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Engineering Physics Major

Students who love both engineering and physics can pursue an engineering physics major offered jointly by the Department of Engineering Sciences and the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

For information, contact Professor William Lotko.

Course of Study

Prerequisites

Engineering physics majors are expected to have a basic understanding of calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science. First-year students interested in the major should take the placement test in mathematics.

Mathematics (4 courses)

MATH 3 Introduction to Calculus
MATH 8 Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables
MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions
MATH 23 Differential Equations

Physics (2 courses)

PHYS 13 Introductory Physics I
PHYS 14 Introductory Physics II

Chemistry (1 course)

CHEM 5 General Chemistry

Computer science (choose 1 course)

ENGS 20 Introduction to Scientific Computing
COSC 5 Introduction to Computer Science

Unless otherwise prohibited, prerequisites may be taken under the Non-Recording Option.

Required Courses

The Engineering Physics Major must be a 5/5 split of 10 courses between Engineering Sciences and Physics.

Engineering core courses (3 courses)

ENGS 22 Systems
ENGS 23 Distributed Systems and Fields
ENGS 24 Science of Materials

Physics core courses (3 courses, students taking the honors sequence, PHYS 15 and 16, should substitute a third elective for PHYS 19)

PHYS 19 Introductory Physics III
PHYS 24 Introductory Physics IV
PHYS 43 Statistical Physics

Students Electives (choose 2 courses, each from a different group)

Group 1

ENGS 25 Introduction to Thermodynamics
ENGS 33 Solid Mechanics
ENGS 34 Fluid Dynamics

Group 2

PHYS 42 Introductory Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 68 Introductory Plasma Physics
PHYS 91 Intermediate Quantum Mechanics

Group 3

PHYS 73 Introductory Condensed Matter Physics
ENGS 131 Science of Solid State Materials

Group 4

PHYS 66 Relativistic Electrodynamics
ENGS 120 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

Group 5

PHYS 44 Mechanics
ENGS 140 Applied Mechanics: Dynamics

Free electives (choose 2 courses)

Any engineering sciences courses numbered above 20 (excluding ENGS 80 and ENGS 87)
Any physics course that fulfills the straight physics major

Culminating Experience

Engineering Physics majors complete a culminating experience, which is part of a course (either an elective or an additional course). Normally taken during the senior year, the course is chosen from the following options:

Thesis

ENGS 86 Independent Project
ENGS 88 Honors Thesis

Design project

ENGS 190 Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation (taken as part of the two-course design sequence ENGS 190/290; may count toward both A.B. and B.E. degrees)

Advanced course

ENGS 61 Intermediate Electrical Circuits
ENGS 62 Microprocessors in Engineered Systems
ENGS 63 Introduction to VLSI Systems
ENGS 71 Structural Analysis
ENGS 73 Materials Processing and Selection
ENGS 75 Product Design
ENGS 76 Machine Engineering
ENGS 122 Semiconductor Theory and Devices
ENGS 124 Optical Devices and Systems
ENGS 125 Power Electronics and Electromechanical Energy Conversion
ENGS 126 Analog VLSI Systems Design
ENGG 129 Instrumentation and Measurement
ENGS 130 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
ENGS 132 Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Condensed Phases
ENGS 134 Nanotechnology
ENGS 135 Thin Films and Microfabrication Technology
ENGS 145 Modern Control Theory
ENGS 146 Computer-Aided Mechanical Engineering Design
ENGS 157 Chemical Process Design
ENGS 158 Chemical Kinetics and Reactors
ENGS 165 Biomaterials
ENGS 171 Industrial Ecology
ENGS 172 Climate Change and Engineering

Advanced course (physics)

PHYS 68 Introductory Plasma Physics
PHYS 72 Introductory Particle Physics
PHYS 73 Introductory Condensed Matter Physics
PHYS 74 Space Plasma Physics
PHYS 76 Methods of Experimental Physics
PHYS 82 Special Topics Seminar
PHYS 87 Undergraduate Research

Transfer Credit

No more than two transfer courses may be used for credit in the major.

Academic Standing

Satisfactory completion of the major requires a grade point average of 2.0 in the courses suitable for satisfying the major.