The University of Illinois at Chicago 2005-2007 Undergraduate Catalog

University of Chicago at Illinois 2005 - 2007 Undergraduate Catalog

Department of Physics

B.A. with a Major in Physics

Degree Requirements—B.A. with a Major in Physics
Recommended Plan of Study

Minor in Physics
B.S. in the Teaching of Physics

Degree Requirements—B.S. in the Teaching of Physics
Recommended Plan of Study

Minor in Teaching of Physics
B.S. in Physics

Degree Requirements—B.S. in Physics
Recommended Plan of Study—B.S. in Physics

Distinction

2236 Science and Engineering South (SES)
312–996–3400
melodies@uic.edu
http://physicsweb.phy.uic.edu
Administration: Head, Henrik Aratyn
Directors of Undergraduate Studies, Cecilia Gerber gerber@uic.edu; Richard Kodama, rkodama@uic.edu
Student Services: Melodie Shaw

The fundamental goal of the science of physics is to develop a basic and comprehensive understanding and description of all forms of matter and energy. This goal is pursued through experimental and theoretical investigations, with experimental results pointing the way toward possible new theories and tentative theories suggesting new experiments. Physics occupies a middle ground between mathematics and engineering, using the techniques of the former and providing new ideas and materials (structures and properties) to the latter.

The Department of Physics offers the Bachelor of Science in Physics (Curriculum in Physics), the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Major in Physics, and the Bachelor of Science in the Teaching of Physics.

The physics major who continues on to a Ph.D. or who combines a physics background with an advanced degree in engineering or another science, or with an M.B.A., will find many positions available in industry. The physics major who obtains a Ph.D. will qualify in many cases for a faculty position in engineering as well as physics. The real shortage of qualified high school physical science teachers nationally also provides excellent career opportunities for students majoring in the teacher education program.

In addition to the physics majors, the department also offers a Minor in Physics and a Minor in the Teaching of Physics.

The Department of Physics assigns advisors for majors in all of its programs. Students are required to have their schedules approved by their advisors each term before registering.

B.A. with a Major in Physics

Degree Requirements—B.A. with a Major in Physics

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Physics degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

B.A. with a Major in Physics
Degree Requirements	Hours
LAS Course Requirements^a	28–49
Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses^a	26
Major Requirements	40–42
Electives	3–26
Minimum Total Hours—B.A. with a Major in
Physics	120

^a The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Course Requirements range from 43 to 64 hours. Some of the Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses may be counted toward this requirement.

LAS Course Requirements

See Course Requirements in College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for a list of courses to meet this requirement. Students should consult the list of Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses below and their advisors to determine which courses may be counted toward the LAS Course Requirements.

Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses

Courses	Hours
MATH 180—Calculus I^a	5
MATH 181—Calculus II	5
MATH 210—Calculus III	3
MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations	3
CHEM 112—General College Chemistry I	5
CHEM 114—General College Chemistry II	5
Total Hours—Required Prerequisite and
Collateral Courses	26

^a MATH 180 fulfills the LAS quantitative reasoning requirement.

Major Requirements

Courses	Hours
One of the following sequences in physics. The
PHYS 105–108 sequence requires a grade of B or
better in each course.	8–10
PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)
PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and
Magnetism) (4)
OR
PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)
PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)
PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)
PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II—Laboratory (1)

PHYS 215—Mathematical Methods for Physicists	4
PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics)	3
PHYS 245—General Physics IV (Heat, Fluids, and
Wave Phenomena)	4
PHYS 401—Electromagnetism I	4
PHYS 411—Quantum Mechanics I	4
PHYS 441—Theoretical Mechanics	4
PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 481—Modern Experimental Physics I^a	4
PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problems ^b	1
Total Hours—Major Requirements	40–42

^a PHYS 481 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
^b Students must achieve a grade of C or better in PHYS 499.

Electives

Courses	Hours
Total Hours—Electives	3–26

Recommended Plan of Study

To view a recommended plan of study for the major in Physics, please visit the LAS Web site http://www.uic.edu/las/college/info/fygp.

Minor in Physics

Students from other disciplines who want to minor in physics must complete 19–21 semester hours
distributed as follows:

Required Courses—Physics Minor	Hours
One of the following sequences in Physics. The
PHYS 105–108 sequence requires a grade of B or
better in each course.	8–10
PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)
PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and
Magnetism) (4)
OR
PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)
PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)
PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)
PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II—Laboratory (1)

PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics)	3
PHYS 245—General Physics IV (Heat, Fluids, and
Wave Phenomena)	4

One of the following courses:	4
PHYS 401—Electromagnetism I (4)^a
PHYS 411—Quantum Mechanics I (4)
PHYS 441—Theoretical Mechanics (4)^a
PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical Physics (4)
Total Hours—Physics Minor	19–21

^a PHYS 401 and 441 have a prerequisite of PHYS 215.

B.S. in the Teaching of Physics

Degree Requirements—B.S. in the Teaching of Physics

To earn a Bachelor of Science in the Teaching of Physics degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Physics degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

B.S. in the Teaching of Physics
Degree Requirements	Hours
LAS Course Requirements^a	28–49
Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses^a	26
Major Requirements	40–42
Electives	3–26
Minimum Total Hours—B.S. in the Teaching of
Physics	120

^a The LAS Course Requirements range from 43 to 64 hours. Some of the Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses may be counted toward this requirement.

Note: Teacher education students must fulfill certain other requirements. Please see below and consult Secondary Education Program and Council on Teacher Education in the College of Education section of the catalog for more information.

LAS Course Requirements

Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses

Courses	Hours
MATH 180—Calculus I^a	5
MATH 181—Calculus II	5
MATH 210—Calculus III	3
MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations	3
CHEM 112—General College Chemistry I	5
CHEM 114—General College Chemistry II	5
Total Hours—Required Prerequisite and
Collateral Courses	26

^a MATH 180 fulfills the LAS quantitative reasoning requirement.

Major Requirements

Courses	Hours
One of the following sequences in physics. The
PHYS 105–108 sequence requires a grade of B or
better in each course.	8–10
PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)
PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and
Magnetism) (4)
OR
PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)
PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)
PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)
PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II—Laboratory (1)

PHYS 215—Mathematical Methods for Physicists	4
PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics)	3
PHYS 245—General Physics IV (Heat, Fluids, and
Wave Phenomena)	4
PHYS 401—Electromagnetism I	4
PHYS 411—Quantum Mechanics I	4
PHYS 441—Theoretical Mechanics	4
PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 481—Modern Experimental Physics I^a	4
PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problems^b	1
Total Hours—Major Requirements	40–42

^a PHYS 481 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
^b Students must achieve a grade of C or better in PHYS 499.

Electives

Courses	Hours
Total Hours—Electives	3–26

Additional Requirements for Teacher Education

In addition to the specified course work in the major field, teacher education students must fulfill certain other course requirements as well as maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00. For detailed information, see the Program Guide for Teacher Education in Physics, which is available from the secondary education coordinator in the Department of Physics.

The teaching certificate is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of certification and degree requirements. Before the certificate is issued, the candidate must file an application for the Illinois teaching certificate with the Council on Teacher Education. The candidate must also pass a series of examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education. The Basics Skills Test must be passed prior to applying for candidacy with the Council on Teacher Education. The Content Area Test must be passed before the candidate is allowed to student teach. The Assessment of Professional Teaching must be passed prior to certification. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education located in 3015 EPASW. See Council on Teacher Education and Secondary Education Program in the College of Education section of the catalog.

Recommended Plan of Study

To view a recommended plan of study for the Bachelor of Science in the Teaching of Physics, please visit the LAS Web site http://www.uic.edu/las/college/info/fygp.

Minor in Teaching of Physics

Secondary education majors from other disciplines who want to minor in the teaching of physics must complete 19–21semester hours distributed as follows:

Required Courses—Teaching of Physics Minor	Hours
One of the following sequences in physics. The
PHYS 105–108 sequence requires a grade of B or
better in each course.	8–10
PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)
PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and
Magnetism) (4)
OR
PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)
PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)
PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)
PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II—Laboratory (1)

PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics)	3
PHYS 245—General Physics IV (Heat, Fluids, and
Wave Phenomena)	4

One of the following courses:	4
PHYS 401—Electromagnetism I (4)^a
PHYS 411—Quantum Mechanics I (4)
PHYS 441—Theoretical Mechanics (4)^a
PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical Physics (4)
Total Hours—Teaching of Physics Minor	19–21

^a PHYS 401 and 441 have a prerequisite of PHYS 215.

This minor is open only to students obtaining full certification in an approved UIC Teacher Education major. To teach Physics as a second subject in Illinois public schools one must apply for and receive an Endorsement from the State Board of Education and meet all of the additional course and other requirements the Board has established.

The teaching certificate is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of certification and degree requirements. Before the certificate is issued, the candidate must file an application with the State of Illinois and take an examination administered by the State Board of Education. For information and application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education in the College of Education.

B.S. in Physics

Degree Requirements—B.S. in Physics

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Physics degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

B.S. in Physics Degree Requirements	Hours
Requirements for the Curriculum	120
Minimum Total Hours—B.S. in Physics	120

Requirements for the Curriculum

The Requirements for the Curriculum include the courses necessary to complete the Course Requirements described in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section.

Courses	Hours
ENGL 160—English Composition I	3
ENGL 161—English Composition II	3
Foreign language (the equivalent of two years of a
single language at the college level)	0–16
Humanities	9
Social sciences	9
MATH 180—Calculus I a	5
MATH 181—Calculus II	5
MATH 210—Calculus III	3
MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations	3
CHEM 112—General College Chemistry I	5
CHEM 114—General College Chemistry II	5

One of the following sequences in physics:	8–10
PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)
PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and
Magnetism) (4)
OR
PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)
PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)
PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)
PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II—Laboratory (1)

PHYS 215—Mathematical Methods for Physicists	4
PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics)	3
PHYS 245—General Physics IV (Heat, Fluids, and
Wave Phenomena)	4
PHYS 401—Electromagnetism I	4
PHYS 411—Quantum Mechanics I	4
PHYS 441—Theoretical Mechanics	4
PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical Physics	4

One of the following courses:	4–5
PHYS 425—Modern Optics (5)
PHYS 482—Modern Experimental Physics II (4)

One of the following courses:	4
PHYS 402—Electromagnetism II (4)^b
OR
PHYS 412—Quantum Mechanics II (4)^b

PHYS 481—Modern Experimental Physics I^c	4
PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problems^d	1
Electives	5–22
Minimum Total Hours—Requirements for the
Curriculum	120

^a MATH 180 fulfills the LAS quantitative reasoning requirement.
^b Students planning to pursue graduate studies in physics are strongly encouraged to take both of these courses.
^c PHYS 481 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
^d A grade of C or better is required in PHYS 499.

Recommended Plan of Study—B.S. in Physics

Physics is a discipline that carefully builds additional knowledge on a foundation of previously learned science and mathematics. To complete the physics curriculum in four years, therefore, requires careful planning, especially because the upper-division courses are offered at most once per year and have prerequisites. A recommended typical course sequence for the B.S. degree is given below. (The B.A. program omits PHYS 425 or 482; and PHYS 402 or 412).

Note: Humanities/social sciences refers to courses that satisfy humanities and social science general education requirements. These courses are listed on the Course Distribution Credit chart in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog.

Freshman Year
Fall Semester	Hours
CHEM 112—General College Chemistry I	5
ENGL 160—English Composition I	3
MATH 180—Calculus I	5
Humanities/social sciences	3
Total Hours	16

Spring Semester	Hours
CHEM 114—General College Chemistry II	5
ENGL 161—English Composition II	3
MATH 181—Calculus II	5
PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics)^a
OR
PHYS 105/106—Introductory Physics I—Lecture/Lab	4–5
Total Hours	17–18

Sophomore Year
Fall Semester	Hours
Elective	3
MATH 210—Calculus III	3
PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and
Magnetism)^a
OR
PHYS 107/108—Introductory Physics II—Lecture/Lab	4–5
Humanities/social sciences	3
Humanities/social sciences	3
Total Hours	16–17

Spring Semester	Hours
MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations I	3
PHYS 215—Mathematical Methods for Physicists	4
PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics)	3
PHYS 245—General Physics IV (Heat, Fluids, and
Wave Phenomena)	4
Total Hours	14

Junior Year
Fall Semester	Hours
Foreign language	4
PHYS 411—Quantum Mechanics I	4
PHYS 441—Theoretical Mechanics	4
PHYS 481—Modern Experimental Physics I	4
Total Hours	16

Spring Semester	Hours
Foreign language	4
PHYS 412—Quantum Mechanics II	4
Humanities/social sciences	3
Humanities social sciences	3
Total Hours	14

Senior Year
Fall Semester	Hours
PHYS 401 –Electromagnetism I	4
PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical	4
Foreign language	4
Humanities/social sciences	3
Total Hours	15

Spring Semester	Hours
PHYS 402—Electromagnetism II
OR
Elective	4
PHYS 425—Modern Optics
OR
PHYS 482—Modern Experimental Physics II	4–5
PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problems	1
Elective	4
Foreign language	4
Total Hours	17–18

^a The PHYS 141–142 sequence is strongly recommended.

Students who are not prepared to begin Mathematics 180 in their first semester may need to attend summer school or possibly take more than four years to finish their B.S. degree.

In addition to the degree programs shown above, there is an Engineering Physics program available through the College of Engineering.

Distinction

Departmental Distinction. Distinction in physics is awarded to students who achieve college honors and an overall minimum GPA of 3.50/4.00 in upper-division physics (400-level) and mathematics (300-level and above) courses.

Students who qualify for departmental distinction are recommended for high or highest distinction on the basis of grade point average and/or high performance in PHYS 391—Physics Seminar or PHYS 392—Physics Research, as described below.

High Distinction. A minimum overall GPA of 3.70/4.00 in upper-division physics and mathematics courses or a minimum overall GPA of 3.50/4.00 in upper-division physics and mathematics courses and high performance in PHYS 391 or 392, as judged by the instructor of the course.

Highest Distinction. A minimum overall GPA of 3.80/4.00 in upper-division physics and mathematics courses or a minimum overall GPA of 3.70/4.00 in upper-division physics and mathematics courses and high performance in PHYS 391 or 392, as judged by the instructor of the course.

Information provided by: Office of Academic and Enrollment Services (MC 103), 601 South Morgan Street, Chicago, IL 60607