Department of Physics
College of Natural Sciences
www.physics.uni.edu
Staff:
C. Chancey, Head. F. Behroozi, K. Couch Breitbach, J. Deisz, L. Escalada, T. Kidd, J. Morgan, D. Olson, M. Roth, P. Shand
The Department of Physics offers the following undergraduate and graduate programs. Specific requirements for these programs are listed within this Department of Accounting section in the following order:
Undergraduate Majors (B.S.)
Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
Combined B.A./P.S.M. or B.S./P.S.M. Applied Physics
Minors
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Graduate Majors (P.S.M.)
The Department of Physics offers major programs in two baccalaureate areas: the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts. The B.S. Physics major is recommended for students who wish to prepare for graduate study in physics, engineering, or other sciences such as geophysics, astronomy, biophysics, or medical physics.
The B.S. Applied Physics major is especially suitable for students seeking industrial or other applied employment after the B.S. degree. It could also serve as a background for graduate study in some applied science or engineering areas.
The B.A. Physics Major Teaching is for students preparing to be physics teachers at the secondary school level.
Bachelor of Science Degree Programs
Note: To graduate with a B.S. degree in Physics or Applied Physics, a student must earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.50 in all courses applied toward the major.
Applied Physics Major
The B.S. Applied Physics major requires a minimum of 126 total hours to graduate. This total includes Liberal Arts Core requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 126 hours. Liberal Arts Core courses included in major program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
18 hours |
|
Computer Science: 810:036 |
3 hours |
5-8 hours |
|
Physics: 880:130; 880:131; 880:132; 880:137; 880:138; 880:187 |
18 hours |
Choose ONE of the following two options |
22 hours |
Total |
66-69 hours |
Option 1: Applied Physics
Required: |
|
Physics: 880:140; 880:150; 880:152; 880:154; 880:174; 880:179 (2 hours) or 880:184 (2 hours) |
19 hours |
Electives in physics: 100-level (may include 870:130) |
3 hours |
OPTION 1 TOTAL |
22 hours |
Option 2: Applied Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree Major
Qualified students may pursue a dual-degree major leading to a B.S. Applied Physics degree from the University of Norther Iowa (UNI) and a B.S. engineering degree from Iowa State University (ISU) or the University of Iowa (UI). This requires approximately three years of attendance at UNI followed by approximately two years of attendance at ISU or UI. Students who successfully complete the UNI part of the major are guaranteed admittance into the ISU or UI portion of the major if they have: an average of at least B (3.00 GPA) in all course work; an average of at least B (3.00 GPA) in the chemistry and biochemistry, mathematics, and physics courses required by the UNI Department of Physics; and the positvie recommendation of the Head, Department of Physics.
The engineering courses completed toward a B.S. engineering degree at ISU or UI will be transferred to UNI to provide 6-9 credit hours of electives for the applied physics portion of the major. The UNI internship requirement will be satisfied through comparable practical experience at ISU or UI that has been approved by the Head, Department of Physics, UNI.
In the first three years at UNI students in the major must complete at least 90 semester credit hours of course work. In addition to the courses listed above, the students are expected to complete courses to satisfy the Liberal Arts Core requirements. Credit, but no grades, for courses at UNI passed with a grade of C or better will be transferred to ISU of UI as credit for equivalent courses there, even though they may not be required by the engineering curriculum selected by the student.
During the years at ISU or UI, students will complete the requirements specified in the College of Engineering Catalog at the time of their admission. Course work completed at ISU or UI will be transferred to UNI to complet the requirements for the applied physics portion of the major. Upon successful completion of the major, students will be eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies at both UNI and either ISU or UI.
Required: |
|
17 hours |
|
Physics electives: (Course work must be completed at ISU or UI that satisfies the UNI requirements of 3 credit hours of electives in Applied Physics. The UNI internship requirement [2 hours] will generally be satisfied through comparable practical experience at ISU or UI that has been approved by the Head, Department of Physics, UNI) |
5 hours |
OPTION 2 TOTAL |
22 hours |
Physics Major
The B.S. Physics major requires a minimum of 126 total hours to graduate. This total includes Liberal Arts Core requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 126 hours. Liberal Arts Core courses included in major program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
18 hours |
|
5-8 hours |
|
Computer Science: 810:036 |
3 hours |
Physics: 880:130; 880:131; 880:132; 880:136; 880:137; 880:138; 880:150; 880:166; 880:167; 880:172; 880:180 (2 hours); 880:187 |
39 hours |
Electives: Physics: 100-level (may include 870:130) |
3 hours |
Total |
68-71 hours |
Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs
Physics Major
The B.A. Physics major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes Liberal Arts Core requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours. Liberal Arts Core courses included in major program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
8 hours |
|
Physics: 880:130; 880:131; 880:132; 880:137; 880:138; 880:152 |
21 hours |
Electives: Mathematics or Computer Science (one of the following): 800:062; 800:076; 810:036 Physics: 100-level College of Natural Sciences (Elective courses must be ones that count toward a major in the department in which the course is offered or courses numbered 830:xxx) |
3-4 hours 7 hours
14 hours |
Total |
53-54 hours |
Physics Major - Teaching
The B.A. Physics major in teaching requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes Liberal Arts Core requirements , the Professional Education Requirements, and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours. Liberal Arts Core courses included in major program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
8 hours |
|
8 hours |
|
17 hours |
|
Electives: Physics: (all 100-level courses) Non-physics science courses from the College of Natural Sciences (excluding all 820:xxx and mathematics below 800:060) |
7 hours
6 hours |
Total |
46 hours |
Sufficient work including current curricula should be takenfor licensure approval in a second area. Common teaching combinations are physics-chemistry or physics-mathematics.
Completion of this major will satisfy the requirements of the Iowa Department of Education for licensure.
Combined B.A./P.S.M. or B.S./P.S.M. Applied Physics
The B.A./P.S.M. or B.S./P.S.M. degree program is a five-year program offered on the non-thesis option only, leading to both the B.A./B.S. in physics or applied physics and the P.S.M. degree in applied physics. This degree program prepares students for careers in applied physics or engineering businesses and industries. Emphasis is placed on blending core physics knowledge and pllied skills with an understanding of business and an internship experience. Students interested in this program may declare their intent be the end of the junior year, provided they have completed 880:150 and have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above. An Application for Admission to Graduate Study should be completed and the student=s interest in the Combined B.A./P.S.M. or B.S./P.S.M. Program in Applied Physics indicated on the application itself. Application for graduate admission can be found at www.grad.uni.edu/admission/default.aspx.
Once admitted to the program, undergraduate students (who are classified as seniors), may register for graduate credit as a senior, with the approval of the department head. The student presents a signed Student Request form (with appropriate signatures), when registering for graduate credit as a senior. Students earning this type of credit are classified as seniors but will pay graduate tuition for the semester hours for which they will receive graduate credit. The maximum tuition will be the full-time graduate rate for the student's residence classification. The combined total of course credits, both undergraduate and graduate, may not exceed 15 hours in a semester of 8 hours in a summer session. Graduate work completed on the early admission basis will be counted as graduate credit only if the student actually earns the bachelor-s degree at the end of the semester or summer session in which the course work is taken. Actual admission to graduate study and classification as a graduate student commences the semester after the student has completed the baccalaureate.
Minors
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Minor
Liberal Arts Core courses included in minor program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
Industrial Technology: 330:18 |
3 hours |
8 hours |
|
| Chemistry and Biochemistry: 860:044 and 860:048, or 860:070 | 5-8 hours |
Physics: 880:054 or 880:130; 880:056 or 880:131; 880:144 or 860:144; 880:148 or 860:148 |
14 hours |
Total |
30-33 hours |
Physics Minor
Liberal Arts Core courses included in minor program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
8 hours |
|
Electives from the following: Physics: 880:140; 880:144; 880:148; 880:152; 880:154; 880:187 |
12 hours |
Total |
20 hours |
Physics Minor - Teaching
The Physics Minor-Teaching provides for a second endorsement approval by the Iowas Board of Educational Examiners and requires first endorsement approval (major) in another science discipline or general science.
Liberal Arts Core courses included in minor program requirements are distinguished by italics.
Required: |
|
8 hours |
|
8 hours |
|
Electives in Physics: 100-level courses (including no more than 4 hours from 880:152 and 880:154) |
14 hours |
Total |
30 hours |
Professional Science Master's Degree Program
Major in Applied Physics
This major is available on the non-thesis option. A minimum or 30 hours is required. A minimum of seventeen (17) hours of 200-level course work is required on the non-thesis option.
The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.
Successful completion of an oral comprehensive examination is required for this non-thesis option.
The Professional Science Master=s Degree in Applied Physics prepares students for careers in applied physics or engineering businesses and industries. Emphasis is placed on blending core physics knowledge and applied skills with an understanding of business and an internship experience. Admission is restricted to students with a GPA of 3.00 or higher and a B.A. or B.S. in Physics or a related discipline. The be admitted, students must also have taken the following courses or their equivalents: Physics III (800:132) or equivanlent; Modern Physics (800:137); and Modern Physics Laboratory (880:138) or a physics laboratory course at an equivalent level.
Students interested in this program must submit a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study. Graduate information and application for graduate admission can be found at www.grad.uni.edu/admission/default.aspx.
Required: |
|
| Mathematics: 800:121 | 3 hours |
Science and Science Education: 820:209; 820:215; 820:289; 820:295 |
11 hours |
| Physics: 880:160; 880:205; 880:220 | 9 hours |
Electives (Physics electives 100g or above): Physics: 880:140; 880:144; 880:148; 880:150; 880:150; 880:152; 880:155 |
7 hours |
Total |
30 hours |