Physics (BA)
Physics provides the conceptual foundation for science and engineering. A physics degree is a mark of major intellectual achievement and a gateway to a thousand careers. The physics major at NC State combines the resources of a major research university with the ambience of a small college. Our ratio of physics majors to faculty of about 3 to 1 allows us to offer small classes, personal attention, and unparalleled opportunities for involvement in research.
Most physics majors are preparing for employment in a government or industrial laboratory, or with a company that provides STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) products or services. Other physics majors are preparing for graduate studies in physics or related sciences, or enrollment in professional schools (such as medicine or law). Some physics majors are preparing for a career as a high school teacher. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) curriculum has a flexible course of study if you desire an interdisciplinary program with an emphasis on physics.
For more information about this program, visit our .
Department of Physics
NC State 福利逼站
Campus Box 8202
Raleigh, NC 27695-8202
Dr. Dan Dougherty
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs
NC State 福利逼站
Riddick Hall 101
Raleigh, NC 27695-8202
Phone: 919.514.2610
贰尘补颈濒:听dbdoughe@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| Science of Change (Verify Requirement) | ||
| Communication | ||
| Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| Physics | ||
| 笔驰听201 | 福利逼站 Physics I 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听202 | 福利逼站 Physics II 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听203 | 福利逼站 Physics III 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| 笔驰听401 | Quantum Physics I 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听411 | Mechanics I 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听452 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| Math / Statistics / Computing | ||
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听341 | Applied Differential Equations I 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra 1 | 3 |
| Statistics Elective 1 | 3 | |
| 笔驰听251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing 1 | 3 |
| Computing / Numerical Methods Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Science/Tech Electives | ||
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Basic Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Technical Electives 1 | 13 | |
Courses at the 300 level or above in science, mathematics, technology , engineering, and in math and science education. | ||
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Restricted Electives | 6 | |
| Select courses from the GEP Humanities list, GEP Social Sciences list, GEP Visual and Performing Arts list, and from courses at the 200 level or above in Education or Management. | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
Statistics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 叠鲍厂听350 | Economics and Business Statistics | 3 |
| 贰颁听351 | Econometrics I | 3 |
| 厂罢听305 | 4 | |
| 厂罢听307 | Introduction to Statistical Programming- SAS | 1 |
| 厂罢听308 | Introduction to Statistical Programming - R | 1 |
| 厂罢听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| 厂罢听312 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 |
| 厂罢听350 | Economics and Business Statistics | 3 |
| 厂罢听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| 厂罢听371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | 3 |
| 厂罢听372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression | 3 |
| 厂罢听380 | 3 |
Computing / Numerical Methods Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 颁厂颁听302 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| 惭础听402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 |
| 惭础听427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| 惭础听428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| 笔驰听525 | Computational Physics | 3 |
Basic Science Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 叠滨翱听165 | 5 | |
| 叠滨翱听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| 叠滨翱听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| 叠惭贰听203 | 3 | |
| 颁贰听225 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| 颁贬听201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| 颁贬听202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| 颁贬听203 | General Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences | 3 |
| 颁贬听204 | General Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences | 1 |
| 颁贬听220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| 颁贬听222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| 颁贬贰听205 | Chemical Process Principles | 4 |
| 骋狈听301 | Genetics in Human Affairs | 3 |
| 惭础贰听214 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| 惭贰础听101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 |
| 惭贰础听110 | Geology I Laboratory | 1 |
| 惭贰础听200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| 惭贰础听210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| 惭贰础听215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 |
| 惭贰础听220 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| 惭厂贰听200 | Mechanical Properties of Structural Materials | 3 |
| 惭厂贰听201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | 3 |
| 惭厂贰听203 | 3 | |
| 狈贰听202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection | 4 |
| 罢贰听200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 笔驰听201 | 福利逼站 Physics I (CP) 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I (CP) 2 | 4 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 颁翱厂听100 | Science of Change | 2 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听202 | 福利逼站 Physics II (CP) 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II (CP) 2 | 4 |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 笔驰听203 | 福利逼站 Physics III (CP) 1,3 | 4 |
| 笔驰听251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing 2 | 3 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III (CP) 2 | 4 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听411 | Mechanics I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| 惭础听341 | Applied Differential Equations I 2 | 3 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 1 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 笔驰听414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra 1 | 3 |
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听401 | Quantum Physics I 1 | 3 |
| Computing/Numerical Methods Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective 2 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 笔驰听452 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| Basic Sciences Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
At most one passing grade below C- is permitted in the Physics category.
- 2
At most one passing grade below C- is permitted in the Math/Statistics/Computing category.
- 3
At most one passing grade below C- is permitted in the Sciences/Technical Electives category.
Career Opportunities
Career Titles
- Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineer
- Aerospace Engineering Technician
- Architect
- Astronomer
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist
- Biophysicist
- Cartographer and Photogrammetrists
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Research Analyst
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Hazardous Waste Management Analyst
- Hydrographer
- Hydrologist
- Industrial Engineer
- Industrial Hygienist
- Materials Engineer
- Materials Scientist
- Mathematician
- Mechanical Engineer
- Meteorologist
- Nuclear Engineer
- Nuclear Fuels Research Engineer
- Oceanographer
- Optometrist
- Petroleum Engineer
- Photogrammetrist
- Physicist
- Physics Professor
- Radiation Protection Engineer
- Seismologist
- Soil Engineer
- Solar Energy Systems Designer
- Structural Engineer
- Sustainability Specialists
- Technical Publications Writer
- Water Pollution Control Inspector
- Weather Forecaster
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