Physical Sciences, BS

PNW General Education Core (35 Credits Minimum)

• English Composition (6 Credits): Any two Gen Ed English Composition courses  
• Speech Communication (3 Credits): Select from the Speech Communication Core list  
• Quantitative Reasoning (5 Credits): MA 16300 - Integrated Calculus Analysis Geometry I  or MA 16031 - Calculus I For Life Sciences  
• Natural Sciences (8 Credits):
  • CHM 11500 - General Chemistry  
  • PHYS 15200 - Mechanics  or PHYS 22000 - General Physics  
• Technology (3 Credits): Select from the Technology Core list  
• Humanities (3 Credits): Select from the Humanities Core list  
• Social Sciences (3 Credits): Select from the Social Sciences Core list  
• Gen Ed Elective (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Core list  
• First-Year Experience (FYE) (1 Credit): CHM 19400 - Freshman Chemistry Orientation  or PHYS 19400 - Freshman Physics Orientation  

Major Core (22 Credits)

• BIOL 10100 - Introductory Biology
• CHM 11600 - General Chemistry
• CHM 29400 - Sophomore Chemistry Seminar or PHYS 29400 - Sophomore Physics Seminar  
• CHM 49400 - Junior-Senior Chemistry Seminar or PHYS 49400 - Junior-Senior Physics Seminar  
• CHM 49800 - Research In Chemistry (2) or PHYS 46900 - Research In Physics  
• MA 16400 - Integrated Calculus Analysis Geometry II or MA 16032 - Calculus II For Life Sciences  
• PHYS 25100 - Heat, Electricity And Optics or PHYS 22100 - General Physics  

Other Required Courses (63 Credits)

Departmental Electives (21 Credits):  A minimum of seven (7) credit hours must be at the 30000 level or above; ASTR (any course), CHM (any course 20000 or higher), EAS (any course), FIS (any course), PHYS
(any course 20000 or higher), or any SCI course from the following:

• SCI 10601 - Food Chemistry  
• SCI 12200 - Origin Of The Universe  
• SCI 13100 - Science And Environmental Issues  
• SCI 15000 - Brewing Science  
• SCI 20200 - Environmental Science  
• SCI 22000 - Health And Safety  

CES Electives (12 Credits):  Select four (4) CES electives: ASTR (any course), BIOL (any course excluding BIOL 10008 and BIOL 10700), CHM (any course 20000 or higher), CE (any course), CS (any course excluding CS 10000), EAS (any course), ECE (any course), ENGR (any course excluding ENGR 18600), FIS (any course), MSE (any course), MA (any course 20000 or higher excluding MA 23700, MA 23800, and MA 23900), ME (any course), PHYS (any course 20000 or higher), STAT (any course 20000 or higher), or any SCI course from the following:

• SCI 10601 - Food Chemistry  
• SCI 12200 - Origin Of The Universe  
• SCI 13100 - Science And Environmental Issues  
• SCI 15000 - Brewing Science  
• SCI 20200 - Environmental Science  
• SCI 22000 - Health And Safety  

Free Electives (30 Credits):  Select ten (10) free electives

Requirements

Minimum Grade and Grade Point Average (GPA):  Minimum grade of C- required for all College of Engineering and Sciences courses; 2.0 GPA

Experiential Learning (EL):  One EL course required.  EL courses are noted by (e) next to the course title.

General Education Core:  General Education notations can be found within the course description.  Please click on a course to see if it meets a Gen Ed requirement.

Milestone Courses noted by (m) next to the course title have been identified as being critical to your success in this field of study. 

Courses that are only offered on one campus will be noted by an (H) for Hammond, or (W) for Westville.

Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.

Additional Information and Guidelines

Upper division physics courses are offered on a two year rotation. Contact an advisor to determine the specific semester a particular course will be offered.  Certain courses may only be available at one campus location.

Any individual course within CES must be a C- or better, but the average GPA for all disciplinary courses (CHM or PHYS courses) must be at least 2.50.

At least 29 credit hours of Departmental or CES or Free Electives must be 30000 level or higher. Students declaring this major must choose an approved concentration, or have a completed plan of study approved by the Department Head, at the time of declaration of degree. Students may pursue any minor but no more than 12 credits may overlap with the degree requirements.

Note 1: Students who choose to take MA 16031, MA 16032, PHYS 22000, and PHYS 22100 will need to take an additional five (5) credits in free electives to meet the 120 credit hour requirement.

Note 2: Departmental Elective – (A minimum of 7 credit hours must be at the 30000 level or above.) ASTR (any course); CHM (any course 20000 or higher); EAS (any course); FIS (any course); PHYS (any course 20000 or higher); SCI (any course from the following: SCI 10601, SCI 12200, SCI 13100, SCI 15000, SCI 20200, and SCI 22000)

Note 3: CES Elective: ASTR (any course); BIOL (any course excluding BIOL 10008, 10010, and BIOL 10700); CHM (any course 20000 or higher); CE (any course); CS (any course excluding CS 10000); EAS (any course): ECE (any course): ENGR (any course excluding 11000, ENGR 18600); FIS (any course); MSE (any course); MA (any course 20000 or higher excluding MA 23700, MA 23800, and MA 23900); ME (any course); PHYS (any course 20000 or higher); SCI (any course from the following: SCI 10601, SCI 12200, SCI 13100, SCI 15000, SCI 20200, and 22200); and STAT (any course 20000 or higher).

Note 4: Students with an emphasis in physics may use PHYS 46900 instead. Students pursuing a secondary education attribute may use EDCI 49700 instead.