Physics BS

The curriculum below outlines the typical course sequence(s) for this program.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
MATH-181 Calculus I (fulfills General Education: Mathematical Perspective A) 4
PHYS-150 Introduction to Special Relativity 3
General Education: Artistic Perspective 3
General Education: Elective 3
Select one of the following General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective: 3
General Biology I  
General & Analytical Chemistry I  
Select the corresponding lab: 1
General Biology I Lab  
General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab  
YOPS-10 RIT 365: RIT Connections 0
 Hours17
Spring
MATH-182 Calculus II (fulfills General Education: Mathematical Perspective B) 4
PHYS-216 University Physics I: Physics Majors (General Education: Elective) 4
General Education: First Year Writing (WI) 3
Select one of the following General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective: 3
General Biology II  
General & Analytical Chemistry II  
Select the corresponding lab: 1
General Biology II Lab  
General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab  
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall
MATH-219 Multivariable Calculus (General Education: Elective) 3
PHYS-217 University Physics II: Physics Majors (General Education: Elective) 4
PHYS-225 Introduction to Computational Physics and Programming 3
General Education: Ethical Perspective 3
General Education: Global Perspective 3
 Hours16
Spring
MATH-231 Differential Equations (General Education: Elective) 3
PHYS-213 Modern Physics I (General Education: Elective) 3
PHYS-222 Electronic Measurements 3
PHYS-275 Sophomore Physics Seminar 1
PHYS-283 Vibrations and Waves 3
General Education: Social Perspective 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall
PHYS-214 Modern Physics II 3
PHYS-315 Experiments in Modern Physics 3
PHYS-320 Mathematical Methods in Physics 3
PHYS-330 Classical Mechanics 4
General Education: Immersion 1 3
 Hours16
Spring
PHYS-316 Advanced Laboratory in Physics 3
PHYS-411 Electricity and Magnetism 4
PHYS-450 Research Preparation 1
Program Elective 1 3
General Education: Immersion 2 3
 Hours14
Fourth Year
Fall
PHYS-414
Quantum Mechanics
or Thermal and Statistical Physics
3
PHYS-451 Capstone Project I 3
Program Elective 2 3
Open Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS-452 Capstone Project II (WI-PR) 3
Program Elective 3 3
General Education: Immersion 3 3
Open Electives 6
 Hours15
 Total Hours124

Notes:

1

Students must select a Program Elective from list A below.

2

Students must select a Program Elective from list B below.

3

Students may select any of the Program Electives in List A or List B below. 

Program Elective A:

Students may select one of the following Program Electives:

Show course list
Course List
Code Title Hours
IMGS-513Multi-Wavelength Astronomical Imaging3
IMGS-528Design and Fabrication of Solid State Cameras3
PHYS-365Physical Optics3
PHYS-373Observational Astronomy3
PHYS-377Advanced Computational Physics3
PHYS-360Introduction to Chaotic Dynamics3
PHYS-616Data Analysis for the Physical Sciences3
PHYS-667Quantum Optics3

Program Elective B:

Students may select one of the following Program Electives:

Show course list
Course List
Code Title Hours
MCSE-713Lasers3
PHYS-321Advanced Mathematical Methods in Physics3
PHYS-352Introduction to Biological Physics3
PHYS-370Stellar Astrophysics3
PHYS-371Galactic Astrophysics3
PHYS-372Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmology3
PHYS-408Laser Physics3
PHYS-412Advanced Electricity and Magnetism3
PHYS-414Quantum Mechanics3
PHYS-415Advanced Quantum Mechanics3
PHYS-424Nuclear Physics3
PHYS-440Thermal and Statistical Physics3
PHYS-441Advanced Thermal and Statistical Physics3
PHYS-532Solid State Physics3
PHYS-670Teaching and Learning Physics3