Area of Study
The Physics Department offers a wide spectrum of laboratory-based courses for students interested in pursuing the study of engineering or any of various scientific fields. The physics curriculum requires that the student plan his or her program carefully, since most courses must be taken in sequence and require prerequisites in mathematics.
Those students planning to study for a professional career in physics or engineering find that Engineering Physics (PHYS 231 and PHYS 232) offers the opportunity to use differential and integral calculus as they seek out and apply the unifying principles of physical law.
The Liberal Arts Physics sequence (PHYS 131 and PHYS 132) enables students interested in pursuing professional careers in medical, scientific and related fields to use algebra and trigonometry as they study the major concepts of physical law.
Students taking Technical Physics (PHYS 120 and PHYS 121) discover the great power of using the laws of physics in solving everyday technical problems in the workplace.
Students seeking careers in teaching or some fields in Health Careers may fulfill a science requirement with a one-semester general physics laboratory course. Principles of Physics (PHYS 133) introduces various branches of physics to students who have limited mathematical skills.
PHYS 120 Technical
Physics
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in MATH 103
Designed mainly to give students majoring in technical areas an
understanding of physical principles and their application to
industry. This course consists of a study of measurement, forces,
motion, and vectors; energy, power, and machines; properties of
materials and fluids; and heat and heat transfer. Three hours of
lecture and two hours of laboratory per week.
PHYS 121 Technical
Physics
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: PHYS 120
A continuation of PHYS 120 into wave motion and sound, light and
optical instruments, electricity and DC electrical circuits, atomic
physics, and nuclear physics. Three hours of lecture and two hours of
laboratory per week.
PHYS 131 Liberal Arts
Physics
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra and one semester of
trigonometry with a grade of C or better or equivalent college
courses
A liberal arts course in the principles of physics, including
units on mechanics heat and sound. Designed to fulfill partially the
physics requirement in pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, teaching, and
law. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per
week.
instructors: Michael
C. LoPresto
PHYS 132 Liberal Arts
Physics
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Physics 131 with a grade of C or better
A continuation of PHYS 131. Units on electricity, magnetism, light
and modern physics are included. Three hours of lecture and three
hours of laboratory per week.
instructor: Michael
C. LoPresto
PHYS 133 Principles of
Physics
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: One years of high school algebra
A one semester survey course on physical principles of motion energy,
fluids, electromagnetism, waves, light, radiation and the atom. This
course is designed to meet the need for a one-semester course in
physics in many areas including Allied Health, teacher education,
business, and social science. Three hours of lecture and two hours of
laboratory per week.
PHYS 231 Engineering
Physics
5 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MATH 180, with MATH 183 recommended
A general course to meet the requirements of engineering students
and physics majors. Special emphasis is placed on relating physical
principles to mathematical techniques in problem solving. This
lecture and laboratory course covers mechanics, wave motion, and
thermodynamics. Four hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory
per week.
instructors: Paul
Holody
PHYS 232 Engineering
Physics (Continued)
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Physics 231 with a grade of C or better and MATH 183;
concurrent enrollment in MATH 280 is recommended.
A continuation of PHYS 231. Topics covered are electricity,
magnetism, and physical and geometrical optics. Four hours of lecture
and three hours of laboratory per week.
instructors: Paul
Holody
PHYS 233 Engineering
Physics (Continued)
4 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Physics 232 with a grade of C or better and MATH 280;
MATH 286 is recommended.
A continuation of PHYS 232 emphasizing modern physics. Included
are topics on solid state physics, nuclear and atomic physics, and
fundamental particles. The application of mathematics is limited to
elementary use of the wave mechanical approach to quantum mechanics.
Four hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
instructor: Paul
Holody
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