Schools

School of Natural Sciences

Physics (Bachelor of Arts)

The physics department at IUS has a vibrant atmosphere despite its small size. Small class sizes and a small student to teacher ratio are conducive to effective learning, manifested in the fact that the gain scores in national standardized assessment tests in the introductory physics courses are considerably higher than the national average. All full-time physics faculty members at IUS hold a Ph. D. degree. The faculty members engage in research and scholarship and publish regularly in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals. Plenty of opportunities exists for undergraduate students to gain professional experience by working closely with faculty and getting involved in their research projects.

The Bachelor of Arts in Physics was approved for the IU Southeast campus in October 2015.  The official program start date will be in the Fall 2016 semester, but students may begin the curriculum at any time.

Student Learning Goals

  1. Students will understand the role of empirical data in establishing scientific knowledge.
  2. Students will understand that, in addition to empirical evidence, science involves skepticism and rational arguments; that it is not an opinion but is rather a reasoned consensus among informed experts that improves over time.
  3. Students will understand several paradigm examples of the fundamental conceptual models in Physics that underlie our current understanding of the physical world.

Physics BA Residency Requirement

In addition to the University Credit Hour & Residency Requirement, Physics Majors must complete the Capstone Course (PHYS-S406) and a minimum of two upper-level (300-400 level) Physics courses in residence at IU Southeast.

Degree Program Admission Requirements

To be fully admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics degree program, students must meet the School of Natural Science's admission requirements and complete PHYS-P221 (Physics I) with a grade of C or better.

General Education Component

All students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Physics must complete the campus General Education Core Requirements.  See General Education Component for all IU Southeast Baccalaureate Degrees for a complete listing of requirements.

Students must also complete the campus BA Distribution requirements as stated in Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) below will satisfy a General Education or BA Distribution Requirement.

 

Mathematics Requirements

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

MATH-M

215*

Analytic Geometry and Calculus I

5

C

MATH-M

216

Analytic Geometry and Calculus II

5

C

MATH-M

311

Calculus III

3

C

MATH-M

313

Differential Equations

3

C

Chemistry Requirements

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

CHEM-C

105*

General Chemistry I

3

C

CHEM-C

125*

Experimental Chemistry I

2

C

CHEM-C

106

General Chemistry II

3

C

CHEM-C

 126 Experimental Chemistry II

2

C

Computer Science Requirements

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

CSCI-C

201

Computer Programming II

4

C

CSCI-C

 202 Introduction to Software Systems

4

C

Physics Requirements

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade
PHYS-P 221* Physics I

5

C
PHYS-P 222 Physics II

5

C
PHYS-P 301 Physics III

3

C
PHYS-P 309 Intermediate Physics Lab

2

C
PHYS-P 331

Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I

3

C
PHYS-P 340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

3

C
PHYS-P 441

Analytical Mechanics

3

C
PHYS-P 453

Intro. to Quantum Mechanics

3

C
PHYS-S 406

Physics Research/Capstone

1

C

General & Upper-Level Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours and 30 credit hours at the 300-level or above.  Elective courses may be necessary to complete the minimum credit hour requirements.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

Click here for the PDF version.