Physics (BS): Interdisciplinary Physics Concentration
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. In the modern world, physicists often interact with a large number of other disciplines to address pressing academic and applied problems.听 听
Most physics majors find 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 go on to graduate studies in physics or related sciences, or professional schools (such as medicine or law).听
The Interdisciplinary Physics Concentration at NC State allows students to customize a highly technical Bachelor of Science degree in consultation with an expert Faculty advisor.听 The combinations of different scientific fields that can be incorporated into the Interdisciplinary concentration are almost limitless.听 Examples include biophysics, geophysics, mathematical physics, and data science.
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
Email: dbdoughe@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| Science of Change (Verify Requirement) | ||
| Communication | ||
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| Physics 1 | ||
| 笔驰听201 | 福利逼站 Physics I | 4 |
| 笔驰听202 | 福利逼站 Physics II | 4 |
| 笔驰听203 | 福利逼站 Physics III | 4 |
| 笔驰听252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics | 2 |
| 笔驰听401 | Quantum Physics I | 3 |
| 笔驰听411 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| 笔驰听413 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| 笔驰听414 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| Advanced Experimental Physics | 3 | |
| Math / Statistics / Computing 2 | ||
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| 惭础听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| Advanced Math Elective | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| 笔驰听251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 3 |
| Computing / Numerical Methods Elective | 3 | |
| Other Science/Engineering 3 | ||
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Basic Science Elective | 3 | |
| Advised Science/Engineering Electives 4 | 18 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives | 10 | |
| 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 Other Science/Engineering category.
- 4
Students in the Interdisciplinary Physics option for the B.S. in Physics will identify a second area of interest in which to also focus their studies. These 18 credit hours will be planned by the student in consultation with their advisor and must be approved by the advisor and by the program,听to ensure sufficient breadth and depth of study. This second disciplinary focal area can be selected from a wide range of fields in science or engineering. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested.
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 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 狈贰听202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection | 4 |
| 罢贰听200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 |
Advanced Experimental Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 笔驰听452 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| 笔驰听456 | Senior Design Project in Physics | 3 |
Advanced Math Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 惭础听305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| 惭础听401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| 惭础听405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| 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 | 4 |
| 笔驰听251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing 2 | 3 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III (CP) 2 | 4 |
| Basic Sciences 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| 笔驰听411 | Mechanics I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听341 | Applied Differential Equations I 2 | 3 |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 笔驰听414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| Advanced Math Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听401 | Quantum Physics I 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Computing/Numerical Methods Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Science/Engineering Electives 3,4 | 6 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advanced Experimental Physics 1 | 3 | |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 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 Other Science/Engineering category.
- 4
Students in the Interdisciplinary Physics option for the B.S. in Physics will identify a second area of interest in which to also focus their studies. These 18 credit hours will be planned by the student in consultation with their advisor and must be approved by the advisor and by the program,听to ensure sufficient breadth and depth of study. This second disciplinary focal area can be selected from a wide range of fields in science or engineering. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested.
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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