PHYSICS, BS

Department of Physics

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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

MA 260

Introduction to Linear Algebra  

MA 265

Math Tools for Engineering Problem Solving  

MA 268

Introduction to Mathematical Biology  

MA 311

History of Mathematics I  

MA 312

History of Mathematics II  

MA 360

Scientific Programming  

MA 361

Mathematical Modeling  

MA 411

Integrating Mathematical Ideas  

MA 419

Special Topics  

MA 434

Algebra I: Linear  

MA 435

Algebra II: Modern  

MA 440

Advanced Calculus I  

MA 441

Advanced Calculus II  

MA 444

Vector Analysis  

MA 445

Complex Analysis  

MA 453

Transforms  

MA 454

Intermediate Differential Equations  

MA 455

Partial Differential Equations I  

MA 456

Partial Differential Equations II  

MA 461

Modeling with Partial Differential Equations  

MA 462

Intro to Stochastic Differential Equations  

MA 463

Operations Research I  

MA 464

Operations Research II  

MA 465

Partial Differential Equations: Finite Diff. Meth.  

MA 467

Gas Dynamics  

MA 468

Numerical Analysis  

MA 469

Numerical Analysis II  

MA 470

Differential Geometry  

MA 471

Differential Geometry II  

MA 472

Geometry I  

MA 473

Geometry II  

MA 474

Introduction to Topology I  

MA 475

Introduction to Topology II  

MA 485

Probability  

MA 486

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:  

PH 418

Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science  

PH 423

Computational Physics  

PH 453

Introductory Solid State Physics I  

PH 454

Introductory Solid State Physics II  

PH 475

Introduction to Biophysics I  

PH 491

Advanced Physics Laboratory I  

PH 495

Honors Research  

PH 497

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:

 

PH 336

Physics of Current and Emerging Energy Technologies  

PH 410

Physics of Fluids and Polymer Solutions  

PH 418

Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science  

PH 424

Biomedical Optics  

PH 466

Applied Mechanics and Electromagnetism II  

PH 453

Introductory Solid State Physics I  

PH 475

Introduction to Biophysics I  

PH 481

Laser Physics I  

PH 487

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:

 

MA 360

Scientific Programming  

PH 418

Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science  

PH 423

Computational Physics  

CS 203

Object-Oriented Programming  

CS 203L

Object-Oriented Programming Lab  

CS 250

Discrete Structures  

CS 303

Algorithms and Data Structures  

CS 303L

Algorithms and Data Structures Laboratory  

CS 416

Big Data Programming  

CS 432

Parallel Computing  

CS 460

Artificial Intelligence  

CS 470

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:

 

PH 475

Introduction to Biophysics I  

PH 487

Nanoscale Science and Applications  

PH 410

Physics of Fluids and Polymer Solutions  

PH 418

Machine Learning Applications in Physics and Materials Science  

PH 424

Biomedical Optics  

PH 423

Computational Physics  

PH 420

Mathematical Methods of Physics I  

PH 336

Physics of Current and Emerging Energy Technologies  

PH 491

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

MA 260

Introduction to Linear Algebra  

MA 265

Math Tools for Engineering Problem Solving  

MA 268

Introduction to Mathematical Biology  

MA 311

History of Mathematics I  

MA 312

History of Mathematics II  

MA 360

Scientific Programming  

MA 361

Mathematical Modeling  

MA 411

Integrating Mathematical Ideas  

MA 419

Special Topics  

MA 434

Algebra I: Linear  

MA 435

Algebra II: Modern  

MA 440

Advanced Calculus I  

MA 441

Advanced Calculus II  

MA 444

Vector Analysis  

MA 445

Complex Analysis  

MA 453

Transforms  

MA 454

Intermediate Differential Equations  

MA 455

Partial Differential Equations I  

MA 456

Partial Differential Equations II  

MA 461

Modeling with Partial Differential Equations  

MA 462

Intro to Stochastic Differential Equations  

MA 467

Gas Dynamics  

MA 468

Numerical Analysis  

MA 469

Numerical Analysis II  

MA 470

Differential Geometry  

MA 472

Geometry I  

MA 473

Geometry II  

MA 474

Introduction to Topology I  

MA 475

Introduction to Topology II  

MA 485

Probability  

MA 486

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.