PHYSICS, BS
Department of Physics
On This Page
- Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics
- Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and an Advanced Physics Track
- Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and an Applied Physics Track
- Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and a Computational Physics Track
- Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and a Biophysics Track
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics
The curriculum of the Major in Physics provides fundamental knowledge in the core theories of physics.
Requirements | Hours | |
---|---|---|
Required Mathematics Courses | ||
MA 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
or MA 225 | Calculus I - Honors | |
MA 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
or MA 226 | Calculus II - Honors | |
MA 227 | Calculus III | 4 |
MA 252 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
Required Physics Courses | ||
PH 110 | Topics in Contemporary Physics | 1 |
PH 221 | General Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
PH 222 | General Physics II: Electricity & Magnetism | 4 |
PH 223 | General Physics III: Thermodynamics & Quantum Physics | 4 |
PH 350 | Computation, Theory, and Measurement in Quantum Physics and Relativity | 4 |
PH 420 | Mathematical Methods of Physics I | 3 |
PH 432 | Statistical Thermodynamics I | 3 |
PH 445 | Electromagnetic Theory I | 3 |
PH 450 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
PH 461 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
PH 499 | Physics Capstone | 3 |
Required Chemistry Courses | ||
CH 115 & CH 116 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory |
4 |
CH 117 & CH 118 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory |
4 |
Mathematics Elective | ||
Select one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
Math Tools for Engineering Problem Solving | ||
Introduction to Mathematical Biology | ||
History of Mathematics I | ||
History of Mathematics II | ||
Scientific Programming | ||
Mathematical Modeling | ||
Integrating Mathematical Ideas | ||
Special Topics | ||
Algebra I: Linear | ||
Algebra II: Modern | ||
Advanced Calculus I | ||
Advanced Calculus II | ||
Vector Analysis | ||
Complex Analysis | ||
Transforms | ||
Intermediate Differential Equations | ||
Partial Differential Equations I | ||
Partial Differential Equations II | ||
Modeling with Partial Differential Equations | ||
Intro to Stochastic Differential Equations | ||
Operations Research I | ||
Operations Research II | ||
Partial Differential Equations: Finite Diff. Meth. | ||
Gas Dynamics | ||
Numerical Analysis | ||
Numerical Analysis II | ||
Differential Geometry | ||
Differential Geometry II | ||
Geometry I | ||
Geometry II | ||
Introduction to Topology I | ||
Introduction to Topology II | ||
Probability | ||
Mathematical Statistics | ||
Total Hours | 61-62 |
Grade Requirement
Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses applied to this major.
Additional Requirements
Physics or General Electives
Students must take physics or general electives to reach the 120 semester hour requirement.
Minor
A minor is required for this degree, unless a double major is being earned.
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and an Advanced Physics Track
In addition to the requirements for the Major in Physics, students in the Advanced Physics Track are required to complete the following courses:
Requirements | Hours | |
---|---|---|
PH 446 | Electromagnetic Theory II | 3 |
or PH 466 | Applied Mechanics and Electromagnetism II | |
PH 451 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
Additional elective PH courses recommended for the Advanced Physics Track: | ||
Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science | ||
Computational Physics | ||
Introductory Solid State Physics I | ||
Introductory Solid State Physics II | ||
Introduction to Biophysics I | ||
Advanced Physics Laboratory I | ||
Honors Research | ||
Special Topics in Physics | ||
... Click on the "Courses" tab at the top of this page or visit the Department of Physics Web Site (http://www.uab.edu/physics/) for a full list of PH electives for the Advanced Physics Track. |
||
Total Hours | 6 |
The Advanced Physics Track is designed to prepare students for graduate studies in physics or other physical sciences. In additional to a strong foundation in the key theories of physics, this track encourages students to enroll in numerous advanced physics electives to broaden and deepen their preparation in physics.
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and an Applied Physics Track
In addition to the requirements for the Major in Physics, students in this track are required to complete a minimum of nine semester hours of courses offered by Physics or other UAB departments that qualify as Applied Physics Track courses:
Requirements | Hours | |
---|---|---|
Select a minimum of nine hours of courses that qualify as Applied Physics Track courses. | 9 | |
For example: |
||
Physics of Current and Emerging Energy Technologies | ||
Physics of Fluids and Polymer Solutions | ||
Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science | ||
Biomedical Optics | ||
Applied Mechanics and Electromagnetism II | ||
Introductory Solid State Physics I | ||
Introduction to Biophysics I | ||
Laser Physics I | ||
Nanoscale Science and Applications | ||
... Please visit the Department of Physics Web site (http://www.uab.edu/physics/) for a full list of courses offered by Physics and other UAB departments that qualify as Applied Physics Track courses. |
||
Total Hours | 9 |
The Applied Physics Track is designed to prepare students for careers in industry or other technology enterprises. A judicious choice of courses that qualify as Applied Physics Track courses allows graduates to develop a competitive set of professional skills.
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and a Computational Physics Track
In addition to the requirements of the Major in Physics, students in the Computational Physics Track are required to complete a minimum of nine semester hours of computationally intensive courses offered by Physics or other UAB departments.
Requirements | Hours | |
---|---|---|
Select a minimum of nine hours of courses that qualify as Computational Physics Track courses: | 9 | |
For example: |
||
Scientific Programming | ||
Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science | ||
Computational Physics | ||
Object-Oriented Programming | ||
Object-Oriented Programming Lab | ||
Discrete Structures | ||
Algorithms and Data Structures | ||
Algorithms and Data Structures Laboratory | ||
Big Data Programming | ||
Parallel Computing | ||
Artificial Intelligence | ||
Computer Graphics | ||
... Please visit the Department of Physics Web site (http://www.uab.edu/physics/) for a full list of courses offered by Physics and other UAB departments that qualify as Computational Physics Track courses. |
||
Total Hours | 9 |
The Computational Physics Track is designed to provide graduates with valuable computational skills in the areas of simulation of physical processes, big data processing and experimental analysis, and high levels of mathematical reasoning.
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics and a Biophysics Track
The Biophysics Track is a multidisciplinary program of study that equips students for the quantitative knowledge demands of modern biomedical fields, including placement in medical school, health professions, graduate school in the biosciences, and biotech enterprises. A balanced, flexible mix of physics, chemistry, biology and math is required.
Requirements | Hours | |
---|---|---|
Required Biology | ||
BY 123 | Introductory Biology I | 4 |
BY 124 | Introductory Biology II | 4 |
Required Chemistry | ||
CH 115 & CH 116 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory |
4 |
CH 117 & CH 118 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory |
4 |
CH 235 & CH 236 |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory |
4 |
CH 237 & CH 238 |
Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory |
4 |
Required Mathematics | ||
MA 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
or MA 225 | Calculus I - Honors | |
MA 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
or MA 226 | Calculus II - Honors | |
PH 299 & PH 491 |
Reasoning through Modeling and Simulation of Data and Advanced Physics Laboratory I * |
4 |
or MA 227 | Calculus III | |
MA 252 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
Required Physics Courses | ||
PH 110 | Topics in Contemporary Physics | 1 |
PH 201 | College Physics I | 4 |
or PH 221 | General Physics I | |
PH 202 | College Physics II | 4 |
or PH 222 | General Physics II | |
PH 223 | General Physics III: Thermodynamics & Quantum Physics | 4 |
PH 350 | Computation, Theory, and Measurement in Quantum Physics and Relativity | 4 |
PH 432 | Statistical Thermodynamics I | 3 |
PH 499 | Physics Capstone | 3 |
Physics Electives | ||
Select seven hours of Physics (PH) courses at the 400 level. | 7 | |
For example: |
||
Introduction to Biophysics I | ||
Nanoscale Science and Applications | ||
Physics of Fluids and Polymer Solutions | ||
Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science | ||
Biomedical Optics | ||
Computational Physics | ||
Mathematical Methods of Physics I | ||
Physics of Current and Emerging Energy Technologies | ||
Advanced Physics Laboratory I | ||
... Click on the "Courses" tab at the top of this page for a full list of PH electives for the Biophysics Track. |
||
Mathematics Elective | ||
Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
Math Tools for Engineering Problem Solving | ||
Introduction to Mathematical Biology | ||
History of Mathematics I | ||
History of Mathematics II | ||
Scientific Programming | ||
Mathematical Modeling | ||
Integrating Mathematical Ideas | ||
Special Topics | ||
Algebra I: Linear | ||
Algebra II: Modern | ||
Advanced Calculus I | ||
Advanced Calculus II | ||
Vector Analysis | ||
Complex Analysis | ||
Transforms | ||
Intermediate Differential Equations | ||
Partial Differential Equations I | ||
Partial Differential Equations II | ||
Modeling with Partial Differential Equations | ||
Intro to Stochastic Differential Equations | ||
Gas Dynamics | ||
Numerical Analysis | ||
Numerical Analysis II | ||
Differential Geometry | ||
Geometry I | ||
Geometry II | ||
Introduction to Topology I | ||
Introduction to Topology II | ||
Probability | ||
Mathematical Statistics | ||
Total Hours | 72 |
* |
PH 299 knowledge applied in PH 491 project |
Additional Requirements
Students who have taken all or part of the PH 201-202 sequence before declaring a physics major may petition to have those courses substitute for PH 221-222.