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  • Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing

    The Physics/Physics Education Program

    • Our students have 100% acceptance to graduate programs in Physics and Engineering, with financial awards. About 60% of our students go to graduate school in Physics and Engineering. Among the graduate schools, our students obtained offers at University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, University of Notre Dame, College of William and Mary, and Purdue University.
       
    • The department has an excellent record in the area of Summer Fellowship and Research offers. Among the places where our students did their training are: Duke University, Michigan State University, NASA, Pennsylvania State University, University of Bucknell, and Naval Research Labs.
       
    • The department has an excellent record in teacher placement. Among the places where our students teach Physics and Math are: Latrobe School District, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Derry Township, Connellsville, Penn Trafford, and Franklin Regional.
       
    • The department has an excellent record in placing students in industrial jobs. Among places where our students work are: FBI, Lawrence Livermore Lab, Westinghouse, Microsoft, Naval Submarine Program, PPG, Alcoa, and UPMC.
       
    • Many of our students have published their research work with their professors in some of the most prestigious Physic journals. Among such journal are the American Journal of Physics and the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.
       

    Physics/Physics Education Learning Objectives

    • Students will have knowledge of the fundamental theoretical fields of physics.
    • Students will have understanding and practice of experimental nature of physical science.
    • Students will have the capability to perform independent research.
    • Students will be able to obtain entrance to and perform in graduate and professional schools.
    •  Physics Education students will be successful in gaining education certification and procurement of positions in secondary schools.

    Learning Objectives for Other Majors

    • Students in other science majors will have knowledge and understanding of a broad variety of fundamental physics topics.
    • Students in other science majors will have understanding and practice of experimental nature of physical science in fundamental areas corresponding to broad survey of topics.
    • Students in non-science majors will satisfy Tier 1 and 2 core requirements and provide conceptual knowledge and experimental practice specific to the individual courses.

    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and Physics Education.
    Major Requirements (B.S. in Physics) (66 credits):
    PH 100 Physics Seminar - 1 credit
    PH 111 General Physics I - 3 credits
    PH 112 General Physics II - 3 credits
    PH 113 General Physics I Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 114 General Physics II Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 211 Modern Physics - 3 credits
    PH 213 Modern Physics Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 215 Thermodynamics - 3 credits
    PH 221 Classical Mechanics - 3 credits
    PH 241 Optics - 3 credits
    PH 243 Optics Laboratory -1 credit
    PH 244 Advanced Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 251 Electrical Circuits and Electronics - 2 credits
    PH 252 Electromagnetic Fields - 3 credits
    PH 311 Nuclear Physics - 3 credits
    PH 322 Quantum Mechanics - 3 credits
    PH 341 Condensed Matter Physics - 3 credits
    PH 370 Mathematical Physics - 3 credits
    PH 381 Research - 1 credit
    MA 111-113 Calculus I-III - 12 credits
    MA 114 Differential Equations - 4 credits
    CH 101, 103 General Chemistry I and Laboratory - 4 credits
    CH 102, 104 General Chemistry II and Laboratory - 4 credits
    A thesis is required in the senior year.

    Major Requirements (B.S. in Physics Education) (66 credits):
    PH 100 Physics Seminar - 1 credit
    PH 106 Physical Geology - 3 credits
    PH 107 Physical Geology Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 111 General Physics I - 3 credits
    PH 112 General Physics II - 3 credits
    PH 113 General Physics I Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 114 General Physics II Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 151 Astronomy - 3 credits
    PH 153 Astronomy Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 211 Modern Physics - 3 credits
    PH 213 Modern Physics Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 215 Thermodynamics - 3 credit
    PH 221 Classical Mechanics - 3 credits
    PH 241 Optics - 3 credits
    PH 243 Optics Laboratory - 1  credit
    PH 244 Advanced Laboratory - 1 credit
    PH 251 Electrical Circuits and Electronics - 2 credits
    PH 322 Quantum Mechanics - 3 credits
    PH 381 Research - 1 credit
    MA 111-113 Calculus I-III - 12 credits
    MA 114 Differential Equations - 4 credits
    CH 101, 103 General Chemistry I and Laboratory - 4 credits
    CH 102, 104 General Chemistry II and Laboratory - 4 credits
    BL 150, 151 General Biology and Laboratory - 4 credits
    A thesis is required in the senior year.

    See Education Department section of Bulletin for Education course requirements.

    Requirements for a Physics Minor: 19 credits
    PH 111 General Physics - 3 credits
    PH 112 General Physics II - 3 credits
    PH 113 General Physics Laboratory I - 1 credit
    PH 114 General Physics Laboratory II - 1 credit
    and a minimum of 11 credits selected from courses numbered above PH 200, of which at least one must be PH 243, PH 244, PH 213 or PH 251.
    MA 111-112 Calculus I-II are prerequisites for General Physics.
    MA 113-114 Calculus III-IV are recommended electives.