Professional Concentration

Overview

The professional concentration provides a traditional curriculum for students majoring in physics and is intended to prepare them for graduate study or employment in the private or government sector as a physicist. A typical sequence of courses begins with PHYS 1408, PHYS 2401, PHYS 2302, PHYS 3201/PHYS 3301 for a total of 16 hours at the introductory level. These are usually followed by the intermediate and advanced sequences: PHYS 2305, PHYS 3304, PHYS 3305, PHYS 3306, PHYS 3401, PHYS 4302, PHYS 4304, PHYS 4306, PHYS 4307, and PHYS 4308. Students desiring to pursue advanced degrees are recommended to take advanced topic courses. Two PHYS elective courses are required in the professional concentration.

The required mathematics courses for physics majors are MATH 1451, MATH 1452, MATH 2450, PHYS 4325 and PHYS 4326. MATH 3350 and MATH 3351 or MATH 3354 and MATH 4354 may be substituted for PHYS 4325 and PHYS 4326. Students planning to pursue an advanced degree in physics should consult the physics academic advisor about appropriate additional courses. Majors in this concentration are strongly encouraged to minor in mathematics.

For more information please see our Undergraduate Handbook and consult the current course catalog for an example curriculum (Fields of Study >> Physics, B.S.: Professional Concentration).

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