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Undergraduate Bulletin 2007-2009
Physics and Astronomy

 

Physics and Astronomy

Michael Briley, Chairperson
Department Office: Halsey Science 337
Department Telephone: 920-424-4433

Code 80 or PHYS SCI, 82 or PHY/AST, 85 or PRAC ART

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Faculty
Degrees
Summary of Fields of Study
Admission/Graduation Requirements
Required Core Courses
The Major(s), with Emphases and/or Options
The Minor(s)
Course Offerings

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Degrees

Summary of Fields of Study

  1. GOAL(S)
    • Upon completion of a Physics major, students will be able to determine specified information about a physical system using basic physics principles, mathematical representations, laboratory methods and instruments, and computer and graphical techniques; find and retrieve published or computer archived information; communicate physics concepts and results of scientific work in written and oral form.
    • In addition to the above goals, Professional Emphasis majors will be able to use integrated principles of physics and advanced analytic and computational methods.
    • Computer and Instrumentation Emphasis majors will be able to use the concepts and laboratory techniques of digital and analog electronics, digital signal processing techniques to improve and analyze digitized data, high level programming languages and assembler languages and assemble and use computer-interfaced equipment.
    • Secondary Education Emphasis majors will be able to use appropriate apparatus and computers to teach physics concepts to high school students.
  2. THE MAJOR(S)
    • The Department offers a choice of 3 emphases within the Physics Major. These are: 1) Professional Emphasis in Physics, 2) Applied Physics Emphasis, 3) Secondary Education Emphasis.
  3. THE MINOR(S)
    • The Department offers 2 minor(s): 1) Physics - Liberal Arts, 2) Physics - Secondary Education.

Admission/Graduation Requirements

Required Core Courses

The Major(s), with Emphases and/or Options

  1. PHYSICS MAJOR
    • Professional Physics Emphasis
      • Recommended for students who seek employment in the field of Physics or Astronomy or who are preparing for graduate studies in Physics, Astronomy or related fields.
      • Required Units (crs.): 43 minimum
      • Required Courses: In addition to the Core Courses:
        • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 417, 419, 422, 491.
        • Mathematics: Mathematics 375, 376.
      • Electives: Sufficient courses from the Department's offerings in Groups 2 and 3 to meet the Minimum Requirement.
      • Comment:
        37 units (crs.) of Physics and 6 units (crs.) of Mathematics required for this emphasis
    • Applied Physics Emphasis
      • Recommended for students who seek employment in the application of physics and computing to scientific and technical areas.
      • Required Units (crs.): 38 minimum
      • Required Courses: In addition to the Core Courses:
    • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 305.
      • Electives: Sufficient courses from the Department's offerings in Groups 2 and 3 to meet the Minimum Requirement.
    • Secondary Education Emphasis
      • Recommended for students who plan to teach Physics at the secondary school level.
      • Required Units (crs.): 38 minimum
      • Required Courses: In addition to the Physics Core Courses:
        • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 305, 335.
      • Electives: Sufficient courses from the Department's offerings in Groups 2 and 3 to meet the Minimum Requirement.
    • Physics/Engineering Dual Degree Emphasis
      • Recommended for students who seek both Bachelor of Science in Physics and Bachelor of Engineering degrees.
      • The information below delineates the required courses needed to complete a physics major at UW Oshkosh, transfer to either UW Madison or the University of Minnesota, and complete an engineering major. Students in the dual degree program receive both a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in physics from UW Oshkosh and a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in a selected engineering field from UW Madison or the University of Minnesota.
      Degree Requirements: UW Oshkosh
      • Meet the course requirements for general education and for a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters and Science.
      • Meet the grade point average requirements of UW Oshkosh with regard to general education courses and courses taken in physics at UW Oshkosh.
      • Meet the UW Oshkosh requirement for 35 upper level course credits. (Courses designated as upper level by the engineering school to which the student has transferred will be included in the upper level credit count to meet the UW Oshkosh requirement).
      • Normally, students will complete about 84 credits at UW Oshkosh before transferring to their engineering school of choice. If a student transfers courses in to UW Oshkosh, the student will still be required to complete 30 credits of UW Oshkosh courses to qualify for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in physics from UW Oshkosh.
      • The UW Oshkosh residency requirement stating that 15 of the student's last 30 credits must be taken at UW Oshkosh will be waived for these students.
      • Additional explanation: Completion of the program will normally take five years (or more), three at UW Oshkosh to complete the physics major and the College of Letters and Science Bachelor of Science requirements, and an additional two (or more) at the engineering school of choice to complete the requirements for the degree in engineering.
      • Required courses:
      • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 109 General Physics I 5 cr.
      • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 110 General Physics II 5 cr.
      • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 206 Modern Physics 3 cr.
      • Physics: Physics/Astronomy 222 Physics Laboratory I 2 cr.
      • Mathematics: Mathematics 171 Calculus I 4 cr.
      • Mathematics: Mathematics 172 Calculus II 4 cr.
      • Mathematics: Mathematics 273 Calculus III 4 cr.
      • Mathematics: Mathematics 256 Introduction to Linear Mathematics 3 cr.
      • Mathematics: Mathematics 371 Differential Equations 3 cr.
      • (or Combined Linear Algebra/Differential Equations course from the destination engineering school.)
      • Total Math credits required (from UW Oshkosh or equivalent), including math courses listed in the required core above: 3 to 5 courses: 12-18 cr.
      • Chemistry: Chemistry 105 General Chemistry I 5 cr.
      • Physics: Physics 320 or Physics 201 and 202 (the equivalent may be taken at the destination engineering school.
      • Additional UW Oshkosh physics courses (total 11 credits) from the following list:
        • Physics 305, 307, 311, 319, 322, 408, 417, 419, 451, 491.
      • Total minimum Physics and Engineering credits from UW Oshkosh as state above: 26 crs.
      • Courses required from UW Oshkosh: 30 crs. Minimum
      • within the course credits transferred back from the destination engineering school to UW Oshkosh, there must be:
        • Sufficient approved upper division engineering and physics course fro the student to have at least 36 credits in physics and engineering courses, including the minimum 26 UW Oshkosh physics credits listed above.
        • sufficient credits to meet the required total of 120 credits and the 35 upper division credits required for graduation at UW Oshkosh.
      • The Bachelor of Science degree with the Physics Major will be awarded as soon as the student has transferred the needed courses from the destination engineering school and has met the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree from UW Oshkosh and the requirements for the Physics Major specified above.

     

     

     

     

     

Course Offering(s)

Practical Arts Courses