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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 Jifeng Liu.

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.

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

Physics

2 courses.

  • PHYS 13: Introductory Physics I
  • PHYS 14: Introductory Physics II

Chemistry

1 course.

  • CHEM 5: General Chemistry

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

Computer Science

Choose 1 option.

Option A

2 courses.

  • COSC 1: Introduction to Programming and Computation
  • COSC 10: Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming

Option B

1 course.

  • ENGS 20: Introduction to Scientific Computing
    – May not 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. These courses include the required 3 core courses listed below and 2 electives or free electives in engineering and 2 electives or free electives in physics. Students wishing to pursue the BE degree are advised to elect an Engineering Sciences course.

Engineering Core Courses

3 courses

Physics Core Courses

3 Courses

  • PHYS 19: Introductory Physics III*
  • PHYS 40: Quantum Physics of Matter: An Introduction
  • PHYS 43: Statistical Physics

*Students taking the honors sequence, PHYS 15 and 16, should substitute a third physics elective for PHYS 19.

Preselected Electives

Choose 2 courses, each from a different group.

Group A

Group B

  • PHYS 50: Introductory Quantum Mechanics
  • PHYS 68: Introductory Plasma Physics
  • PHYS 91: Intermediate Quantum Mechanics

Group C

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

Group D

  • PHYS 66: Relativistic Electrodynamics
  • ENGS 64: Engineering Electromagnetics
    – or ENGS 120: Electromagnetic Waves

Group E

  • PHYS 44: Mechanics
  • ENGS 72: Applied Mechanics: Dynamics

Open 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 as one of the two electives or as an additional course). Normally taken during the senior year, the course is chosen from the following options.

Thesis


Design Project

  • ENGS 89: Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation
    – Taken as part of the two-course design sequence ENGS 89/90).
    – May count toward both AB and BE degrees.
    – Prior to enrollment in ENGS 89, at least 6 engineering sciences courses must be completed:
    • ENGS 21
    • +5 additional courses numbered 22 to 76.


Advanced Physics Course

  • 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

Advanced Course

  • ENGS 58: Protein Engineering
  • ENGS 61: Intermediate Electrical Circuits
  • ENGS 62: Microprocessors in Engineered Systems
  • ENGS 67: Programming Parallel Systems
  • ENGS 71: Structural Analysis
  • ENGS 73: Materials Processing and Selection
  • ENGS 75: Product Design
  • ENGS 76: Machine Engineering
  • ENGS 112: Modern Information Technologies
  • ENGS 122: Semiconductor Theory and Devices
  • ENGS 124: Optical Devices and Systems
  • ENGS 125: Power Electronics and Electromechanical Energy Conversion
  • ENGS 126: Analog Integrated Circuit Design
  • ENGG 129: Instrumentation and Measurements
  • ENGS 130: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • ENGS 132: Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Condensed Phases
  • ENGS 133: Methods of Materials Characterization
  • 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 160: Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
  • ENGS 163: Advanced Protein Engineering
  • ENGS 165: Biomaterials
  • ENGS 167: Medical Imaging
  • ENGS 169: Intermediate Biomedical Engineering
  • ENGS 171: Industrial Ecology
  • ENGS 172: Climate Change and Engineering