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Physics (PH)
Engineering Physics (EP)
Professors: K. Fritsch, G. Lacueva, A. R. Day (Chair); Assistant
Professors: J. S. Dyck,
N. K. Piracha
The Physics Department plays a central role in the university’s
mission of educating students to live in an increasingly technological,
highly complex society. The department provides a range of physics/engineering
programs for its majors, support courses for other science majors, and
courses which fulfill the science requirements of the University Core
Curriculum for non-science majors. The department has modern, well equipped
undergraduate laboratories, and many of the courses have a laboratory
component that emphasizes the central role of experiments in science.
Research plays an essential role in the education of students majoring
in physics. Students have the opportunity of working under the guidance
of a faculty member on campus, and the department encourages all students
to spend at least one summer participating in a research program at a
major research university or national laboratory.
Five major programs are offered. Four lead to a bachelor of science degree
in physics, and one leads to a bachelor of arts degree. The bachelor of
science programs are: physics, engineering physics with electrical engineering
specialization, engineering physics with computer science specialization,
and interdisciplinary physics. The physics major is an excellent preparation
for a diverse range of careers. Many graduates have gone directly into
the workforce in physics, engineering, business, and teaching. Others
have continued their academic careers with graduate study in a variety
of fields, including physics, engineering, computer science, law, and
medicine.
B.S. Physics Major
This major adds to the physics core a selection of courses in thermodynamics,
physical optics, and solid-state physics, as well as an engineering physics
course in numerical physics. This program provides a solid preparation
for graduate study in physics, materials science, or electrical engineering.
B.S. Engineering Physics Major: Electrical Engineering Specialization
This major adds to the physics core a block of engineering physics courses
characteristic of studies in electrical engineering. Typically, this program
leads to employment in the fields of engineering development or applied
physics, or to graduate study in related fields.
B.S. in Physics Major: 52 hours. The physics
core (see below); PH 325, 408 (453 or 485); EP 451; and 5 hours
of upper-division technical electives approved by the Physics Department,
including at least 2 hours of upper-division laboratory in addition
to PH 407 and 408. With departmental approval, these 5 hours may
include courses in engineering offered at other colleges and universities
participating in the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education
Cross Registration Program.
Required Mathematics Support Courses: 12 hours: MT 135,
136, 233.
Required Chemistry Support Courses: 5 hours: CH 141 or 151H,
143 or 153.
B.S. in Engineering Physics Major Electrical Engineering
Specialization: 57 hours. The physics core (see below);
PH 408; EP 451, and 16 hours of upper-division EP electives approved
by the Physics Department, including 4 hours of upper-division labs.
Required Mathematics Support Courses: 12 hours: MT 135,
136, 233.
Required Chemistry Support Courses: 5 hours: CH 141 or
151H, 143 or 153.
B.S. in Engineering Physics Major Computer Engineering Specialization:
57 hours. The physics core (see below); PH 408; EP 451, (478 and
478L or 388 and 388L); and at least 1 hour of upper-division laboratory
approved by the Physics Department; CS 201, 202, 301, 373.
Required Mathematics Support Courses: 12 hours: MT 135,
136, 233.
Required Chemistry Support Courses: 5 hours: CH 141 or
151H, 143 or 153.
B.S. in Interdisciplinary Physics Major: 37-39
hours. The physics core (see below); one 3-hour upper-division PH
or EP elective. A second upper-division PH elective may be substituted
for EP 266 and EP 266L.
Required Mathematics Support Courses: 12 hours: MT 135,
136, 233.
Required Chemistry Support Courses: 5 hours: CH 141 or
151H, 143 or 153.
Required Interdisciplinary Component: 18 hours from biology,
chemistry, mathematics, computer science, physics, or the Boler
School of Business. At least 9 hours must be upper-division courses.
B.A. in Physics Major: 37-39 hours. The physics
core (see below); one 3-hour upper-division Physics elective. A
second upper-division PH elective may be substituted for EP 266
and EP 266L.
Required Mathematics Support Courses: 12 hours: MT 135,
136, 233.
The Physics Core: 36 hours. PH 215 and 215L, 216
and 216L, 246, 315, 317, 365, 407, 445; EP 217, 265, 265L, 266,
266L.
Minors in Physics and Engineering Physics: 26 hours.
PH 215 and 215L, 216 and 216L, 246; EP 217; and at least four 3-hour
upper-division EP or PH electives approved by the Physics Department.
Required Mathematics Support Courses: 12 hours: MT 135,
136, 233. |
B.S. Engineering Physics Major: Computer Engineering Specialization
This major adds to the physics core a block of computer science courses
and engineering physics courses in digital electronics and numerical physics.
Typically, this program leads to employment in the computer industry,
or to graduate study in computer engineering.
B.S. Interdisciplinary Physics Major
This major adds to the physics core a selection of technical courses that
interface with physics. They may be from the departments of Biology, Chemistry,
or Mathematics and Computer Science, or from the Boler School of Business.
One possible combination would include courses required for the license
to teach high school physics. This program can also be arranged to prepare
for environmental science, technical sales, patent law, medicine, or an
MBA with a strong emphasis on technology.
B.A. Physics Major
This major is the physics core plus one additional physics elective. This
is the most flexible of all the physics majors. It fits well with an environmental
studies concentration or preparation for law school. Combined with 45
hours of business courses, it provides a pre-MBA curriculum with a strong
emphasis on technology.
Computer Science and Physics
The combination of computer science and engineering physics is both logical
and attractive. These two areas can be combined by students who major
in either field.
Students majoring in physics and selecting a minor in computer science
will normally be required to exceed the minimum of 128 hours required
for graduation.
Students who are majoring in computer science and who are interested in
the engineering physics aspects of the discipline should take PH 215,
PH 215L, PH 216, PH 216L, EP 265, EP 265L, EP 266, EP 266L, EP 388, and
EP 388L. In consultation with the chair of Physics, they may substitute
EP 478 and EP 478L for EP 388 and EP 388L.
Engineering Programs
Students interested in engineering have the following options:
- They may complete the B.S. degree in engineering physics with specialization
in either electrical engineering or computer engineering. They may then
pursue graduate work in engineering or seek employment.
- They may combine a B.S. degree in physics or engineering physics with
electives in engineering taken in the engineering schools at Case Western
Reserve University or Cleveland State University, which are participants
in the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education Cross Registration
Program.
- They may complete two years of pre engineering at John Carroll and
then transfer either to Case Western Reserve University or to the University
of Detroit Mercy to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
(John Carroll has formal programs with these universities.) Students
may also transfer to other engineering schools.
- They may choose the joint degree program with Case Western Reserve
University. This Binary (3 2) Program is for students who want to combine
a solid arts and sciences foundation with technical study in astronomy,
biochemistry, or an engineering discipline. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is
required for participation in the Binary Program. A 3.0 GPA in science
and mathematics courses is also required.
For further details concerning engineering programs, see the section
of this Bulletin entitled "Preparation for Graduate and Professional
Study" (pages 96-102).
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