Department of Physics

Undergraduate Physics Program

Degree Programs Offered

  • BA, major in Physics
  • BS, major in Physics

Minor Offered

  • Physics

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.

The BS with a major in Physics provides a rigorous background in physics as a preparation for graduate studies or a career in industry. The BA with a major in Physics 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.

Students who enter Texas State needing mathematics at a level below MATH 2417 are urged to attend summer session to avoid delay in starting their physics courses.


Bachelor of Science
Major in Physics

Minimum required: 128-133 semester hours
General requirements:
  1. The major requires at least 41 semester hours which include: PHYS 1430, 2425, 2435, 3312, 3320, 3411, 3414, 4310, 4312, 4315 and at least two additional advanced physics courses chosen from: PHYS 3315, 3416, 3417, 4311, or 4340 or courses approved by the department advisor.
  2. Students should consult the department advisor or College of Science Advising Center before choosing a minor.
  3. BIO 1430 and 1431 may be taken instead of CHEM 1141, 1341, 1142, and 1342 listed in the sophomore year below.
  4. A minimum of 9 writing intensive hours and a total of 39 advanced hours are required to graduate. An advanced course is one that is numbered above 3000 and below 5000.
  5. If two years of the same foreign language is taken in high school, then 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 college level modern language must be taken.
  6. See the University College section for general eduation core curriculum requirements.
 
Freshman Year                  Hours     Sophomore Year                  Hours
------------------------------------     -------------------------------------
ENG 1310, 1320 ..................  6     CHEM 1141,1341,1142,1342 .........  8
US 1100 .........................  1     Electives/Minor as required ......  4
HIST 1310, 1320 .................  6     ENG 3303 .........................  3
MATH 2471, 2472 .................  8     ENG Literature ...................  3
PFW (2 courses) .................  2     MATH 3323, 3373 ..................  6
PHYS 1430 .......................  4     PHIL 1305 ........................  3
COMM 1310 .......................  3     PHYS 2425, 2435 ..................  8

Total Hours                       30     Total Hours                        35


Junior Year                    Hours     Senior Year                     Hours
------------------------------------     -------------------------------------
ART, DAN, MU, or TH 2313 ........  3     Minor/Electives as required ... 11-13
Electives/Minor ................. 11     PHYS Electives ...................  3
MATH 3323 .......................  3     PHYS 4310, 4312, 4315 ............  9
PHYS 3312, 3320, 3411, 3414 ..... 14     Social Science ...................  3
POSI 2310, 2320 .................  6     

Total Hours                       37     Total Hours                     26-31

Bachelor of Arts
Major in Physics

Minimum required: 128 semester hours
General requirements:
  1. The major requires 28 semester hours which include: PHYS 1430, 2425, 2435, 3312, and 3411, and 9 additional hours of advanced physics courses selected from PHYS 3315, 3416, 3417, 3320, 3414, 4310, 4311, 4312, 4315 or 4340.
  2. Majors should consult the department advisor or College of Science Advising Center before choosing a minor.
  3. BIO 1430 and 1431 may be taken instead of CHEM 1141, 1341, 1142, and 1342 listed in the sophomore year below.
  4. See the University College section of the catalog for general eduation core curriculum requirements.
 
Freshman Year                  Hours     Sophomore Year                  Hours
------------------------------------     -------------------------------------
ENG 1310, 1320 ..................  6     CHEM 1141,1341,1142,1342 .........  8
US 1100 .........................  1     ENG Literature ...................  3
HIST 1310, 1320 .................  6     MATH 3323, 3373 ..................  6
MATH 2471 ..... .................  4     PHYS 2425, 2435 ..................  8
PHIL 1305 .......................  3     POSI 2310, 2320 ..................  6
PFW (2 courses) .................  2      
PHYS 1430 .......................  4      
COMM 1310 .......................  3      

Total Hours                       29     Total Hours                        32


Junior Year                    Hours     Senior Year                     Hours
------------------------------------     -------------------------------------
ART, DAN, MU, or TH 2313 ........  3     Electives/Minor as required ...... 20 
Electives/Minor .................  8     Modern Language 2310, 2320 .......  8
Modern Language 1410, 1420 ......  8     PHYS advanced electives ..........  9
PHYS 3411, 3312 .................  7
Social Science ..................  3
ENG 3303 ........................  6

Total Hours                       32     Total Hours                        35