Chair and Professor-Crawford. Professors-Michalk, Olson. Associate Professor-Gutierrez, Jackson. Assistant Professors-Galloway, Geerts. Lecturer-Doescher. Instructor-Lambert.

Physics, the study of matter and energy, is at the root of every field of natural science and underlies all physical phenomena. The problem-solving skills learned in the study of physics are valuable even if one's career is not in a physics-related field.

To meet the needs of students interested in physics as a major, the department offers two bachelor's degrees. The BS provides a rigorous background in physics as a preparation for graduate studies or a career in industry. The BA is for students who want a background in physics but plan to pursue fields of interest other than physics as a life's work. Also, a "3-2" program in physics and engineering is available to students preparing to enter an engineering program at a cooperating institution.

Career opportunities for a physics major exist in a wide variety of settings-from teaching in a classroom to basic research in an industrial or government laboratory, as a self-employed consultant, or as a member of a multidisciplinary research team.

The Physics department website is http://www.physics.swt.edu/

For further information, call the department chair.

Minor in Physics

A minor in physics consists of Physics 1430, 2425, 2435, 3312, 3414, and at least six hours of advanced physics.

Proficiency in Mathematics. Students who enter the university needing mathematics at a level below Mathematics 2363 are urged to attend summer school to avoid delay in starting their physics courses.

Minor in Geology

A minor in geology consists of 19 hours, including Geology 1410, 1420, 2410, plus seven hours from 3321, 3410, 4121, 4320, and 4330.

Notes:

1. A BS with a major in physics consists of at least 41 semester hours which include Physics 1430, 2425, 2435, 3312, 3320, 3411, 3414, 4310, 4312, 4315 and at least two additional advanced physics courses chosen from (3315, 3316, 3317, 4311, 4340) or courses approved by the department chairman.

2. Students should consult the departmental advisor before choosing a minor.

3. General Studies requirements include 18 hours of Writing Intensive courses and 3 hours in the International Persective and 3 hours in the Social Science Perspective.

4. Teacher certification is available with this degree but will require extra hours.

5. A total of 40 advanced hours is required to graduate. An advanced course is one that is numbered above 3000 and below 5000.

Freshman Year	Hours
English 1310, 1320*	6
General Studies 1100*	1
History 1310, 1320*	6
Mathematics 2417, 2471	8
Phy. Fitness Perspective (2 courses)*	2
Physics 1430	4
Communication 1310*	3
	30
Sophomore Year	Hours
Chemistry (or Biology) 1410, 1420	8
Electives or Minor, as required	3
English 3303	3
English (Literature)*	3
Mathematics 2472, 3373	7
Philosophy 1305*	3
Physics 2425, 2435	8
	35
Junior Year	Hours
Art, Dance, Music, or Theatre 3313*	3
Electives or Minor, as required	3
Math 3323	3
Modern Language/
International Perspective**	3-8
Physics 3312, 3320, 3411, 3414	14
Political Science 2310, 2320*	6
	32-37
Senior Year	Hours
Electives or minor, as required
(2 advanced hours)	11-16
Physics Electives	3
Physics 4310, 4312, 4315	9
Social Science Perspective*
(Economics 2320 recommended)	3
	26-31

Physics as a Teaching Field

Since the B.S. in Ed. is no longer available, students seeking certification to teach physics will follow coursework leading to the BA or BS degree, in addition to taking the necessary courses prescribed by the Texas Education Agency. Initial or additional certification may be acquired after completing the degree and enrollment in a master's program or as a post-graduate. Students interested in certification are strongly encouraged to see an appropriate adviser in the Physics Department.

Notes:

1. A BA with a major in physics requires 28 hours including Physics 1430, 2425, 2435, 3312, 3411, and 9 additional hours of advanced physics courses (selected from Physics 3315, 3316, 3317, 3320, 3414, 4310, 4311, 4312, 4315).

2. A minor may be chosen from any field of interest.

3. General Studies requirements include 18 hours of Writing Intensive courses and 3 hours in the International Perspective and 3 hours in the Social Science Perspective.

4. A teaching certificate is available with this degree but will require additional hours.

5. A total of 40 advanced hours is required to graduate. An advanced course is one that is numbered above 3000 and below 5000.

Freshman Year	Hours
English 1310, 1320*	6
General Studies 1100*	1
History 1310, 1320*	6
Mathematics 2471	4
Philosophy 1305*	3
Phy. Fitness Perspective (2 courses)*	2
Physics 1430	3
Communication 1310*	3
	29
Sophomore Year	Hours
Chemistry (or Biology) 1410, 1420	8
English (Literature)*	3
Mathematics 2472, 3373	7
Physics 2425, 2435	8
Political Science 2310, 2320*	6
	32

**If two years of the same foreign language were taken in high school, then 3 hours of General Studies International Perspective and enough additional hours to total the minimum 128 hours required for the degree will fulfill this requirement. In the absence of such high school language, two semesters of the same modern language must be taken.

Junior Year	Hours
Art, Dance, Music, or Theatre 3313*	3
Electives or Minor, as required	8
Modern Language	8
Physics 3411, 3312	7
Social Science Perspective*
(advanced hours recommended)	3
English 3303	3
	32
Senior Year	Hours
Electives or minor, as required	20
Modern Language	6
Physics (advanced)	9
	35

Courses in Physics (PHYS)

1110 (PHYS 1105) Elementary Physics Laboratory (0-2) This course explores and illustrates some of the basic principles covered in Physics 1310 and 1320. This lab should be taken as you take the second of the two courses, Physics 1310 and 1320.

1140 (PHYS 1111) Introductory Laboratory in Astronomy. (0-2) An introduction to the constellations, the uses of telescopes, and other material relating to the study of stars and planets. This course is designed to be taken with Physics 1340 or 1350 for those students desiring a laboratory course.

Physics 1310 and 1320 are designed for the liberal arts student. The order in which they are taken is not important. They are not recommended for pre-engineering students or majors and minors in science. The laboratory experience is recommended with the second course.

1310 (PHYS 1305) Elementary Physics. (3-0) A non-mathematical survey of mechanics, properties of matter, heat and sound. These topics are described in a conceptual way with applications relating to the world around us. The laboratory experience may be obtained in a separate one-hour credit lab (Physics 1110).

1320 (PHYS 1307) Elementary Physics. (3-0) A non-mathematical survey of electricity, magnetism, light, relativity, and atomic and nuclear physics. These topics are described in a conceptual way with applications relating to the world around us. The laboratory experience may be obtained in a separate one-hour credit lab (PHYS 1110).

1340 (PHYS 1311) Astronomy: Solar System. (3-0) A study of the solar system. Topics included are a study of the sun, the planets and their satellites, the comets, and other components of the solar system. Some aspects of telescopes and ancient astronomy will be included also.

1350 (PHYS 1312) Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies. (3-0) A study of the universe beyond the solar system. Topics included are a study of the stars and star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and an introduction to some aspects of cosmology.

1360 Introduction to Mathematical Physics, Part I. (3-0) An introduction to specific mathematical topics as applied to standard classical problems in physics. Prerequisite: Mathematics 1315 or two years of high school algebra.

Physics 1410 and 1420 are designed for those students whose program requires technical physics, but who are not pre-engineering students or majors or minors in physics.

1410 (PHYS 1401) General Physics I. (3-3) This course is the first of a two semester sequence which is a survey of the basic laws and principles of physics and includes the topics of mechanics and heat. Emphasis is on solutions to physics problems; a knowledge of algebra and basic trigonometry is essential. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in Mathematics 1315. Mathematics 1317 is recommended.

1420 (PHYS 1402) General Physics II. (3-3) This is the second course in a two semester sequence which is a survey of the basic laws and principles of physics and includes the topics of waves, electricity and magnetism, and light. Prerequisites: Physics 1410 and grade of C or better in Mathematics 1315. Mathematics 1317 is recommended

Physics 1430, 2425, and 2435 are designed for those students majoring or minoring in physics and for pre-engineering students. Prerequisites: Physics 1410 and Mathematics 1317.

1430 (PHYS 2425) Mechanics and Heat. (3-3) This course is the first course of a three semester sequence (including Physics 2425 and 2435). It is designed to cover the basic laws and principles of mechanics and heat through analytic problem-solving. Corequisite: Mathematics 2471. Credit for both Physics 1410 and 1430 cannot be given.

2425 (PHYS 2426) Electricity and Magnetism. (3-3) A study of the field of electricity and magnetism for physics majors and minors. Prerequisite: Physics 1430. Corequisite Mathematics 2472. Credit in both Physics 1420 and 2425 cannot be given.

2435 (PHYS 2427) Waves and Modern Physics (3-3) A study of the fields of wave motion, sound, light and modern physics at a beginning level for physics majors and minors. Prerequisite: Mathematics 2472 and Physics 2425. Co-requisite: Mathematics 3373.

3301 Musical Acoustics. (3-0) A survey of the physics of sound and acoustic measurement. Special emphasis will be placed on sound production, propagation, and perception as applied to music. Prerequisites: Physics 1410 and 1420 or equivalent.

3312 Modern Physics. (3-0) An introduction to the foundations of modern physics, including the following topics: relativistic mechanics, kinetic theory of matter, quantization of charge, light and energy, the atom, wave nature of particles, and the Schroedinger equation. Prerequisites: Physics 2435.

3315 Thermodynamics. (3-0) The fundamental study of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Prerequisite: Physics 2435 (or 1420) and Mathematics 3323.

3316 Applied Electronics. (2-6) A laboratory/lecture course introducing electronic test bench methods for the construction, operation and analysis of important DC/AC circuits utilizing resistors, capacitors, diodes, BJTs, FETs, Op Amps and analog/digital ICs. Elementary semiconductor device physics and semiconductor device microfabrication methods will be discussed. Prerequisite: Physics 2435 (or Physics 2425 by permission).

3317 Optics. (3-0) A study of geometrical and physical optics. Prerequisites: Physics 2435.

3320 Introduction to Mathematical Physics. (3-0) An introduction to the mathematical methods of theoretical physics with emphasis on the vectorial-functional approach emphasized in current research literature. Applications will be made to certain fundamental problems of mechanics and electromagnetic field theory. Prerequisite: Mathematics 3373. Co-requisite 3323.

3411 Advanced Physics Laboratory. (2-6) Experiments in modern physics, with emphasis on demonstrating quantum effects and introducing nuclear physics. Corequisite: Physics 3312.

3414 Mechanics (4-0) Fundamentals of classical mechanics focusing on the physical description of the behavior of single and multiple particle systems. Topics include advanced problem-solving strategies for systems with position and velocity-based forces, simple harmonic oscillators, non-interial reference systems, gravitation and central forces, and rigid body motion. Prerequisites: Physics 2435.

*4265 Undergraduate Research. (0-4) This course is available to undergraduate students only upon the invitation of the department.

4310 Electromagnetic Field Theory I. (3-0) An introduction to the electromagnetic field theory of classical physics for static fields. Topics included will be the electrostatic field, polarization and dielectrics, electrostatic energy, magnetic field of steady currents, magnetostatic energy, and magnetic properties of matter. Prerequisite: Physics 3320, Math 3323, and Math 3373 (or equivalent preparation, with consent of the instructor).

4311 Quantum Physics of Atoms and Solids. (3-0) Elementary quantum and statistical physics will be applied to develop useful descriptions for solid electronic, magnetic, and superconducting materials. There will be a special emphasis on the operational physics of simple semiconductor materials and devices (i.e., the PN junctions). The description of materials in this course is essential to Physics 4340. Prerequisite: Physics 3312.

4312 Quantum Mechanics, Part I. (3-0) An introductory course on quantum mechanics. Topics include concepts and formulation of quantum mechanics. Hamiltonian operator and Schroedinger equation, harmonic oscillator, matrix formulation of quantum mechanics, uncertainty principle, potential barrier problems, and the hydrogen atom. Prerequisites: Mathematics 3323, Physics 3312, 3320 and six additional hours of advanced physics.

4315 Electromagnetic Field Theory II. (3-0) An introduction to the electromagnetic field theory of classical physics for time varying fields. Topics included will be electromagnetic induction, time varying electric and magnetic fields, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic energy, electromagnetic waves and radiation, and a brief introduction to some specialized topics. Prerequisite: Physics 4310.

*4320 Selected Study in Physics. (3-0) Topics are chosen in theoretical and experimental areas of current interest in physics with specific topic to be discussed agreed upon prior to registration. Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor.

4321 Independent Study in Physics. (0-9) Topics are chosen in theoretical and/or experimental physics. Specific topic to be discussed and agreed upon prior to registration. Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor.

4340 Materials Physics Laboratory. (0-9) A laboratory based course introducing a broad array of materials synthesis and characterization methods. The specific subjects will be coordinated with topics of current interest in the literature and will be chosen by mutual consent of the student and faculty advisor. Prerequisites: Physics 3411, 4311, and 3316.

For course descriptions and further information about available graduate offerings, please consult the Graduate Catalog.

Courses in Geology (GEOL)

1410 (GEOL 1403) Physical Geology. (3-2) The study of materials making up the earth, the processes that act upon them, and the results of these processes; the development of tools for the interpretation of earth's history and structure, and the major geologic concepts.

1420 (GEOL 1404) Historical Geology. (3-2) A continuation of physical geology leading to consideration of the geologic history of the earth (with special emphasis on North America), the evolution of life, the continents through geologic time and the principles and procedures used in the interpretation of earth history. Prerequisite: Geology 1410.

2410 Minerology. (3-3) Study of the crystal systems, physical properties, classification, and hand specimen identification of common rock-forming and ore minerals. Prerequisite: Mathematics 1317 or equivalent and Chemistry 1310 or 1410.

(WI) 3321 Hydrogeology. (3-0) Study of hydrologic cycle as it relates to the infiltration and movement on the surface and in rocks. Ground-water as a mangeable resource is explored. Prerequisite: Geology 2410.

3410 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy. (3-3) Principles of the weathering, transportation, deposition, and lithofication of sediments. Primary structures and textures of sediments are used to determine environments of deposition. The recognition and classification of strata into stratigraphic units. Prerequisite: Geology 2410.

4121 Directed Study. (1-0) Independent study of a particular subject area in geology. Specific topic to be discussed and agreed upon prior to registration. May be repeated once with different emphasis and professor for additional credit. Prerequisite: approval of the instructor.

(WI) *4320 Topics in Field Geology. (1-3) On-site directed investigations of geology in locations remote from campus. Will be offered at times other than Fall and Spring semesters. Prerequisite: Geology 3410.

4330 Applied Geology. (1-6) Application of practical geologic laboratory and field methods to environmental, engineering, and planning projects. Prerequisite: Geology 3410.