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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. Students who plan to pursue additional coursework beyond the AB to earn the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) should consult early with their faculty advisors to plan their program of study.

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Prerequisites

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. Any course being used to satisfy major or minor requirements beyond the prerequisites, may not be taken under the non-recording option.

COURSE TYPE NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES COURSES

Mathematics*

4 courses

MATH 3: 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

Students will be placed in one of the following courses:

CHEM 5: General Chemistry
CHEM 11: General Chemistry

Computer Science

1 or 2 courses

Choose one option:

Option 1 (1 course):

ENGS 20: Introduction to Scientific Computing (May not be taken under the non-recording option.)


Option 2 (2 courses):
COSC 1: Introduction to Programming and Computation
COSC 10: Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming

* Students with prior experience in calculus (as demonstrated through AP, IB, A-level, or placement exams) may place out of MATH 3 and/or Math 8, and may be required instead to take the MATH 8 and 13 sequence, or MATH 11.

** Students with no prior experience in chemistry will be placed in CHEM 5. Students with prior experience with chemistry (as demonstrated through AP, IB, or A-level exams) automatically receive credit for CHEM 5. Students who place into CHEM 11 via placement exam must complete CHEM 11 towards the prerequisite requirements, as they only receive credit for CHEM 5 after successfully completing CHEM 11.

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

Students wishing to pursue the BE degree are advised to elect an Engineering Sciences course.

COURSE TYPE NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES COURSES

Engineering Core

3 courses

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

Physics Core*

3 courses

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

Electives**

2 courses

Choose two courses, each from a different group:

Group A
ENGS 25: Introduction to Thermodynamic
ENGS 33: Solid Mechanics
ENGS 34: Fluid Mechanics


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
ENGS 120: Electromagnetic Waves


Group E
PHYS 44: Mechanics
ENGS 72: Applied Mechanics: Dynamics

Free Electives

2 courses

Any Engineering Sciences courses numbered above 20, excluding ENGS 80 and ENGS 87, or courses from the Physics and Astronomy Departments which fulfill the straight Physics major.

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

** Students wishing to pursue the BE degree are advised to choose an engineering sciences course as their elective.

Culminating Experience

In addition to coursework, all engineering physics majors are required to complete a culminating experience, which may include a thesis or an advanced engineering sciences course, chosen from an approved list.

CULMINATING EXPERIENCE (CHOOSE ONE OPTION) NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES COURSES

Thesis

1 course

Choose one course, from the following:

ENGS 86: Independent Project
ENGS 88: Honors Thesis

Design Project

2 courses

ENGS 89: Engineering Design Methodology and Project Initiation (Must be taken as part of the two-course design sequence: ENGS 89/ENGS 90.)

  • Prior to enrollment in ENGS 89, at least 6 engineering sciences courses must be completed: ENGS 21 plus 5 additional courses numbered 22 to 76, and 91 and above.
  • Students seeking to complete the AB and BE degrees concurrently should note that ENGS 89 may also be counted toward requirements for the BE program.

Advanced Course

1 course

Choose one advanced course with a significant design or research project, normally taken in the senior year. Students should consult the approved list of Advanced Courses below and under the Engineering Sciences major or with the Chair of the Department of Engineering Sciences.
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

Medical Physics Careers

Foundation for a Career in Medical Physics
Students interested in a future career in medical physics are encouraged to consider the engineering physics major. Medical physics is a profession in which engineers and physicists develop, characterize, and implement technologies in the healthcare industry for the diagnosis and treatment of a myriad of diseases and for routine care. Examples of diagnostic technologies are CT, MRI, mammography, ultrasound, and PET. Megavoltage linear accelerators are used for the treatment of cancer with X-rays and focused ultrasound may be used for hyperthermia.

Preparation for Graduate Programs
Dartmouth’s engineering physics major prepares students for admission to accredited graduate programs in medical physics, which requires at least four physics courses beyond introductory first-year courses. Qualified medical physicists in healthcare settings are required to hold a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited graduate program (accredited through CAMPEP) and pass the American Board of Radiology board exam.

Contact
Students interested in learning more about the medical physics pathway are encouraged to contact Professor David Gladstone.

Course Planning

For additional information about majors, courses, and degree requirements, see:

Guide to Programs and Courses

Questions? For course planning questions within the specific discipline, please contact Professor Jifeng Liu (Engineering) or Professor Kristina A. Lynch (Physics and Astronomy).

For general requirement or advising questions, please contact undergraduate.engineering.advising@dartmouth.edu.