Undergraduate Curriculum

PHYSICS MAJORS PROGRAMS

The Physics Department offers two degree tracks, a B.S. degree in Physics and a B.A. degree in Physics Education. There is also an Honors option and an Astronomy Minor described below.

 B.S. degree in PHYSICS

Physics, 47 credits

121 & 122 Introductory Physics I & II 
224 Introductory Physics III 
122L Introductory Physics Laboratory
220 Introduction to Computational Physics
303 Thermal and Statistical Physics 
320L Electronics for Scientists 
321 Intermediate Mechanics 
324 Modern Physics 
330L Optics Laboratory 
331L Modern Physics Laboratory 
407 Electromagnetic Theory 
408 Optics 
424 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
XXX One Physics Elective

Mathematics, 18 credits 

151 & 152 Calculus I & II 
251 Multivariable Calculus 
221 Linear Algebra
225 Differential Equations

Computer Science, 3 or 4 credits

104 Problem Solving and Computer Programming or 201 Computer Science I for Majors

Physics Electives

305 Stellar Astrophysics
315 Galaxies and the Interstellar Medium
402 Nuclear Physics
403 Solid State Physics
425 Relativistic Physics
430 Introduction to Materials
440 Computational Physics

 B.A. degree in PHYSICS EDUCATION

The Physics Department offers a B.A. degree in Physics Education.  This program is designed for students who wish to become certified to teach high school physics upon graduation.  The four-year program provides a solid physics background and all the education courses needed for certification.  The last semester of senior year is left free for the student teaching internship (see pdf brochure).

HONORS PROGRAM

A student must apply for admission to the Honors Program by the end of the first semester of the junior year. There is a university requirement of a GPA of 3.5 or better in the major and at least 9 credits of honors coursework. For physics majors, these requirements are met by 10 credits drawn from the following:

PHYS 490 Senior Seminar
PHYS 499 Senior Research
Physics Electives 


ASTRONOMY MINOR

A Minor in Astronomy is offered to students who are preparing for a career in astronomy or a related field or to those who are interested in an in-depth survey of modern astronomy. The minor consists of:

The astrophysics courses within the Astronomy Minor are taught by professional astronomers affiliated with the Joint Center for Astrophysics, a collaboration between UMBC and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Md).