BS in the Teaching of Physics Minor in Teaching of Physics
BS in Physics
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;
Misha Stephanov, misha@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 PhD or who combines a physics background with an advanced degree in engineering or another science, or with an MBA, will find many positions available in industry. The Physics major who obtains a PhD 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.
Degree Requirements— BA 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.
| BA with a Major in Physics Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 26 |
| Major Requirements | 40–42 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 52–54 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA with a Major in Physics | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements. Students should consult the course lists below and their advisors to determine which courses may be counted toward the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements.
Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses
| Courses | Hours |
| MATH 180—Calculus Iab | 5 |
| MATH 181—Calculus IIa | 5 |
| MATH 210—Calculus IIIa | 3 |
| MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| CHEM 112—General College Chemistry Ia | 5 |
| CHEM 114—General College Chemistry IIa | 5 |
| Total Hours—Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 26 |
a This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.
b 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. The PHYS 141–142 sequence is strongly recommended. |
8–10 |
| PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)a | |
| PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4)a |
|
| OR | |
| PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)ab | |
| PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)ab | |
| PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)ab | |
| PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II— Laboratory (1)ab |
|
| 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 Ic | 4 |
| PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problemsd | 1 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 40–42 |
a This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.
b Each of the following pairs will be considered one course in meeting the LAS General Education requirements: PHYS 105/PHYS 106 and PHYS 107/PHYS 108.
c PHYS 481 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
d Students must achieve a grade of C or better in PHYS 499.
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.
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. The PHYS 141–142 sequence is strongly recommended. | 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.
Degree Requirements—BS 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.
| BS in the Teaching of Physics Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 26 |
| Major Requirements | 40–42 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 52–54 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BS in the Teaching of Physics | 120 |
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.
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements. Students should consult the course lists below and their advisors to determine which courses are counted toward the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements.
Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses
| Courses | Hours |
| MATH 180—Calculus Iab | 5 |
| MATH 181—Calculus IIa | 5 |
| MATH 210—Calculus IIIa | 3 |
| MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| CHEM 112—General College Chemistry Ia | 5 |
| CHEM 114—General College Chemistry IIa | 5 |
| Total Hours—Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 26 |
a This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.
b 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. The PHYS 141–142 sequence is strongly recommended. | 8–10 |
| PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)a | |
| PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4)a |
|
| OR | |
| PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)ab | |
| PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)ab | |
| PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)ab | |
| PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II— Laboratory (1)ab |
|
| 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 Ic | 4 |
| PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problemsd | 1 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 40–42 |
a This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.
b Each of the following pairs will be considered one course in meeting the LAS General Education requirements: PHYS 105/PHYS 106 and PHYS 107/PHYS 108.
c PHYS 481 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
d Students must achieve a grade of C or better in PHYS 499.
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.
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.
Secondary education majors from other disciplines who want to minor in the Teaching of Physics must complete 19–21 semester 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. The PHYS 141–142 sequence is strongly recommended. | 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.
Degree Requirements—BS 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.
| BS in Physics Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Requirements for the Curriculum | 120 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BS in Physics | 120 |
Requirements for the Curriculum
The requirements for the curriculum include the courses necessary to complete the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements described in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section.
| Courses | Hours |
| ENGL 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiryand Research | 3 |
| Foreign language (the equivalent of two years of a single language at the college level) | 0–16 |
| Exploring World Cultures coursea | 3 |
| Understanding the Creative Arts coursea | 3 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society coursea | 3 |
| Understanding the Past coursea | 3 |
| Understanding U.S. Society coursea | 3 |
| MATH 180—Calculus Ibc | 5 |
| MATH 181—Calculus IIc | 5 |
| MATH 210—Calculus IIIc | 3 |
| MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| CHEM 112—General College Chemistry Ic | 5 |
| CHEM 114—General College Chemistry IIc | 5 |
| One of the following sequences in physics. The PHYS 141—142 sequence is strongly recommended. | 8–10 |
| PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) (4)c | |
| PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4)c |
|
| OR | |
| PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture (4)cd | |
| PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory (1)cd | |
| PHYS 107—Introductory Physics II—Lecture (4)cd | |
| PHYS 108—Introductory Physics II— Laboratory (1)cd |
|
| 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)e | |
| PHYS 412—Quantum Mechanics II (4)e | |
| PHYS 481—Modern Experimental Physics If | 4 |
| PHYS 499—Survey of Physics Problemsg | 1 |
| Electives | 6–25 |
| Minimum Total Hours—Requirements for the Curriculum | 120 |
a Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.
b MATH 180 fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
c This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.
d Each of the following pairs will be considered one course in meeting the LAS General Education requirements: PHYS 105/PHYS 106 and PHYS 107/PHYS 108.
e Students planning to pursue graduate studies in physics are strongly encouraged to take both of these courses.
f PHYS 481 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
g A grade of C or better is required in PHYS 499.
Recommended Plan of Study—BS 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 BS degree is given below. (The BA program omits PHYS 425 or 482; and PHYS 402 or 412).
Note: Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in each category.
Freshman Year
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| CHEM 112—General College Chemistry I | 5 |
| ENGL 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| MATH 180—Calculus I | 5 |
| General Education Core course | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| CHEM 114—General College Chemistry II | 5 |
| ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 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 |
| General Education Core course | 3 |
| General Education Core course | 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 |
| General Education Core course | 3 |
| General Education Core course | 3 |
| Total Hours | 14 |
Senior Year
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| PHYS 401—Electromagnetism I | 4 |
| PHYS 461—Thermal and Statistical | 4 |
| Foreign language | 4 |
| Elective | 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 BS degree.
In addition to the degree programs shown above, there is an Engineering Physics program available through the College of Engineering.
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, described as follows.
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.