 |
Geog 310U/Sci 333U | Climate and Water Resources | 4 |
Geog 311U | Climatology | 4 |
Geog 312U/Sci 334U | Climate Variability and Change | 4 |
Geog 314U | Severe Weather | 4 |
ME 320 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 |
ME 415 | Advanced Topics in Energy Conversion | 4 |
ME 426 | Solar Engineering | 4 |
Ph 333U/Geog 333U | Weather | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 103-106 |
See adviser for substitutions.
Biomedical Option
Required physics courses:
Ph 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) I | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) II | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) III | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 231 | General Physics I with Life Science and Medical Applications | 4 |
Ph 232 | General Physics II with Life Science and Medical Applications | 4 |
Ph 233 | General Physics III with Life Science and Medical Applications | 4 |
| With | |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233 | 1 |
| | |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics I | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics II | 4 |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics III | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
Ph 426 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Required non-physics courses:
Bi 211 | Principles of Biology: Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics | 4 |
Bi 214 | Principles of Biology Lab I | 1 |
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 334 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 337 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Ordinary Differential Equations | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction 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 315 | Experimental Physics II | 4 |
Ph 337 | Physics in Biomedicine | 4 |
Ph 411 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 4 |
Ph 451 | Electron Microscopy | 4 |
Ph 464 | Applied Optics | 4 |
Ph 490 | Cellular and Molecular Biophysics | 4 |
b) Courses particularly recommended for pre-health care professionals:
Bi 212 | Principles of Biology: Development, Evolution & Ecology | 4 |
Bi 213 | Principles of Biology: Organisms, Biodiversity & Conservation | 4 |
Bi 215 | Principles of Biology Lab II | 1 |
Bi 216 | Principles of Biology Lab III | 1 |
Bi 301 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Bi 302 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Bi 303 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Ch 335 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 336 | Organic Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 338 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (nonmajors) | 2 |
Ph 337 | Physics in Biomedicine | 4 |
Ph 490 | Cellular and Molecular Biophysics | 4 |
Please see the undergraduate adviser to register for the following OHSU substitute courses:
RDTT 331 | Radiation Therapy Physics I | 3 |
RDTT 430 | Radiation Therapy Physics II | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 101 |
Engineering Physics Option
Ph 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
| or | |
Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) I | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) II | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) III | 4 |
| With | |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233 | 1 |
| | |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics I | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics II | 4 |
| | |
Ph 319 | Solid State Physics for Engineering Students | 4 |
| or | |
| | |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 315 | Experimental Physics II | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics III | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Ordinary Differential Equations | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
At least four of the following electives
Ph 401 | Research | 4 |
Ph 402 | Independent Study | 4 |
Ph 411 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 4 |
Ph 434 | Methods of Mathematical Physics | 4 |
Ph 440 | Physics of Solid State Devices | 4 |
Ph 445 | Microelectronic Device Fabrication I | 4 |
Ph 464 | Applied Optics | 4 |
Ph 481 | Introduction to Nano(materials)-Science and –Engineering | 4 |
Ph 495 | Materials 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.