Portland-State-University 2019-2020 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) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus) I

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus) II

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus) III

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 I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

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 Ordinary Differential Equations

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, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, or 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) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus) I

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus) II

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus) III

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 I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

4
Ph 314Experimental Physics I

4
Ph 316Experimental Physics III

4
Ph 375UClimate Change and Human Life

4
Ph 426Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

Choose one of the following courses:

Ph 411Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

4
Ph 424Classical Mechanics I

4
Ph 431Electricity and Magnetism I

4
Ph 432Electricity and Magnetism II

4
Ph 434Methods of Mathematical Physics

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 322Computational Physics

4

Choose one of the following courses:

Ph 471/ESM 471Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change

4
Ph 473Alternative Energies

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: Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics

4
Bi 212Principles of Biology: Development, Evolution & Ecology

4
Bi 213Principles of Biology: Organisms, Biodiversity & Conservation

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
Ch 360UOrigins 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 320Environmental Systems I

4
ESM 321Environmental Systems II

4
ESM 322Environmental Risk Assessment

4
ESM 324Environmental Systems Laboratory II

2
G 322Global Biogeochemical Cycles

5
G 351Introduction to Oceanography

4
G 458Astrobiology

4
G 484Field Geophysics

4
Geog 310U/Sci 333UClimate and Water Resources

4
Geog 311UClimatology

4
Geog 312U/Sci 334UClimate Variability

4
Geog 314USevere Weather

4
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) I

4
Ph 212General Physics (with Calculus) II

4
Ph 213General Physics (with Calculus) III

4
or
Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus) I

3
Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus) II

3
Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus) III

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 I

4
Ph 312Introduction to Modern Physics II

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 337Physics in Biomedicine

4
Ph 451Electron Microscopy

4
Ph 464Applied Optics

4
Ph 490Cellular and Molecular Biophysics

4

Please see the undergraduate adviser to register for the following OHSU substitute courses:

RDTT 331Radiation Therapy Physics I

3
RDTT 430Radiation Therapy Physics II

3
Upper-division electives in physics (minimum)

12

Required non-physics courses:

Bi 211Principles of Biology: Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics

4
Bi 212Principles of Biology: Development, Evolution & Ecology

4
Bi 213Principles of Biology: Organisms, Biodiversity & Conservation

4
Bi 214Principles of Biology Lab I

1
Bi 215Principles of Biology Lab II

1
Bi 216Principles of Biology Lab III

1
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
Mth 251Calculus I

4
Mth 252Calculus II

4
Mth 253Calculus III

4
Mth 254Calculus IV

4
Mth 256Applied Ordinary Differential Equations

4
Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4
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.