Physics B.A./B.S.
It is important that students planning to major in physics contact the Department of Physics prior to the start of their work in order that a coherent program can be planned with their assigned adviser.
Students planning to transfer to PSU from community colleges or other universities are strongly advised to contact the Department of Physics well ahead of their proposed date of transfer so that a smooth transition, which avoids course duplication and untimely delays, can be accomplished. Students need to choose between the standard option, the environmental physics option, and the biomedical option.
Requirements
In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the student must meet the following minimal departmental course requirements:
Standard Option
Ph 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
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| Or | |
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Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
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| Or | |
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Ph 221 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 222 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 223 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
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Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 315 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 426 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 0-4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Differential Equations I | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 0-4 |
One year of general chemistry:
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
At least two of the following courses:
Ph 411 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 425 | Classical Mechanics II | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Ph 464 | Applied Optics | 4 |
Two courses in a related area of science (8 credits):
or technology (biology, geology, additional chemistry, computer science, electrical circuitry or applied physics)
Environmental Option
Ph 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
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| Or | |
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Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
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| Or | |
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Ph 221 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 222 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
Ph 223 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 3 |
| | |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 375 | Climate Change and Human Life | 4 |
Ph 426 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 0-4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Differential Equations I | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 0-4 |
Choose one of the following courses:
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 411 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Ph 434 | Methods of Mathematical Physics | 4 |
Ph 464 | Applied Optics | 4 |
Ph 451 | Electron Microscopy | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
Choose one of the following courses:
Ph 471 | Atmospheric Physics | 4 |
Ph 490 | Cellular and Molecular Biophysics | 4 |
One year of general chemistry:
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
One year of principles of biology:
Choose 15 credits of electives from the following:
Bi 357 | General Ecology | 4 |
Bi 476 | Population Ecology | 5 |
G 322 | Global Biogeochemical Cycles | 5 |
G 351 | Introduction to Oceanography | 4 |
G 458 | Astrobiology | 4 |
G 484 | Field Geophysics | 4 |
Geog 310 | Climate and Water Resources | 4 |
Geog 311 | Climatology | 4 |
Geog 312 | Climate Variability | 4 |
Geog 414 | Hydrology | 4 |
Ch 360 | Origins of Life on Earth | 4 |
Ch 426 | Instrumental Analysis | 4 |
Ch 427 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
CE 371 | Environmental Engineering | 4 |
ESM 221 | Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving | 4 |
ESM 222 | Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration | 4 |
ESM 320 | Analysis of Environmental Systems I | 4 |
ESM 321 | Analysis of Environmental Systems II | 4 |
ESM 322 | Environmental Risk Assessment | 4 |
ESM 324 | Environmental Systems Laboratory II | 2 |
See adviser for substitutions.
Biomedical Option
Required physics courses:
Ph 201 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 202 | General Physics | 4 |
Ph 203 | General Physics | 4 |
| | |
| Or | |
| | |
Ph 211 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
Ph 212 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
Ph 213 | General Physics (with Calculus) | 4 |
| | |
| With | |
| | |
Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 215 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
Ph 216 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
| | |
Ph 311 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
Ph 312 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 4 |
Ph 314 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 316 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 426 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Ph 321 | Current Electricity | 4 |
Ph 431 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Ph 322 | Computational Physics | 4 |
At least three of the following electives in physics:
Please see the undergraduate adviser to register for the following OHSU courses:
RTT 331
| Radiation Therapy Physics I | 4 |
RTT 430
| Radiation Therapy Physics II | 4 |
| Upper-division electives in physics (minimum) | 12 |
Required non-physics courses:
Mth 251 | Calculus I | 0-4 |
Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
Mth 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
Mth 254 | Calculus IV | 4 |
Mth 256 | Applied Differential Equations I | 4 |
Mth 261 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 0-4 |
Bi 251 | Principles of Biology | 5 |
Bi 252 | Principles of Biology | 5 |
Bi 253 | Principles of Biology | 5 |
Ch 334 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 335 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 336 | Organic Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 337 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
Ch 338 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (nonmajors) | 2 |
Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: | 129 |
Other recommended courses:
Ph 315 | Experimental Physics I | 4 |
Ph 424 | Classical Mechanics I | 4 |
Ph 432 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Ph 434 | Methods of Mathematical Physics | 4 |
Ch 350 | Biochemistry | 4 |
Ch 416 | Physical Chemistry for the Biosciences I | 4 |
Ch 417 | Physical Chemistry for the Biosciences II | 4 |
Bi 336 | Cell Biology | 5 |
Bi 341 | Introduction to Genetics | 4 |
Bi 301 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Bi 302 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Bi 303 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Bi 234 | Elementary Microbiology | 4 |
Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) are not acceptable toward fulfilling department major requirements except for those major courses offered on a pass/no pass basis only.