In addition to the core coursework requirements, students must select one of the five sub-plans detailed below and complete the respective requirements.
This sub-plan is ideal for those students who want the strongest possible grounding in physics. It is designed to suit the needs of students who are interested in fundamental physics or astrophysics, applying physics to the workplace, or who are planning on continuing their physics education in graduate school.
Students who are interested in the practical application of physics to the engineering fields or who may be, e.g., double-majoring in another science field, but who would like a less specialized education that they would find in an engineering department, will find that this degree track provides them with a solid education and flexibility to pursue other scientific fields. In addition to the strong physics core curriculum, students can either focus on one area of engineering or explore a broad range of interests across a number of engineering or scientific fields. Students who are interested in moving directly into industry as well as those who want to pursue a graduate degree in either engineering, physics, or astrophysics will find this program valuable.
† Students who have not taken PHYS3041 are required to complete 25 technical elective credits.
Note that CHEM 1061 and 1065, which are required for several of the engineering majors, are strongly recommended.
Students who are interested in entering the biological sciences or medicine will find this degree an attractive option. Physics applies to biology at all levels, from the basics of biosystems to biomedical engineering. This degree can be very useful to students who want to pursue a career in biomedical industry. It also provides a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing an advanced degree in biophysics, molecular biology, physiology, medical physics, biomedical engineering, or medical school. Combined with physics core curriculum this biological emphasis gives students powerful tools to achieve their goals.
† Students who have not taken PHYS3041 are required to complete 11 technical elective credits.
For students who are interested in teaching secondary school physics, this program offers a versatile broad-based education. It is particularly useful to students who are planning on teaching in Minnesota, as it has be optimized to fit well with the new state licensure procedures. And, should a student's needs or plans change, this program combined with the physics core curriculum also prepares him or her for a variety of other career tracks, including graduate study in physics.
† Students who have not taken PHYS3041 are required to complete 26 technical elective credits.
Students following this option in preparation for secondary school teaching are strongly advised to participate in a program of voluntary secondary school teaching. Such experience (100 hours) is required for students wishing to enter the University of Minnesota College of Education Secondary School Graduate Program leading certification to teach. (See the Education Advising Office, Wulling Hall for information on how to meet this requirement). Early admission into this program is possible in the Junior year.
Students wishing to, in addition, obtain a 5-8 general science license will need:
One year sequence in chemistry, with labs (8-10 credits): CHEM 1071, 1065, 1072, and 1066
One year sequence in life sciences, with labs (8-10 credits): BIOL 1009 + any BIOL 2XXX, 3XXX, or 4XXX or BIOL 2002-2003 (meets CLE requirement of Biological Sciences)
Two courses in earth sciences, with lab (8-10 credits): AST 1001, ESCI 1001 (meets CLE requirement of Environment)
This emphasis is ideal for students who seek a strong grounding in physics and the computational techniques used in physics research. Computational physics connects physics, computer science and applied mathematics to provide scientific solutions to realistic and often complex problems. Students who are interested in moving directly into industry as well as those who want to pursue a graduate degree in physics will find this program valuable.
† Students who have not taken PHYS3041 are required to complete 15 technical elective credits.
Technical electives must be selected with *approval of your adviser*. These are in addition to any courses listed above, and credit requirements vary by subplan. A technical elective is any course in CSE or CBS at the 3XXX-level and above. A 1XXX-level CSCI programming course in java, C++, or Python can also be accepted. Credits can be taken in a single area or distributed across several fields, depending on student's interest.
Many of these courses have specific lower-division pre-requisites. Students should consult with their faculty adviser as to appropriate selections for their program.