Physics [BS]

Location(s): In-person/hybrid

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The Bachelor of Science in Physics engages students in a quantitative approach to topics including modern physics, computational physics, and electronics.

Learn

Physicists are interested in all aspects of the physical universe. They seek to understand not only the smallest forms of matter, and the rich phenomena present in our everyday lives, but also the universe itself. Physics has played a critical role in human technological and intellectual development during the twentieth century. The tools of the physicist—observation, imagination, model building, prediction, and deduction—will enable physics to continue this influence well into the future.

Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Physics gives students the skills they need to take on a wide variety of career challenges, including medicine, teaching, government policy, industrial research and development, science journalism, space and atmospheric research, acoustics, and business.

Students are highly recommended to pursue a Mathematics Minor with this major.

This is a STEM-designated program (see OPT Extension).

Department Information

Physics & Astronomy 240C Strong Hall, 734.487.8799

Ernest Behringer, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information

Marshall Thomsen, PhD, 240F Strong Hall, 734.487.8794

David Pawlowski, PhD, 240D Strong Hall, 734.487.8644

Students are strongly encouraged to make annual appointments with a Physics & Astronomy departmental advisor.  They are the foremost resource to help you determine your plan of study to ensure that you satisfy your degree requirements as efficiently as possible.

General Education Requirements:

For specific requirements, see General Education or view the General Education Worksheet [PDF] .

Major Requirements: 55 hours

Required Physics Courses: 36 hours

PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound [GEKN] 5 hrs
PHY 224 Electricity and Light 5 hrs
PHY 280 Foundations of Scientific Computing 1 hr
PHY 331 Intermediate Mechanics I 4 hrs
PHY 332 Mechanics Laboratory 1 hr
PHY 350 Electricity and Magnetism I 3 hrs
PHY 355 Applied Physics Laboratory 2 hrs
PHY 360 Heat and Thermodynamics 4 hrs
PHY 370 Introduction to Modern Physics 3 hrs
PHY 372 Modern Physics Laboratory 1 hr
PHY 380 Computational Physics 3 hrs
PHY 406 Ethical Issues in Physics 1 hr
PHY 420W Capstone Project [GEWI] 3 hrs

Restricted Elective Courses: 4 hours

Students will complete four credit hours from the following. If PHY 444 is selected, students must complete a minimum of two credit hours from the list of available Physics electives (see note below).

PHY 436 Vibration and Sound 4 hrs
PHY 442 Optics and Optics Laboratory 4 hrs
PHY 444 Applied Optics 2 hrs
PHY 456 Electronics for Scientists 4 hrs
Additional Physics Electives

Choose any physics or astronomy undergraduate course numbered 300-level or above, excluding ASTR 311 ; PHY 311 , 312 , and 325 .

Required Mathematics Courses: 15 hours

If a student is pursuing a Mathematics Minor or Mathematics Major , the 15 credits of Mathematics coursework required for this major will be considered, upon successful completion, as “competency met” for the Physics Major and may be used towards the Mathematics Minor or Mathematics Major. Credit is only earned once and only applies to graduation requirements once.

MATH 120 Calculus I [GEQR] 4 hrs
MATH 121 Calculus II 4 hrs
MATH 122 Elementary Linear Algebra 3 hrs
MATH 223 Multivariable Calculus 4 hrs

Minor Requirement:

This major requires a minor. See available minors for a list of options, or contact your advisor.

Program Total:

Students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

Critical Graduation Information

Each undergraduate student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements (or their equivalents) of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration at a college or university or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

In the event an undergraduate student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration at a college or university, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their major/minor in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

Minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University

Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult this catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

Earn a minimum total of 120 credit hours at the 100-level and above.
- Courses numbered below 100 are not counted toward this degree requirement.
- At most, eight credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses are counted toward this requirement.
Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below), including completing a Writing Intensive (GEWI) course in the student’s major.
Earn a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details).
Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor. A double major automatically satisfies the need for a minor unless one of the two majors requires a specific minor. Students should check the requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required.
Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits over the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
- Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
- Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
- Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; individual departments/schools conduct the internal review of such courses within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credit for transferred courses; grades are not used to calculate an EMU GPA.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses a student takes at EMU and those applied to their major or minor are used to calculate their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements - EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available in the General Education section of the catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.