New Student Experience (NSE) course that introduces students in physics, astronomy or astrophysics to the benefits and challenges of studying these subjects. Includes an introduction to research areas and strategies for problem solving in physics.

A conceptual course on the physics of light, optics, photography, vision, color, and other visual phenomena.

Concepts and historical development of physics; selected topics as they apply to physics encountered in everyday life. This course is not intended for students pursuing a science major. (Does not apply toward a major in physics.)

Physics of sound and sound production, including the nature of sources of sounds. Introduction to the primary instrumentation used in recording, reproduction, and analysis of the physical properties of sound, and a study of the principal physical properties of architectural acoustics.

The fundamentals of mechanics, heat, and sound, with emphasis on physical concepts, problem solving, notation, and units. (PHY 1408 and 1409 or PHY 1420 and 1430 satisfy premedical, predental, and liberal arts requirements.)

The fundamentals of electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics, with emphasis on physical concepts, problem solving, notation, and units. (PHY 1408 and 1409 or PHY 1420 and 1430 satisfy premedical, predental, and liberal arts requirements.)

Principles and applications of mechanics, wave motion, sound, and heat with emphasis on fundamental concepts, problem solving, notation, and units.

Principles and applications of electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics, with emphasis on fundamental concepts, problem solving, notation, and units.

A survey course on the fundamentals of astronomy including night-sky viewing, the history of astronomy, the solar system, stars and galaxies, and the Big Bang cosmology.

Independent study under the supervision of a faculty member in the department. May be repeated once for credit up to a maximum of six semester hours.

Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.

Principles and applications of electrical circuits and electronics for physical science majors.

Preparation for undergraduate research. Includes an introduction to research techniques, identification of a research supervisor, and completion of a research prospectus.

Special relativity, introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular structure, nuclear and particle physics.

Topics normally include matrices and vector calculus, coordinate transformations, numerical solutions using Matlab and Mathematica, chaos and fractals, special functions defined by solutions to differential equations.

Physical and mathematical foundations of modern astronomy emphasizing techniques, history, and development of our current picture of the universe including galaxies, stars, planet, planetoids, and comets.

Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.

Study of experimental planning, data analysis, and elementary error analysis. Experiments include the Millikan oil-drop experiment, the determination of the Faraday constant, bubble chamber photographic measurements, the study of GM counters, and radioactive half-life determination.

Continuation of PHY 3175 with emphasis on nuclear counting and measurements.

History of invention and technology including biographical study of scientists. Does not apply toward a major or minor in physics, astronomy or astrophysics.

Topics normally include vectors, linear transformations, Newtonian mechanics for a single particle, linear and nonlinear oscillations, Euler's equation, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, central forces, and orbital motion.

Topics normally include electrostatics, Laplace's equation, method of images, multipole expansion, magnetostatics, and Maxwell's electromagnetic field equations.

Topics in contemporary research in astronomy and astrophysics.

Postulates of quantum mechanics, operators in Hilbert space, superposition principle and compatible observables, time development, conservation theorems, one-dimensional bound and unbound state problems, WKB approximation, and theory of conduction in solids.

Problems in three dimensions, perturbation theory, unitary transformations, quantum statistics, atomic spectroscopy, and introductory solid state, nuclear, and elementary particle physics.

Fundamentals of practical sky observing including visual, photographic, and photometric techniques using local telescopes and CCD cameras. Introduction to methods for finding and identifying celestial objects, making observations, and operating an observatory, telescopes, and related equipment.

Research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member in the department. May be repeated up to a maximum of six semester hours.

Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.

An exit examination, designated by the department, is required of all physics majors. This examination will be chosen by the department from the GRE Subject Test or another similar examination.

Teaching astronomy techniques and assisting on observing nights for the PHY 3455 class and campus outreach events.

Culmination of an undergraduate research project including presentation of research results.

Continuation of PHY 3320 and 3330. Topics normally include: dynamics of systems of particles: rigid-body motion; coupled oscillations; the wave equation in one dimension; gauge transformations; electromagnetic waves in conductors and nonconductors; dispersion; multiple radiation; Linard-Wiechert potentials; relativistic electrodynamics.

Topics normally include: basic probability concepts; macroscopic thermodynamics; statistical thermodynamics; kinetic theory; quantum statistics.

A quantitative study of the physics of stars and stellar systems. Topics include observed properties of stars and the physics underlying those properties, radiation and stellar spectra, the interior structure of stars, the life cycles of stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.

An introduction to modern cosmology, including observational cosmology, Newtonian gravity, relativistic cosmological models, thermal history of the universe, dark matter and dark energy, inflationary models, the origin of the light elements, structures in the universe, and the cosmic microwave background radiation. The principles of Einstein's general theory of relativity and observations in experiments will also be covered.

Application of contemporary computer methods to the solution of physics and engineering problems. Theory and applications of finite difference equations. Deterministic, discrete, and continuous models. Computer graphics. Waves in classical and quantum physics. Monte Carlo calculations, electric circuits, partial differential equations in physics and engineering.

Topics normally include: crystal structure; reciprocal space; elastic and thermal properties; electronic structure; the Fermi surface; elementary semiconductor physics; dielectric and magnetic properties of solids.

Topics normally include: nuclear structure and models; angular momentum and isospin; conservation laws and discrete symmetries; electromagnetic and weak interactions; quark model; nuclear and particle astrophysics.

Dirac's equation, its covariance properties, its solutions; Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation and exact results; propagator theory; applications in various areas of physics.

Advanced topics in physics, astronomy, or astrophysics. May be repeated once for credit with a different topic up to a total of six semester hours.

Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.