Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Physics, B.S.

120 hours (minimum)

Any student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must complete a minimum of 60 hours in natural, physical, mathematical, and computer science. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree , including a specific listing of courses applicable to the 60-hour requirement.

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

PHY 535 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS: ADVANCED PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

(placement exam recommended)

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science

(completed by Premajor Requirements)

b. Social Science: 3

c. Humanities: 3

III. Laboratory or Field Work

(completed by Premajor Requirement)

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 12-29

Premajor Requirements

*Course used towards completion of a UK Core Requirement.

PHY 231 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS Credit(s): 4 *
PHY 232 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS Credit(s): 4 *
PHY 241 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 1 *
PHY 242 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 1 *
or with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies:
PHY 211 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5 *
PHY 213 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5 *
PHY 228 - OPTICS, RELATIVITY AND THERMAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
CHE 105 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 4
CHE 107 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
MA 113 - CALCULUS I Credit(s): 4 *
MA 114 - CALCULUS II Credit(s): 4

Premajor hours: 28

Major Requirements

Major Core Requirements

PHY 306 - THEORETICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 335 - DATA ANALYSIS FOR PHYSICISTS Credit(s): 2
PHY 361 - PRINCIPLES OF MODERN PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 404G - MECHANICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 416G - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM Credit(s): 3
OR
PHY 417G - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM Credit(s): 3
PHY 520 - INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 521 - INTRO TO QUANTUM MECHANICS II Credit(s): 3
PHY 522 - THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 535 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS: ADVANCED PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 3
MA 213 - CALCULUS III Credit(s): 4
MA 214 - CALCULUS IV Credit(s): 3

plus two different courses from the following:

AST 395 - INDEPENDENT WORK IN ASTRONOMY Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
OR
PHY 395 - INDEPENDENT WORK IN PHYSICS Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
PHY 402G - ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENTS Credit(s): 3
PHY 435 - INTERMEDIATE PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 3
PHY 508 - COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 3

Major Core hours: 42

Other Course Work Required for the Major

From Outside the Major Department

Choose 6 hours outside Physics at the 200+ level. Courses are generally chosen from biology, chemistry, computer science, education, engineering, mathematics, philosophy, or statistics. 200+ level courses used to satisfy College requirements can also be counted here Credit(s): 6

Other Major hours: 6

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120

Suggested Curriculum for B.S. in Physics

(NOTE: Students who have completed calculus or chemistry should visit our website at: https://pa.as.uky.edu/majorand-minor-requirements for suggested curriculum.) As you plan your physics studies, please note that upper division physics courses, PHY 3XX and all higher numbered courses, are offered once per year in the semester indicated on the suggested curricula. For example, PHY 306 and PHY 361 are offered in the spring semester only. This suggested curriculum minimally meets the requirements for the B.S. in Physics.

*A total of 14 credit hours in math, computer science, chemistry, engineering or other areas related to physics but outside the department must be completed to satisfy the college requirement. One-hundred-level freshman courses may not be counted for the Major Requirements except for CS 115 which may be counted.

Freshman Year

First Semester

MA 113 - CALCULUS I Credit(s): 4
PHY 231 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS Credit(s): 4
PHY 241 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 1
CHE 105 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 4
CIS 110 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I Credit(s): 3
OR
WRD 110 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

MA 114 - CALCULUS II Credit(s): 4
PHY 228 - OPTICS, RELATIVITY AND THERMAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
CHE 107 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CS 115 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING Credit(s): 3 *
OR
Major Related Electives Credit(s): 3
CIS 111 - COMPOSITION & COMMUNICATION II Credit(s): 3
OR
WRD 111 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION II Credit(s): 3

Sophomore Year

First Semester

MA 213 - CALCULUS III Credit(s): 4
PHY 232 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS Credit(s): 4
PHY 242 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 1
PHY 335 - DATA ANALYSIS FOR PHYSICISTS Credit(s): 2
Foreign Language Credit(s): 4

Second Semester

MA 214 - CALCULUS IV Credit(s): 3
PHY 306 - THEORETICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 361 - PRINCIPLES OF MODERN PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 4
UK Core Credit(s): 3

Junior Year

First Semester

PHY 404G - MECHANICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 416G - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM Credit(s): 3
UK Core Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 4
MA 322 - MATRIX ALGEBRA AND ITS APPLICATIONS Credit(s): 3 *
OR
Major Related Electives Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

PHY 417G - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 4
UK Core Credit(s): 3
Major Related Electives Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Senior Year

First Semester

PHY 402G - ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENTS Credit(s): 3
PHY 520 - INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS Credit(s): 3
PHY 522 - THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 300+ course Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

PHY 521 - INTRO TO QUANTUM MECHANICS II Credit(s): 3
PHY 535 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS: ADVANCED PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 3
Social Sciences 300+ Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 4

Physics, B.S.

UK Core Requirements

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity

II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities

III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences

IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences

V. Composition and Communication I

VI. Composition and Communication II

VII. Quantitative Foundations

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

X. Global Dynamics

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science

b. Social Science: 3

c. Humanities: 3

III. Laboratory or Field Work

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 12-29

Premajor Requirements

Premajor hours: 28

Major Requirements

Major Core Requirements

plus two different courses from the following:

Major Core hours: 42

Other Course Work Required for the Major

From Outside the Major Department

Other Major hours: 6

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120

Suggested Curriculum for B.S. in Physics

Freshman Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Sophomore Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Junior Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Senior Year

First Semester

Second Semester