The Bachelor of Science degree in physics is designed for those students intending to do graduate work in physics or engineering, or those planning to become industrial or governmental physicists. The Bachelor of Arts degree in physics is designed to prepare students to enter related or interdisciplinary fields and to provide students with the physics content proficiency required to teach at the secondary level.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Physics requires 37 hours in physics, consisting of 110 or 120, 121, 202, 203, 204, 301, 415, and 16 additional hours in physics courses at the 200 level or above. In addition Chemistry 101, 102, and Math 141, 142, 241, and 242 are required. Students planning on a career in engineering are encouraged to take Physics 205, Math 271, and additional courses depending on the branch of engineering. Students intending to go on to graduate school in physics are encouraged to take Physics 304, 313, 401, and Math 321.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics requires 28 hours in physics, consisting of 110 or 120, 121, 202, 203, 204, 415, and 9 additional hours in physics courses at the 200 level or above. In addition Chemistry 101 and 102, and Math 141, 142, 241, and 242 are required.

The Minor in Physics requires 14 hours in physics, consisting of 110 or 120, 111 or 121, and two courses selected from 202, 203, 204 and 303.

The Department of Chemistry and Physics will grant the designation “Honors in Physics” to those students meeting the following requirements:

1. Completing research in physics for at least three consecutive semesters and receiving at least one semester hour credit in PH411 for each of these semesters. At least three semester hours of this research credit must be earned in addition to the normal physics major requirements.
2. A research presentation at a national or regional meeting of APS, SCAS, or the equivalent.
3. A GPA of 3.6 or better in physics courses.
4. Completion of at least three of the following physics courses: PH 304, PH 313, PH 301, PH 401.
5. Taking the Physics Major Field Achievement Test during the Junior Year and scoring at or above the National Average on the test at that time.
Students seeking honors should declare their intent to the Department in their junior year.