BS IN PHYSICS:
COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS CONCENTRATION


A concentration in computational physics is available within the B.S. in physics program. This concentration teaches students the tools needed to solve real world problems with computers and provides an excellent preparation for either graduate study or entry level positions in government agencies or industry.

REQUIREMENTS FOR B.S. IN PHYSICS
Computational Physics Concentration
I. Orientation 1 credit
                PMS 100 (1)
II English Composition 9 credits
                ENG 111 (3)
                ENG 112 (3)
                ENG 333 (3)
III Mathematics and Statistics 27 credits
                MA 141 (4)
                MA 241 (4)
                MA 242 (4)
                MA 341 (3)
                MA 401 (3)
                MA 402 (3)
                MA 405 (3)
IV AND V Humanities and Social Sciences 21 credits
               Seven elective courses at 3 credits each
VI Natural Sciences 8 credits
                CH 101 (3)
                CH 102 (1)
                CH 201 (3)
                CH 202 (1)
VII Major Courses 57 credits
A. Required (48)
                PY 201 (4)
                PY 202 (4)
                PY 203 (4)
                PY 411 (3)
                PY 412 (3)
                PY 413 (3)
                PY 414 (3)
                PY 415 (3)
                PY 401 (3)
                PY 402 (3)
                PY 452 (3)
                PY 525 or MA 427 (3)
                CSC 114 (3)
                CSC 210 (3)
                CSC 302 (3)
B. Restricted Electives (9)
                Choose 3 courses from PY or MA at 300 level or above, or CSC at 200 level or above
C. Approved Electives (0)
VIII Free Electives 0 credits
IX Physical Education 2 credits
                PE 101 (1)
                PE electives (1) _________
Total: 122 credits



TYPICAL COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS CURRICULUM



FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester Credits       Spring Semester Credits
PY 201 General Physics4 PY 202 General Physics4
ENG 111 Composition & Rhetoric3 ENG 112 Composition & Reading3
MA 141 Analytic Geom. & Calc.I 4 MA 241 Analytic Geom. & Calc. II4
PE 100 Health & Physical Fitness 1 CH 101 General Chemistry I3
Humanities/Soc. Sci. Elective 3 CH 102 General Chemistry I Lab1
PMS 100 Orientation to PAMS 1 Physical Education Elective 1
1616


SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester Credits       Spring Semester Credits
PY 203 General Physics4 PY 413 Thermal Physics3
CSC 114 Intro. to Computing-C++ 3 CSC 302 Intro. to Numerical Methods 3
MA 242 Analytic Geom. & Calc. III 4 MA 341 Applied Differential Eqns. I3
CH 201 General Chemistry II 3 MA 405 Linear Algebra3
CH 202 General Chemistry II Lab 1 Humanities/Soc. Sci. Elective3
1515


JUNIOR YEAR
      
Fall Semester Credits Spring SemesterCredits
MA 401 Applied Differential Eqns. II 3 ENG 333 Science Writing3
PY 411 Mechanics I3 PY 412 Mechanics II3
PY 414 Electromagnetism I3 PY 415 Electromagnetism II 3
CSC 210 Programming Concepts 3 Restricted Elective3
Humanities/Soc. Sci. Elective 3 Humanities/Soc. Sci. Elective 3
1515


SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Credits       Spring SemesterCredits
PY 401 Quantum Physics I3 PY 402 Quantum Physics II3
MA 402 Computational Mathematics3 PY 452 Adv. Phys. Lab3
Numerical Methods 3 Restricted Elective 3
Restricted Elective 3Humanities/Sco. Sci. Elective 3
Humanities/Sco. Sci. Elective 3Humanities/Sco. Sci. Elective 3
1515





MISCELLANEOUS NOTES CONCERNING THE CURRICULUM
  1. Restricted Electives must be chosen from 300 level or higher courses in PY or MA, or 200-level or higher courses in CSC. Suggested courses in CSC include

  2. A useful option in order to satisfy some CSC prerequsites is to take the PY 414/415 sequence in the senior year, allowing time for more CSC courses in the junior year.
  3. Numerical Methods should be chosen from either PY 525, MA 427, or MA 428.
  4. The General Education requirement consists of seven courses (21 hrs) chosen from the University approved lists as follows: two courses in history/literature, one course in philosophy, religion or the arts; two courses in psychology, economics, politics, sociology, anthropology or cultural geography; and two courses in any humanities/social sciences discipline. One of the courses must focus on a non-English speaking culture. One of the courses must focus on science, technology and society. Foreign language proficiency at the FL 102 level is required for graduation.
  5. One of the PE courses must be at the 100 level in Fitness and Wellness. PE may be taken for credit-only (S/U) grading.
  6. Students may substitute any Advanced Writing Course on the University approved GER list for ENG 333.
  7. Not more than one D will be accepted in each of the four categories: (1) required PY courses, (2) restricted electives, (3) required CSC and MA courses.
  8. Students who have completed the requirements for two degrees may be awarded two Bachelor's degrees, at the same or at different commencement exercises. The student remains registered in one school or department and works out a program to cover the requirements of both.
  9. Continuing students planning to take courses at other institutions for transfer credit toward degree requirements at NCSU must have the specific courses approved beforehand.

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