Degree Requirements
Students receiving the B.S. or B.A. in physics must have satisfied the general requirements for bachelor's degrees (including, for example, at least 122 total credit hours, at least 26 credit hours in residence, at least 30 credit hours in 300- and 400-level courses, etc.) of the Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as described in the IU South Bend Bulletin.
There are two tracks for the B.S. degree in physics at IU South Bend. The Professional Track is the best preparation for graduate study in physics, while the Applied Physics Track is intended primarily for students who are pursuing degrees in both physics and engineering through our dual-degree arrangements with engineering departments. The department also offers a B.A. degree in physics.
Bachelor of Science in Physics, Professional Track
Concentration Requirements, Professional Track (35 cr.)
(All courses are 3 cr. hours unless otherwise designated.)
- PHYS P221 -- Physics 1 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P222 -- Physics 2 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P323 -- Physics 3
- PHYS P324 -- Physics 4
- PHYS P309 -- Modern Physics Laboratory
- PHYS P331 -- Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS P340 -- Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- PHYS P441 -- Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS P453 -- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- PHYS S406 -- Research (1-3 cr.)
- Select from the following: (1-3 cr.)
- PHYS P303 -- Digital Electronics (4 cr.)
- PHYS P321 -- Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS P334 -- Fundamentals of Optics
- PHYS P410 -- Computer Applications in Physics
- PHYS P473 -- Introduction to String Theory
- PHYS S405 -- Readings in Physics
- PHYS S406 -- Research
- AST A453 -- Topical Astrophysics
- GEOL G413 -- Introduction to Geophysics
- MATH M215 -- Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (5 cr.)
- MATH M216 -- Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (5 cr.)
- MATH M301 -- Linear Algebra and Applications
- MATH M311 -- Calculus III (5 cr.)
- MATH M343 -- Intro to Differential Equations with Applications I
- One of the following:
- MATH M344 Intro to Differential Equations with Applications II
- MATH M447 Mathematical Models and Applications
- MATH M471 Numerical Analysis I
- CHEM C105 -- Principles of Chemistry I
- CHEM C125 -- Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.)
- CHEM C106 -- Principles of Chemistry II
- CHEM C126 -- Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.)
- CSCI C101 -- Computer Programming I (4 cr.)
Note: Beginning with students entering IU South Bend in the Fall 2005 semester, the general education requirements for this degree will be shaped around the new campus-wide requirements. Descriptions of these requirements can be found at http://www.iusb.edu/~gened and at http://www.iusb.edu/~lasi/studentinfo.shtml. Students who entered IU South Bend before Fall 2005 may choose between these requirements or the old ones. Contact the department for help in determining which general education requirements are applicable for you.
No more than 6 credit hours of PHYS S405 and no more than 3 credit hours of PHYS S406 may be applied to the 35 credit hour concentration requirement in the Professional Track.
Bachelor of Science in Physics, Applied Physics Track
Concentration Requirements, Applied Physics Track (35 cr.)(All courses are 3 cr. hours unless otherwise designated.)
- PHYS P221 -- Physics 1 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P222 -- Physics 2 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P323 -- Physics 3
- PHYS P324 -- Physics 4
- PHYS P309 -- Modern Physics Laboratory
- PHYS S406 -- Research (1-3 cr.)
- At least two courses chosen from: (1-3 cr.)
- PHYS P321 -- Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS P331 -- Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS P334 -- Fundamentals of Optics
- PHYS P340 -- Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- PHYS P410 -- Computer Applications in Physics
- PHYS P473 -- Introduction to String Theory
- PHYS S405 -- Readings in Physics
- PHYS S406 -- Research
- PHYS P441 -- Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS P453 -- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- AST A453 -- Topical Astrophysics
- GEOL G413 -- Introduction to Geophysics
- Approved engineering or physics courses transferred from the partnering institution, sufficient to total 35 credit hours when added to those taken before transfer from IU South Bend. Contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy for current lists of approved courses at partnering institutions.
- MATH M215 -- Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (5 cr.)
- MATH M216 -- Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (5 cr.)
- MATH M301 -- Linear Algebra and Applications
- MATH M311 -- Calculus III (5 cr.)
- MATH M343 -- Intro to Differential Equations with Applications I
- CHEM C105 -- Principles of Chemistry I
- CHEM C125 -- Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.)
- CHEM C106 -- Principles of Chemistry II
- CHEM C126 -- Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.)
- CSCI C101 -- Computer Programming I (4 cr.)
Note: Beginning with students entering IU South Bend in the Fall 2005 semester, the general education requirements for this degree will be shaped around the new campus-wide requirements. Descriptions of these requirements can be found at http://www.iusb.edu/~gened and at http://www.iusb.edu/~lasi/studentinfo.shtml. Students who entered IU South Bend before Fall 2005 may choose between these requirements or the old ones. Contact the department for help in determining which general education requirements are applicable for you.
No more than 6 credit hours of PHYS S405 and no more than 3 credit hours of PHYS S406 may be applied to the 35 credit hour concentration requirement in the Professional Track.
Bachelor of Arts in Physics
Concentration Requirements, Bachelor of Arts (30 cr.)
(All courses are 3 cr. hours unless otherwise designated.)
- PHYS P221 -- Physics 1 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P222 -- Physics 2 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P323 -- Physics 3
- PHYS P324 -- Physics 4
- PHYS P309 -- Modern Physics Laboratory
- Select from the following (11 cr.)
- PHYS P303 -- Digital Electronics (4 cr.)
- PHYS P321 -- Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS P331 -- Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS P334 -- Fundamentals of Optics
- PHYS P340 -- Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- PHYS P410 -- Computer Applications in Physics
- PHYS P441 -- Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS P453 -- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- PHYS P473 -- Introduction to String Theory
- PHYS S405 -- Readings in Physics
- PHYS S406 -- Research
- AST A453 -- Topical Astrophysics
- GEOL G413 -- Introduction to Geophysics
- MATH M215 -- Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (5 cr.)
- MATH M216 -- Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (5 cr.)
- MATH M343 -- Intro to Differential Equations with Applications I
- MATH M301 -- Linear Algebra and Applications
- MATH M311 -- Calculus III (5 cr.)
- MATH M344 -- Intro to Differential Equations with Applications II
- CHEM C105 -- Principles of Chemistry I
- CHEM C125 -- Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.)
- CHEM C106 -- Principles of Chemistry II
- CHEM C126 -- Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.)
- CSCI C101 -- Computer Programming I (4 cr.)
The general education requirements are those established by the faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences for B.A. degrees, as described in the IU South Bend Bulletin and at http://www.iusb.edu/~lasi/studentinfo.shtml.
Minor in Physics
The Minor in Physics requires 19 credit hours of physics...- PHYS P221 -- Physics 1 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P222 -- Physics 2 (5 cr.)
- PHYS P323 -- Physics 3
- PHYS P324 -- Physics 4
- PHYS P309 -- Modern Physics Laboratory
Substitutions for either PHYS-P324 or PHYS-P309 are possible, with prior permission from the department.
