Departments & Programs
Department of Physics
Physics-Undergraduate Degree Options
Degree Requirements
Minimum requirements for the School of Science are given in this bulletin (see the School of Science requirements under “Undergraduate Programs”).
First-Year Experience Course
Beginning freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 19 credit hours are required to take SCI-I 120 Windows on Science (1 cr.) or an equivalent first-year experience course.
Area I English Composition and Communication Competency
ENG-W 131 or ENG-W 140 Reading Writing and Inquiry (3 cr.) with a grade of C (2.00) or higher.The second semester of English composition may be satisfied with ENG-W 230, ENG-W 231, ENG-W 250, ENG-W 270, ENG-W 331 or ENG-W 350 with a grade of C (2.00) or higher.
Area II World Language Competency
Proficiency in a world language is not required for a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Science, with the exception of Mathematical Science degrees and the dual major Physics-Math degree.
Area IIIA Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Cultural Understanding Competencies (12 cr.)
List H course: Choose one course (3 cr.) from this list. The list of course choices is located under the School of Science requirements “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin.
List S course: Choose one course (3 cr.) from this list. The list of course choices is located under the School of Science requirements “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin.
List C course: Choose one course (3 cr.) from this list. The list of course choices is located under the School of Science requirements “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin.
One additional course from either List H or List S.
For the most current list of courses in the areas of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Understanding, please refer to the IU Indianapolis General Education Curriculum.
Area IIIC Life and Physical and Sciences Competency
Minimum requirements for the School of Science are given in this bulletin (see the School of Science requirements under “Undergraduate Programs”).
Courses must include CHEM-C 105/CHEM-C 125 and CHEM-C 106/CHEM-C 126 with laboratory or their approved equivalent.
Students must have grades of C- or higher in Life and Physical Sciences courses. A grade of D or D+ will be allowed for one course only.
Area IIID Analytical Reasoning Competency
Minimum requirements for the School of Science are given in this bulletin (see the School of Science requirements under “Undergraduate Programs”).
Twenty-four (24) credit hours of courses in mathematics are required, which must include MATH-I 165, MATH-I 166, MATH-I 171, MATH-I 261 and MATH-I 266 and two (2) additional courses beyond MATH-I 266.
The computer programming requirement (3 - 4 cr.) of the School of Science may be satisfied with CSCI-C 200, CSCI-C 304 or any higher-level CSCI course (with advisor or department approval). Students with significant programming experience may request authorization to satisfy this requirement with other courses.
Note: Computer Science CSCI-N 241 and CSCI-N 299 do not count in Area IIID, but may count as a general elective.
Students must have grades of C- or higher in Analytical Reasoning courses. A grade of D or D+ will be allowed for one course only.
Area IV Physics Concentration
The Department of Physics offers four options for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree: a traditional physics program; a biophysics option; a program designed for students planning a career in physics teaching; and a B.S. dual accelerated major in physics and mathematics.
Students pursuing the traditional program must complete PHYS-I 152, PHYS-I 251, PHYS-I 299, PHYS-I 300, PHYS-I 310, PHYS-I 330, PHYS-I 342, PHYS-I 353, PHYS-I 400, PHYS-I 401, PHYS-I 418, PHYS-I 442, and PHYS-I 490. These students must complete 6 hours of mathematics above the level of MATH-I 266 in courses approved by the Department of Physics.
Students pursuing the biophysics option must complete: Introductory course sequence PHYS-P 201 or PHYS-I 152, PHYS-P 202 or PHYS-I 251, PHYS-I 299, PHYS-I 310, PHYS-I 330, PHYS-I 342, PHYS-I 353, PHYS-I 442, PHYS-I 585, and PHYS-I4 90 Biophysics Capstone. In addition, a minimum of 13 credit hours of biology and 21 credit hours of chemistry is required. Please refer to the Biophysics Option section of the bulletin for detailed information. Note: For this option, students are NOT required to complete two (2) additional courses beyond MATH-I 266.
Students pursuing the teaching option must complete: PHYS-I 152, PHYS-I 251, PHYS-I 300, PHYS-I 310, PHYS-I 330, PHYS-I 342, PHYS-I 353, and PHYS-I 490. The Department of Physics may substitute other science courses for the 400-level courses and recommend education courses in order to meet teacher certification requirements. These students must complete 6 hours of mathematics above the level of MATH-I 266 in courses approved by the Department of Physics.
Students pursuing the program in physics and mathematical sciences must complete PHYS-I 152, PHYS-I 251, PHYS-I 299, PHYS-I 310, PHYS-I 330, PHYS-I 342, PHYS-I 353, PHYS-I 400, PHYS-I 401, PHYS-I 418 and PHYS-I 442. Students must complete the MATH sequence up to MATH-I 266 and MATH-I 351, MATH-I 300, MATH-I 414, MATH-I 426 and MATH-I 444. Additionally, students must take twelve (12) additional credit hours: three credit hours selected from MATH-I 353/MATH-I 354/MATH-I 453; three credit hours selected from mathematics courses at the 300 level or above and statistics courses numbered 350 or higher; three additional credit hours from mathematics or statistics or from physics courses numbered 300 level or above. Please refer to the dual degree Physics/Math section of the bulletin for detailed information.
No more than 6 credit hours of studio, clinical, athletic, or performing arts courses will be approved. See the departmental advisor for details.
