Portland-State-University 2015-2016 Bulletin

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 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus)

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus)

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus)

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus)

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus)

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus)

3
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223

1
  
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 315Experimental Physics II

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4
Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Differential Equations I

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

One year of general chemistry:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4
Ch 222General Chemistry II

4
Ch 223General Chemistry III

4
Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 229General Chemistry Laboratory

1

At least two of the following courses:

Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 425Classical Mechanics II

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 434Methods of Mathematical Physics

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4

Two courses in a related area of science or technology (minimum 6 credits total):

biology, geology, additional chemistry, computer science, electrical circuitry, or applied physics

6
Total Credit Hours:101-104

Environmental Option

Ph 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus)

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus)

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus)

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus)

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus)

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus)

3
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223

1
 
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 375Climate Change and Human Life

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Differential Equations I

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

Choose one of the following courses:

Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 434Methods of Mathematical Physics

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 451Electron Microscopy

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4

Choose one of the following courses:

Ph 471/ESM 471Atmospheric Physics

4
Ph 490Cellular and Molecular Biophysics

4

One year of general chemistry:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4
Ch 222General Chemistry II

4
Ch 223General Chemistry III

4
Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 229General Chemistry Laboratory

1

One year of principles of biology:

Bi 211Principles of Biology I

4
Bi 212Principles of Biology II

4
Bi 213Principles of Biology III

4
Bi 214Principles of Biology Lab I

1
Bi 215Principles of Biology Lab II

1
Bi 216Principles of Biology Lab III

1

Choose 15 credits of electives from the following:

Bi 357General Ecology

4
Bi 476Population Ecology

5
G 322Global Biogeochemical Cycles

5
G 351Introduction to Oceanography

4
G 458Astrobiology

4
G 484Field Geophysics

4
Geog 310/Sci 333Climate and Water Resources

4
Geog 311Climatology

4
Geog 312Climate Variability

4
Geog 414Hydrology

4
Ch 360Origins of Life on Earth

4
Ch 426Instrumental Analysis

4
Ch 427Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

4
CE 371Environmental Engineering

4
ESM 221Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving

4
ESM 222Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration

4
ESM 320Analysis of Environmental Systems I

4
ESM 321Analysis of Environmental Systems II

4
ESM 322Environmental Risk Assessment

4
ESM 324Environmental Systems Laboratory II

2
Total Credit Hours:113-116

See adviser for substitutions.

Biomedical Option

Required physics courses:

Ph 201General Physics

4
Ph 202General Physics

4
Ph 203General Physics

4
or
Ph 211General Physics (with Calculus)

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus)

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus)

4
With
Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221

1
Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222

1
Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223

1
 
Ph 311Introduction to Modern Physics

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Ph 321Current Electricity

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4

At least three of the following electives in physics:

Ph 451Electron Microscopy

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 490Cellular and Molecular Biophysics

4
Ph 337Physics in Biomedicine

4

Please see the undergraduate adviser to register for the following OHSU substitute 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 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Differential Equations I

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4
Ch 221General Chemistry I

4
Ch 222General Chemistry II

4
Ch 223General Chemistry III

4
Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 228General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 229General Chemistry Laboratory

1
Ch 334Organic Chemistry I

4
Ch 335Organic Chemistry II

4
Ch 336Organic Chemistry III

4
Ch 337Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

2
Ch 338Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (nonmajors)

2
Total Credit Hours:129

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.