Physics and Astrophysics

First year students planning to major or minor in physics or astrophysics, if they have the necessary mathematics, usually take PHYC 160, 160L and MATH 162 in their first semester, and PHYC 161, 161L and MATH 163 in their second semester. There is some flexibility in these prerequisites.

For admission to any degree program in the department, within the College of Arts and Sciences, in any given semester, it is required that the student have passed PHYC 160, or a more advanced physics course, with a grade of C (not C-) or higher.

Academic advisement is required each semester for students majoring in physics or astrophysics. Students in University College with an area of interest or a definite major in mind in this department should meet with a departmental advisor as soon as possible, to ensure that they obtain current curriculum and admissions policies as well as specific advice on how to meet the requirements for admission.

Students are not allowed to receive credit for both PHYC 151 and 160, nor for both PHYC 152 and 161.

The B.S. degree is designed as a beginning and foundation for students planning to continue their studies in graduate school and are, therefore, preparatory to professional training in physics or astrophysics.

The B.A. degree is designed for people interested in physics, astrophysics and science in general who are not seeking a career in scientific research. Rather, these students should use the flexibility within the program to choose minors or an additional major in other areas, such as management, education, communications, journalism, economics, history, political science, etc

B.A. in Physics and Astrophysics: ASTR 271; PHYC 290; PHYC 330; One course chosen from PHYC 301,303, 405 or 491; four additional 3-hour, upper-level courses in Physics or Astronomy, one of which must be in Astronomy and one of which must be a laboratory class, except for any one of the following problems courses: ASTR 455, PHYC 451, 452.

Required supportive courses: MATH 311, 316.

Students who are looking to complete and earn a degree at the Bachelors level. Typically for students who have only completed a Secondary (High School) program.

A program that focuses on the theoretical and observational study of the structure, properties, and behavior of stars, star systems and clusters, stellar life cycles, and related phenomena. Includes instruction in cosmology, plasma kinetics, stellar physics, convolution and non-equilibrium radiation transfer theory, non-Euclidean geometries, mathematical modeling, galactic structure theory, and relativistic astronomy.

Career data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). These occupations are identified based on the CIP code for Astrophysics. (40.0202). The salary range depicts the 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile salary values for each occupation.