General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| 3-6 |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | |
| Accelerated Academic Writing |
| 4-6 |
| 3-4 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| Total Hours | 31-37 |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete WVU General Education Foundations requirements, College B.S. requirements, major requirements, and electives to total a minimum of 120 hours. For complete details on these requirements, visit the B.S. Degrees tab on the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences pages.
Departmental Requirements for the B.S. in Physics
Students may not earn both a B.A. and a B.S. in Physics. All students wishing to obtain a degree in Physics must comply with the following:
- Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course. Students majoring in Physics must complete PHYS 496 (other options maybe available depending on AoE selected).
- Writing and Communication Skills Requirement: Physics Bachelor of Science students fulfill the Writing and Communication Skills requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103), and two of the following SpeakWrite Certified Courses TM: PHYS 191, PHYS 341, PHYS 376 PHYS 496, ASTR 496.
- Calculation of the GPA in the Major: Students are required to maintain at least a minimum cumulative 2.2 GPA in all courses counted toward the major. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.
- Area of Emphasis: Students completing a Bachelor of Science in Physics must complete an Area of Emphasis selected from Applied Physics, Biophysics, Computational Physics, Materials Science, Medical Physics, Physics Teaching, Professional Preparation, or Space Physics. The Professional Preparation Area of Emphasis is the typical plan of study for a B.S. degree in physics.
- Course Requirement: Physics students completing the Materials Science, Professional Preparation, or Space Physics Areas of Emphasis are required to complete two semesters of PHYS 341. Students completing Applied Physics, Biophysics, Computational Physics, or Medical Physics Areas of Emphasis only need to complete one semester of PHYS 341. Students completing the Physics Teaching Area of Emphasis are required to complete PHYS 376 in place of PHYS 341.
- Benchmark Expectations: For details, go to the Physics admissions tab.
Curriculum Requirements
| First-Year Seminar | |
| |
| |
| Calculus 1a with Precalculus
and Calculus 1b with Precalculus | |
| |
| Calculus 1 | |
| |
| General Physics | |
| General Physics | |
| Oscillations and Thermal Physics | |
| Introductory Modern Physics | |
| Calculus 2 | |
| Multivariable Calculus | |
| Elementary Differential Equations | |
| |
| Theoretical Mechanics 1 | |
| Electricity and Magnetism 1 | |
| Theoretical Mechanics 2 * | |
| Electricity and Magnetism |
| Advanced Physics Laboratory 1 ** | |
| Research Methods |
| Introductory Quantum Mechanics | |
| Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | |
| |
| |
| Total Hours | 120 |
Areas of Emphasis Offered:
Applied Physics
EE 221
& EE 222 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering
and Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
EE 223
& EE 224 | Electrical Circuits
and Electrical Circuits Laboratory | 4 |
EE 251
& EE 252 | Digital Electronics
and Digital Electronics Laboratory | 4 |
| CPE 271 | Introduction to Digital Logic Design | 3 |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| or EE 481 | Capstone Project - Implementation |
| Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Biophysics
| BIOL 115 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 116 | Principles of Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOC 339 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 4 |
CHEM 231
& 231L | Organic Chemistry: Brief Course
and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course - Laboratory | 4 |
or CHEM 233
& CHEM 235 | Organic Chemistry 1
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Computational Physics
| CPE 271 | Introduction to Digital Logic Design | 3 |
| CS 210 | File and Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 220 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| PHYS 301 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| or CS 481 | Capstone Project - Implementation |
| Total Hours | 16 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Materials Science
EE 221
& EE 222 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering
and Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
| CHE 366 | Materials Science | 3 |
| CHE 466 | Electronic Materials Processing | 3 |
| PHYS 341 | Advanced Physics Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 471 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| or CHE 456 | Chemical Process Design 2 |
| Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Medical Physics
BIOL 115
& BIOL 116 | Principles of Biology
and Principles of Biology Laboratory | 4 |
BIOL 117
& BIOL 118 | Introductory Physiology
and Introductory Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
CHEM 231
& 231L | Organic Chemistry: Brief Course
and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course - Laboratory * | 4 |
or CHEM 233
& CHEM 235 | Organic Chemistry 1
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
| PHYS 326 | Medical Imaging Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Physics Teaching Area of Emphasis
| PHYS 490 | Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| 6-8 |
| Foundations, Functions and Regression Models
and Teaching Mathematics: Secondary School | |
| Introductory Analytical Chemistry
and Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course
and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course - Laboratory | |
| Introductory Analytical Chemistry
and Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
and Physical Chemistry: Brief Course
and Experimental Physical Chemistry | |
| Organic Chemistry: Brief Course
and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course - Laboratory
and Physical Chemistry: Brief Course
and Experimental Physical Chemistry | |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 |
Suggested Plan of Study for the B.S. in Physics with an Area of Emphasis in Teaching
Professional Preparation Area of Emphasis
| |
| |
| Advanced Physics Laboratory 1 | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Total Hours | 17 |
** No more than 6 hours combined of ASTR/PHYS 490, 491, 494, 495, or 497 may be used to fulfill major requirements.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| PHYS 191 | 1 | ENGL 101 (F1) | 3 |
| F4 | 3 | B.S. First Area 2 | 4 |
| B.S. First Area 1; F2 | 4 | MATH 156 (B.S. Second Area 1; F8) | 4 |
| MATH 155 (F3) | 4 | PHYS 111 (Third Area 1; F8) | 4 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| ENGL 102 (F1) | 3 | F6 | 3 |
| F5 | 3 | MATH 261 | 4 |
| MATH 251 (B.S. Second Area 2) | 4 | PHYS 212 | 3 |
| PHYS 112 (B.S. Third Area 2; F8) | 4 | PHYS 314 | 4 |
| General Elective | 1 | General Elective | 1 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| PHYS 331 | 3 | PHYS 332 (or Elective) | 3 |
| PHYS 341 | 2 | PHYS 333 | 3 |
| ECAS Glob. Stu. and Div. Req. (F7) | 3 | PHYS 341 | 2 |
| General Elective | 4 | Physics or Astronomy Elective 1 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 1 |
| | General Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| PHYS 334 (or Elective) | 3 | PHYS 461 | 3 |
| PHYS 451 | 3 | PHYS 496 | 3 |
| Math Elective | 3 | Physics or Astronomy Elective 3 | 3 |
| Physics or Astronomy Elective 2 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Total credit hours: 120 |
Space Physics
| ASTR 367 | Astrophysics 1 | 3 |
EE 221
& EE 222 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering
and Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 341 | Advanced Physics Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 321 | Optics | 3 |
| 3 |
| Plasma Physics | |
| Astrophysics 2 |
| PHYS 496 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Major Learning Outcomes
Physics
Upon successful completion of the B.S. degree, Physics majors will demonstrate:
- An understanding of and ability to solve basic conceptual and quantitative problems in theoretical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics.
- An ability to perform accurate measurements of physical systems and communicate the results and implications of those measurements orally and in writing.
- An ability to develop experiments to test basic or applied research questions, to perform accurate experimental measurements, and to critically evaluate others’ answers to research questions.
- Preparation for success in graduate school or in a post baccalaureate career.
Upon successful completion of the B.A. degree, Physics majors will demonstrate:
- An understanding of and ability to solve basic conceptual and quantitative problems in foundational physics areas and to apply complex reasoning and problem solving skills developed in physics across disciplines, with focus on such application in a cognate area.
- An ability to perform accurate measurements of physical systems and communicate the results and implications of those measurements orally and in writing.
- An ability to develop experiments to test basic or applied research questions, to perform accurate experimental measurements, and to critically evaluate others’ answers to research questions.
- Preparation for success in a post baccalaureate career, or graduate or professional school in the cognate area.
The Physics B.A. is designed to prepare students for a career that utilizes physics preparation in conjunction with an applied emphasis. Some common examples are teaching, science journalism, medicine or patent law. Students work with their advisors to choose complementary courses tailored to suit the student’s career aspirations. These hours are completed within the block of elective hours.