Physics | Bachelor of Science: Physics
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Major Courses | 16 | |
| Intermediate Physics Electives | 9 | |
| Advanced Physics Electives | 15 | |
| Laboratory Electives | 1 | |
| Projects | 2 | |
| Cognates | 24 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 19 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper division hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper division hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
Effective in Fall 2025 the math pathway course identified below is required for this degree.
The General Education Math Pathways course identified for this major is MATH 110 College Algebra . All students pursuing this degree program will be required to complete this course or the corequisite support course. Students who place into a higher level math course may be able to satisfy this requirement; consult with your Academic Advisor for additional information.
Placement measures for MATH 110 College Algebra include:
- Math ACT: 22 or higher OR
- Math SAT: 540 or higher OR
- ALEKS PPL: 46 or higher OR
- Accuplacer QAS: 263 or higher OR
- HS GPA and Course Grade: 3.25 cumulative GPA (unweighted) and B- or higher in Second semester Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3 OR
- Institutional Measure
Students who do not meet any of the placement measures listed above will need to register for the corequisite support course: MATH 105 College Algebra with Review.
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Physics | ||
| PHYS 100 | Introduction to Physics and Engineering | 3 |
| PHYS 211 & 211L | Engineering Physics I and Engineering Physics I Laboratory GE | 5 |
| PHYS 212 & 212L | Engineering Physics II and Engineering Physics II Laboratory GE | 5 |
| PHYS 313 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| Intermediate Physics | ||
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Statics | ||
| Scientific Computing and Productivity | ||
| Electronic Circuits | ||
| Analog and Digital Electronics | ||
| Introduction to Computational Physics | ||
| Advanced Physics Electives | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Special Topics I | ||
| Mathematics for the Physical Sciences | ||
| Mechanics | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Optics | ||
| Solid State Physics | ||
| Thermal Physics | ||
| Quantum Mechanics I | ||
| Quantum Mechanics II | ||
| Projects | ||
| Projects I | ||
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Laboratory Electives | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 1 | |
| Computational Physics Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Physics Laboratory I | ||
| Advanced Physics Laboratory II | ||
| Cognates | ||
| University Chemistry I and University Chemistry Laboratory I GE | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus I GE | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Scientific Communication | ||
or GSCI 685 | Writing in the Sciences | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select 20 credits of free electives. The following are suggested, not required: | 20 | |
| University Chemistry II and University Chemistry Laboratory II GE | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Mathematical Statistics | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Total Hours | 61 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| MATH 234 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 100 | Introduction to Physics and Engineering | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| MATH 235 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 5 |
| PHYS 211 & 211L |
Engineering Physics I and Engineering Physics I Laboratory |
5 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| MATH 236 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | 3 |
| PHYS 333 | Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 212 & 212L |
Engineering Physics II and Engineering Physics II Laboratory |
5 |
| PHYS 221 | Statics | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 120 & 120L |
University Chemistry I and University Chemistry Laboratory I |
5 |
| PHYS 313 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| MATH 354 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 331 | Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 332 | Analog and Digital Electronics | 3 |
| PHYS 620 | Mathematics for the Physical Sciences | 3 |
| PHYS 632 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHYS 603 | Projects I | 1 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 621 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 672 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 651 | Advanced Physics Laboratory I | 2 |
| PHYS 603 | Projects I | 1 |
| MATH 240 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 654 | Advanced Physics Laboratory II | 2 |
| PHYS 677 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 603 | Projects I | 1 |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| PHYS 105 | Critical Thinking for Scientists | 3 |
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Directed Electives | 2 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 675 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 652 | Optics | 3 |
| PHYS 678 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 603 | Projects I | 3 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. Open electives indicate the student is free to choose courses from any subject, but students should discuss with their advisor how many of these hours must be upper division. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.