Physics (BS)
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 Science (B.S.) degree in physics is the appropriate choice if you鈥檙e planning for graduate study in physics.
For more information about this program, visit our .
Department of Physics and Astronomy
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 | ||
| 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402 | Quantum Physics II | 3 |
| 笔驰听411 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| 笔驰听412 | Mechanics II | 3 |
| 笔驰听413 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| 笔驰听414 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| 笔驰听415 | Electromagnetism II | 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 |
| 惭础听401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| 惭础听305 | Introduction to Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| 笔驰听251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 3 |
| Advanced Quantitative Methods Elective | 3 | |
| Basic Science & Technical Electives 3 | ||
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Basic Science Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Electives | 10 | |
Technical Electives are 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) | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives (6 Hr S/U Limit) | 6 | |
| 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 Basic Science & Technical Electives category.
Statistics Elective
| 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 |
Advanced Quantitative听Methods Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the listed courses, DSA courses and appropriate sections of 笔驰听395 or 笔驰听495 may count for this requirement with advisor and department approval. | ||
| 颁厂颁听302 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 |
| 惭础听326 | Mathematical Foundations of Data Science I | 3 |
| 惭础听402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 |
| MA/CSC 427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| MA/CSC 428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| 惭础听430 | Mathematical Models in the Physical Sciences | 3 |
| 笔驰听525 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| ST/CSC 442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
Basic Science Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 础贰颁听203 | An Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping | 3 |
| 础狈厂听105 | Introduction to Companion Animal Science | 3 |
| 础狈厂听110 | Introduction to Equine Science | 3 |
| 叠滨翱听105 | Biology in the Modern World | 3 |
| 叠滨翱听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| 叠滨翱听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| 叠滨翱听227 | Understanding Structural Diversity through Biological Illustration | 3 |
| 叠滨罢听100 | Current Topics in Biotechnology | 4 |
| 叠滨罢听200 | Early Research in Biotechnology | 4 |
| 颁厂听210 | Lawns and Sports Turf | 3 |
| 贰狈罢听201 | Insects and People | 3 |
| 贰狈罢听207 | Insects and Human Disease | 3 |
| 贰狈罢听305 | Introduction to Forensic Entomology | 3 |
| 贰狈罢听402 | Forest Entomology | 3 |
| 骋狈听301 | Genetics in Human Affairs | 3 |
| 贰厂听113 | Earth from Space | 3 |
| 贵翱搁听402 | Forest Entomology | 3 |
| 贵厂听201 | Introduction to Food Science | 3 |
| 贵厂听301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| 贵奥听221 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| 贬厂听200 | Home Horticulture | 3 |
| 贬厂听201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| 惭叠听200 | The Fourth Horseman: Plagues that Changed the World | 3 |
| 惭叠听210 | Phage Hunters | 3 |
| 惭贰础听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 |
| 惭贰础听101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 |
| 惭贰础听130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| 惭贰础听150 | Environmental Issues in Water Resources | 4 |
| 惭贰础听200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| 惭贰础听215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 |
| 惭贰础听220 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| 惭贰础听240 | The Planets of Our Solar System | 3 |
| 惭贰础听250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments | 3 |
| 狈贰听290 | Introduction to Health Physics | 3 |
| 笔叠听200 | Plant Life | 4 |
| 笔叠听205 | Our Green World | 3 |
| 笔驰听123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
| 笔驰听124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 |
| 厂惭罢听202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials | 3 |
| 厂厂颁听200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| 罢翱齿听201 | Poisons, People and the Environment | 3 |
Advanced Experimental Physics听
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 笔驰听452 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| 笔驰听456 | Senior Design Project in Physics | 3 |
Ineligible for Free Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses on this list will only count for the Free Elective requirement with advisor and departmental approval. | ||
| 颁贬听111 | Preparatory Chemistry | 3 |
| 惭础听101 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
| 惭础听103 | Topics in Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| 惭础听103A | Topics in Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| 惭础听105 | Mathematics of Finance | 3 |
| 惭础听107 | Precalculus I | 3 |
| 惭础听108 | Precalculus II | 3 |
| 惭础听111 | Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry | 3 |
| 惭础听114 | Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications | 3 |
| 惭础听121 | Elements of Calculus | 3 |
| 惭础听131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| 惭础听132 | Computational Mathematics for Life and Management Sciences | 1 |
| 惭础听151 | Calculus for Elementary Education I | 3 |
| 惭础听152 | Calculus for Elementary Education II | 3 |
| 惭础听231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| 厂罢听101 | Statistics by Example | 3 |
Semester Sequence
| 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 |
| 笔驰听252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III (CP) 2 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 笔驰听411 | Mechanics I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听341 | Applied Differential Equations I 2 | 3 |
| Basic Sciences 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 笔驰听412 | Mechanics II 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听401 | Applied Differential Equations II 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415 | Electromagnetism II 1 | 3 |
| 惭础听305 | Introduction to Linear Algebra and Matrices 2 | 3 |
| Advanced Quantitative Methods Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 1 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 笔驰听402 | Quantum Physics II 1 | 3 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 4 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advanced Experimental Physics 1 | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 4 | 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 Basic Science & Technical Electives category.
- 4
Any course not satisying another requirement will automatically count for the Free Elective requirement, except for those courses on the Free Elective Restrictions list. Courses on the Free Elective Restrictions list can only count as Free Electives with advisor and departmental approval.
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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