Physics, BA

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Program Description:

The Department of Physics offers programs leading either to a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics. Students in secondary education may earn the Bachelor of Arts degree in physics and enter the Professional Year Experience program of the College of Health, Education, and Human Services for licensure in physics.

Minimum requirements for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in physics include successfully completing the required courses, with a GPA of at least 2.0 for all physics courses, as well as completing university and college degree requirements.

The Department of Physics offers an honors program designed to provide superior students with a program that offers greater creativity and intellectual challenge. Students who wish to participate in this program must apply to the department during the  spring quarter before they plan to enter the honors program. Interested students should have at least a 3.2 GPA overall and at least a 3.2 in physics courses numbered 3000 and above. To graduate with honors in physics, students are required to complete at least two 4000-level PHY courses above and beyond those required by the program.

For more information visit:

• Physics, BA
• Department of Physics
• College of Science and Mathematics

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 42 Hours

ELEMENT 1 - COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 2 - MATHEMATICS: 4 HOURS

• MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

ELEMENT 3 - GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 4 - ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5 - SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 6 - NATURAL SCIENCES: 10 HOURS

• PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1 required

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 7 HOURS

• MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4 required

II. Departmental Core Requirements: 17 Hours

• PHY 2420 - Introduction to Modern Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3710 - Analytical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 4500 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3150 - Physics Instrumentation Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3220 - Applied Optics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3500 - Advanced Physics Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 3 Hours

• PHY Elective Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Related Course Requirements: 38 Hours

• MTH 2320 - Calculus III Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• MTH 2330 - Differential Equations Credit Hour(s): 3 or
• MTH 2350 - Differential Equations with Matrix Algebra Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• MTH 2530 - Elementary Linear Algebra Credit Hour(s): 3

•  

• CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3 or
• CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2

•  

• CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3 or
• CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2

•  

• 18 credit hours outside the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Engineering and Computer Science Credit Hour(s): 18

V. General Electives: 20 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Physics, BA (3 yr) (GPS) 
• Physics, BA (GPS) 

Physics Education Concentration

Program Description:

The Department of Physics offers programs leading either to a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics. Students in secondary education may earn the Bachelor of Arts degree in physics and enter the Professional Year  Experience program of the College of Health, Education, and Human Services for licensure in physics physical sciences, life sciences/physics, or earth sciences/physics. Minimum requirements for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in physics include successfully completing the required courses, with a GPA of at least 2.0 for all physics courses, as well as completing university and college degree requirements.

Physics Education

Students who wish to teach physics in Ohio public high schools can pursue the B.A. degree in physics. Upon completion of this undergraduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then must complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) through Wright State’s College of Health, Education, and Human Services. Graduates of the B.A. in physics and the Professional Educators Program are eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in  Physics/Physical Sciences. Licensure in Life Sciences/Physics, or Earth Sciences/Physics can also be sought upon completion of programs based on the B.A. in Physics and the PEP.

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 42 Hours

ELEMENT 1 - COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 2 - MATHEMATICS: 4 HOURS

• MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4 required

ELEMENT 3 - GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 4 - ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5 - SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 6 - NATURAL SCIENCES: 10 HOURS

• PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4 or
• PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1

• and

• PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4 or
• PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 7 HOURS

• MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4 required

II. Departmental Core Requirements: 27 Hours

• PHY 1000 - Undergraduate Physics Seminar I Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 1010 - Undergraduate Physics Seminar II Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 1060 - Astronomy Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 1060L - Astronomy Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 2420 - Introduction to Modern Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3710 - Analytical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 4500 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3150 - Physics Instrumentation Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 3220 - Applied Optics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 4460 - Multiple Representations in Physical Science Credit Hour(s): 3
• PHY 4470 - Development of Ideas in Physical Science Credit Hour(s): 3

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 0 Hours

IV. Related Course Requirements: 39 Hours

• MTH 2320 - Calculus III Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• MTH 2330 - Differential Equations Credit Hour(s): 3 or
• MTH 2350 - Differential Equations with Matrix Algebra Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• MTH 2530 - Elementary Linear Algebra Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 3460 - Concepts in Chemistry II for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• BIO 3450 - Concepts in Life Science I for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 3450 - Concepts in Earth Science I for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• 18 credit hours outside the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Engineering and Computer Science must include ED 2600, ED 2650, ED 2700, ED 2750, EDS 2900 (11) Credit Hour(s): 18

V. General Electives: 12 Hours

Total: 120 Hours