Physics (BS)
Description
The B.S. degree in physics is recommended for students wishing to go to graduate school in physics. There are optional emphases in astrophysics and biophysics. The degree prepares a student for teaching physics, for graduate or professional schools, such as law school or education school, and for jobs in technical fields. Students interested in teaching high school physics may need a secondary education certification along with the degree.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120
Degree Requirements
The academic regulations for this degree program, as entered in the University of Mississippi Catalog, are in effect for the current or selected academic year and semester. The University of Mississippi reserves the right to
- change or withdraw courses;
- change rules for registration, instruction, and graduation; and
- change other regulations affecting the student body at any time.
B.S. in Physics
General Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following First Year Writing I courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to College Writing | ||
or WRIT 1010 | First-Year Writing I | |
| Select one of the following First Year Writing II courses: | 3 | |
| First-Year Writing II | ||
or LIBA 1020 | First Year Seminar | |
| Select six hours of literature survey from the following: | 6 | |
| Survey in Literary History | ||
| Survey of World Literature to 1650 | ||
| Survey of World Literature since 1650 | ||
| Survey of American Lit to the Civil War | ||
| Survey of American Lit since Civil War | ||
| Survey of British Lit to 18th Century | ||
| Survey of Brit Lit since Romantic Period | ||
| Select twelve hours of social science and humanities in the following areas: 1 | 12 | |
African American Studies | ||
American Sign Language | ||
Classical Civilization | ||
| Humanities and the Environment | ||
Gender Studies | ||
Greek | ||
History | ||
| Interdisciplinary Humanities | ||
| Interdisciplinary Social Sciences | ||
| Humanities and the Experience of War | ||
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Humanities | ||
| Advanced Interdisc Social Science | ||
Philosophy | ||
Political Science | ||
Psychology | ||
Religious Studies | ||
Any Speech, Rhetoric, or Writing course at the 2000 level or higher | ||
Sociology | ||
Southern Studies | ||
Any of the languages offered by the Department of Modern Languages | ||
| Select three hours of of fine arts from the following: | 3 | |
Art History | ||
| Dance Appreciation | ||
| Introduction to Music Literature | ||
| Fundamentals of Music Theory | ||
| Introduction to Music | ||
| Introduction to World Music Cultures | ||
| Music Theory and Analysis I | ||
| Appreciation of the Theatre | ||
| Introduction to Cinema | ||
| Introduction to the Fine Arts | ||
| Interdisciplinary Arts | ||
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Arts | ||
| Select 6-8 hours of natural science 2 | 6-8 | |
| any Math course at the 1000 level or above 3 | 3 | |
| Related Subjects - see footnote 4 | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 54-56 | |
- 1
-
At least six hours must be chosen from among the social sciences, which consist of anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.
- 2
-
Majors for the B.S. degree must have 2 courses of laboratory science.
- 3
-
Any MATH course at the 1000 level or above except for MATH 2451 and 2452
- 4
18 hours required; choose from courses listed beside the major.
Anthropology - biology, computer science, English, economics, chemistry, geology, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology
Biology - anthropology, chemistry, CLSC 2010 Medical Terminology in Greek and Latin, geology, mathematics, physics, psychology
Chemistry - mathematics, physics
Economics - math (may include MATH 2611 Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry I, MATH 2612 Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry II, and MATH 3750 Introduction to Statistics I, but not MATH 2511 Calculus for Business, Econ., & Accy. I, MATH 2512 Calculus for Business, Econ., & Accy. II), finance, political science, computer science
Forensic Chemistry - biology, mathematics, pharmacology, physics; up to 6 hours of pharmacology courses
Mathematics - astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, geology, physics
Physics - mathematics
Political Science - computer science, economics, mathematics, sociology, psychology
Psychology - biology, computer science, economics, mathematics, philosophy, sociology
Sociology - anthropology, computer science, English, economics, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology
General Education II
Related Subjects Residence
Students must complete at least 6 of the required 18 hours of related subject course work in residence.
Related Subjects Residence GPA
Student must achieve a GPA of 2.00 in resident hours in related subjects.
Related Subjects
Complete at least 18 credit hours in mathematics (Math) course work.
Related Subject GPA
Student must achieve a GPA of 2.00 overall in the related subjects.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students may satisfy the PHYS 21xx requirements by demonstrating a high level of proficiency on an exam—but then will need to meet the 45 total hours by taking higher-level physics and astronomy courses as a substitute. | ||
| PHYS 2110 | Physics for Science & Engineering I | 3 |
| PHYS 2111 | Lab Physics for Science & Engineering I | 1 |
| PHYS 2120 | Physics for Science & Engineering II | 3 |
| PHYS 2121 | Lab Physics for Science & Engineering II | 1 |
| PHYS 3030 | Physical Theory and Techniques | 3 |
| PHYS 3080 | Mathematical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 3210 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 3232 | Optics | 4 |
| PHYS 3270 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 3310 | Introduction to Modern Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 4312 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 4330 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 4350 | Electromagnetic Theory I | 3 |
| PHYS 4360 | Electromagnetic Theory II | 3 |
| Select two hours of the following: | 2 | |
| Senior Research Project | ||
| Senior Research Project | ||
| Select an additional three hours of PHYS or ASTR at the 3000+ level | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Phys Residency Hours
Students must earn at least 18 hours of their major courses in residence.
Resident Major GPA
Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher on major required courses.
Overall Major GPA
Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher on major required courses.
Major Requirements II
All six math courses should be completed by the end of the junior year.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2611 | Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry I | 3 |
| MATH 2612 | Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry II | 3 |
| MATH 2613 | Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 2614 | Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry IV | 3 |
| MATH 3190 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 3530 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Specializations
Emphasis - Astrophysics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASTR 3610 | Astrophysics | 3 |
| ASTR 4760 | Introduction to Cosmology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Emphasis - Biophysics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 4410 | Introduction to Biophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 5440 | Physics of Medical Imaging | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |