2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
    Oct 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Physics, BS


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Program Description

The Department of Physics offers programs leading either to a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics. Students in secondary education may earn the Bachelor of Arts degree in physics and enter the Professional Year Experience program of the College of Health, Education, and Human Services for licensure in physics.

Minimum requirements for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in physics include successfully completing the required courses, with a GPA of at least 2.0 for all physics courses, as well as completing university and college degree requirements.

Physics Honors Program

The Department of Physics offers an honors program designed to provide exceptional students with a program that offers greater creativity and intellectual challenge. Students who wish to participate in this program must apply to the department during the spring semester before they plan to enter the honors program. Interested students should have at least a 3.2 GPA overall and at least a 3.2 in physics courses numbered 3000 and above. To graduate with honors in physics, students are required  to complete at least two 4000-level PHY courses above and beyond those required by the program.

Program Learning Objectives

Students in the Physics, BS degree program will

  • develop a scientific mindset and gain proficiency in the fundamental concepts, laws, and mathematical techniques across key physics domains, applying them effectively to solve specific problems.
  • develop hands-on laboratory skills through a diverse range of experiments, utilizing modern instrumentation and engaging in quantitative data analysis.
  • master the art of communicating physics concepts and scientific findings through both oral presentations and written documentation.
  • acquire the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret measurements, enabling the derivation of meaningful conclusions from observations of physical systems.
  • learn programming languages and computational tools to simulate and model intricate physical systems, thereby enhancing problem-solving capabilities.
  • apply acquired knowledge in physics and mathematics to bridge connections with other scientific disciplines, engineering, and social sciences.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experiences, students who complete the BS degree program in physics can:

  • apply fundamental principles of physics and demonstrate problem solving competence, including Solve real-world problems through idealizations and estimation. Mathematically modeling the real world starting from fundamental physical principles. Using computational techniques, including familiarity with basic computer programs, to solve complex problems numerically.
  • demonstrate laboratory competence, including Setting up and using a range of equipment to obtain experimental data and critically analyzing this data. Quantitatively determining error in an experiment and using this to assess agreement with a specific theory or set of hypotheses. Understanding and/or creating graphical representations of data.
  • employ computational tools and programming languages to simulate and model physical systems, predicting outcomes and behaviors in varied scenarios.
  • collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams to address complex issues, leveraging diverse skills and perspectives for comprehensive problem-solving.
  • Utilize advanced mathematical techniques, including differential equations, linear algebra, and calculus, to model and solve engineering and physical problems in physics (classical mechanics, computational physics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, waves and optics, and quantum mechanics). 

For More Information

Program Requirements:


I. Wright State Core: 42 Hours


Element 1 - Communication: 6 Hours


Element 2 - Mathematics: 4 Hours


Element 3 - Global Traditions: 6 Hours


Element 4 - Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours


Element 5 - Social Sciences: 6 Hours


Element 6 - Natural Sciences: 10 Hours


Additional Core Courses: 7 Hours

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 24 Hours


PHY-4940 Senior Project must be taken twice for a total of 6 Credit Hours.

IV. Related Course Requirements: 24-26 Hours


V. General Electives: 5-7 Hours


Total: 120 Hours


Graduation Planning Strategy


The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.


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