2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Combined Physics, BS & Physics, MS (PHY-MS-PREG)

Program Description

The Department of Physics offers a five year combined BS and an MS degree program in physics. Students enrolled in the BS Physics program can take several courses that are applied toward both degree program requirements. The program allows up to 9 course credit hours that count toward both the undergraduate (UG) and graduate (GR) level.  During the fifth year, graduate students may be eligible for either a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) or a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) that provides a full tuition waiver and a significant stipend during the academic year. GTAs help teach introductory laboratories and support teaching activities in the department. GRAs support faculty members’ externally sponsored research.

Admission Requirements

Students enrolled in the physics BS program may petition to enter the Combined Physics, BS & Physics, MS program during the semester upon completing 60 semester hours of the model curriculum with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or better, including PHY 2400, 2410, 2420; and obtaining a GPA of 3.3 average in required physics and math courses taken up to the time of the petition. This petition would normally occur during the second semester of the junior year or earlier and must occur before the senior year. The petition must be approved by the physics department graduate studies committee and the physics department chair and be forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval and admission to the combined degree program. The graduate studies committee and/or the chair may consult a petitioner’s former instructors regarding suitability if they choose. The admission to the program will normally be at the beginning of the subsequent semester after approval (i.e. Fall Semester of the senior year). Student must then seek advising each term to follow the necessary curriculum to eventually complete the program.

Continuance in the Program

A 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in required physics courses is required to remain in the program. Normal graduate school probation rules apply. 

Advising: Upon admission to the program, academic advising, and permission to register is necessary each term. (This is due to the close sequencing of courses that is necessary to meet the five-year timeline.)

Students are eligible for financial aid based on their enrollment status. During the period the student holds an undergraduate status, the student is eligible for undergraduate financial aid through this period. Student becomes eligible for graduate forms of financial aid-including Graduate Tuition Scholarships (tuition wavier) and GRAs/GTAs/GAs-when they become a regularly admitted graduate student after the completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Reversion to Single Degree

Reversion to the four-year BS degree occurs if a student does not enroll in the necessary graduate courses within two years following completion of the physics BS requirements. In this case, PHY6000 or PHY7000 level courses may count as elective credits toward the BS degree but not toward the curricular requirements for the BS. If reversion occurs and the student is subsequently accepted into the physics MS program, any graduate credits applied to the physics BS cannot count toward the 30 semester credits required for the physics MS.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

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 experience, graduates of this program 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).

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Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 37 Credit Hours

As part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category.

UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100).
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours

Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.

Required:

MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 10 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Required:

PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 2400R - General Physics I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 2410R - General Physics II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Courses: 4 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 4 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Core Requirements: 38 Credit Hours

PHY 1024 - Connected Physics Lab I: “Harnessing IoT Instrumentation” Credit Hour(s): 2
PHY 2048 - Connected Physics Lab II: “Mastering IoT Instrumentation” Credit Hour(s): 2
PHY 2420 - Introduction to Modern Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 3710 - Analytical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 4500 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 4510 - Electricity and Magnetism II Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 3220 - Applied Optics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 3500 - Advanced Physics Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
PHY 3510 - Advanced Physics Laboratory II Credit Hour(s): 2 (IW)
PHY 4600 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 4610 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 4830 - Statistical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 4940 - Senior Project Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
PHY-4940 Senior Project must be taken twice for a total of 6 Credit Hours.

III. Major Electives: 9 Credit Hours

Please choose 9 hours from the Double Counted Courses list to complete this area.

PHY 6200 - Microfabrication Sciences Credit Hour(s): 2 to 4
PHY 6320 - Lasers Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6620 - Nuclear and Particle Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6630 - Intro to Solid State Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6730 - Mathematical Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6800 - Classical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6830 - Statistical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Related Course Requirements: 24-26 Credit Hours

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1210R - General Chemistry Lab I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220R - General Chemistry Lab II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
MTH 2320 - Calculus III Credit Hour(s): 4
MTH 3320 - Complex Variables Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 3330 - Partial Differential Equations Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 2350 - Differential Equations with Matrix Algebra Credit Hour(s): 4
OR
MTH 2330 - Differential Equations Credit Hour(s): 3
AND
MTH 2530 - Elementary Linear Algebra Credit Hour(s): 3

V. General Electives: 10-12 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Total: 120 Hours

Double Counted Courses: 9 Hours

PHY 6730 Mathematical Physics, (3 credit hours) and PHY 6830 Statistical Mechanics, (3 credit hours) are Graduate degree requirements and also undergraduate program electives. These courses must be taken at 6000 level to count towards graduate degree requirement.

Students may choose one additional cross listed course from the following, which may be double counted for the both degrees

PHY 6200 - Microfabrication Sciences Credit Hour(s): 2 to 4
PHY 6320 - Lasers Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6620 - Nuclear and Particle Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6630 - Intro to Solid State Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6730 - Mathematical Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6800 - Classical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6830 - Statistical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3

Graduate Program Requirements: 30 Hours

To be awarded the Combined Physics, BS & Physics, MS degree, candidates for the degree must:

Meet the degree requirements of the Graduate School.
Complete 30 credit hours of course work listed as available for graduate credit. A maximum of 9 credits can be double counted from UG courses that must be taken at 6000 level.
Must complete any course or study requirement imposed at admission.
If pursuing the thesis option, pass a thesis defense administered by the advisory committee over research work and any topics in the core physics curriculum the committee may deem appropriate.
If pursuing the thesis option, present an approved thesis to the graduate school.

Details concerning program selection, student evaluation, thesis requirements, and orientation examination may be obtained from the Department of Physics.

Program requirements:

Required courses: 9 hours

PHY 6730 Mathematical Physics, (3 credit hours)

PHY 6830 Statistical Mechanics, (3 credit hours)

PHY 7005 Seminar, (1 credit hour) . PHY 7005 must be taken atleast 3 times = Total 3 credit hours required.

Elective courses, 15 hours

Thesis or Non-Thesis Options, 6 hours

Thesis option

PHY 7995 Physics Thesis Research. A maximum of 9 credit hours of PHY 7995 can be counted toward the required degree credits.

Non-thesis option

Additional graduate courses. Elective courses, and additional graduate courses in non-thesis option, must be on the student’s Program of Study that requires approval by the Graduate Program Chair or Department Chair.

Total: 30 hours

Graduate Core Requirements: 9 Hours

PHY 6730 - Mathematical Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6830 - Statistical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 7005 - Graduate Physics Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1

Elective Courses: 15 Hours

Minimum of five 6000 level or above (allowable for MS degree) Eligible courses include, but are not limited to, those in the following list. Not all courses will be offered each year. A maximum of 9 credit hours of PHY 7995 can be counted toward the required degree credits. Elective courses, and additional graduate courses in non-thesis option, must be on the student’s Program of Study that requires approval by the Graduate Program Chair or Department Chair.

PHY 6000 - Physics of Semiconductor Materials and Device Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6200 - Microfabrication Sciences Credit Hour(s): 2 to 4
PHY 6270 - Physics of Remote Sensing Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6320 - Lasers Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6400 - Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6430 - Analysis and Prediction of Complex Natural and Human Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 6500 - Electricity and Magnetism Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6510 - Electricity and Magnetism Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6600 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6610 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6620 - Nuclear and Particle Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6630 - Intro to Solid State Physics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6800 - Classical Mechanics Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 6810 - Electromagnetic Theory - I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 7100 - Quantum Mechanics I Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 7110 - Quantum Mechanics II Credit Hour(s): 3
PHY 7995 - Physics Thesis Research Credit Hour(s): 3 to 6

Thesis or Non-Thesis Option: 6 Hours

Students who elect thesis option must earn a minimum of 6 credit hours (maximum of 9 credit hours) of research credits towards the required degree credits.

Students who elect to do the non-thesis option must replace thesis credit with additional graduate courses at the 6000- level or higher.

PHY 7995 - Physics Thesis Research Credit Hour(s): 3 to 6

Combined Program Total: 141 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.