2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Physics Major

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Physics Overview

Physics is the most fundamental of the sciences and is an important part of a liberal-arts education. Introductory courses are designed for students in all majors and provide a background in physical principles, the observation of natural processes, the logic and nature of science, and the diverse applications of physics. For more information, please visit the Physics Department’s website.

Major Requirements

The Clark physics major is designed to be flexible so as to meet the interests of individual students, including graduate study in physics, related sciences, engineering, and careers in environmental studies, management, government, law, medicine and teaching. Specifically, the Physics Department offers three tracks leading to the B.A. in physics: The Comprehensive Physics track, the Applied Physics track, and the General Physics track. The requirements for the three tracks enable students to choose their courses in line with their specific career goals. During their first year, prospective physics majors are recommended to enroll in PHYS 120 and PHYS 121 (those students interested in the General Physics track may enroll in PHYS 110/111) and to consult with the undergraduate physics adviser about their program of study. Physics major requirements for each of the three tracks are detailed below. The requirements are flexible and, through consultation with the undergraduate physics adviser, may be modified to satisfy the particular needs and interests of each student. Information about each available physics track is listed below:

Comprehensive Physics Track - This track is the broadest and designed to prepare students for graduate studies and careers in physics and related areas (such as engineering).

Required courses:
Math (4): 120 or 124, 121 or 125, 130, 131
Core Physics (12): 120, 121, 130, 131, 123, 127, 150, 160, 161, 171, 251, 299
Additional Electives (2): These electives may be taken from within the physics department, or by taking courses outside of the department including in the math, computer science, chemistry, and biology departments, upon consultation with an adviser in the physics department.

Applied Physics Track - This track is designed to prepare students for engineering, applied sciences, and technology related programs and careers.

Required courses:
Math (4): 120 or 124, 121 or 125, 130, 131
Core Physics (9): 120, 121, 130, 131, 123, 150, 160, 161, 299
Physics Electives (2): An elective of either 127 and 219 is required. One additional elective from Phys 127, 167, 169, 171, 219, 243, 251.

Additional Electives (3): These electives may be taken from within the physics department or by taking courses outside of the department including CS 120, CS 121, Math 244, and engineering/applied courses at WPI. Additional courses may be counted as electives in consultation with an adviser in the physics department.

General Physics Track - This track is designed to prepare students for teaching, education, pre-health and science policy programs.

Required courses:
Math (2): 120 or 124, 121 or 125
Core Physics (8): 120 (or 110 if no calculus background), 121 (or 111 if no calculus background), 130, 131, 123, 150, 160, 299
Introductory Courses from Outside of Physics (2): A choice of 2 from the following Chem 101, Chem 102, Chem 103, Bio 101, Bio 102, Bio 103, CS 120, CS 121
PLA Experience (1): A student is required to serve as a PLA in an introductory physics course (Phys 20, Astro 001, Astro 002, Phys 110, Phys 111, Phys 120, or Phys 121)
Education Courses (1): Educ 152
Physics Elective (1): An elective of either 127 or 219 is required.

Additional Electives (3): These electives may be taken from within the physics department or by taking courses outside of the department including within the education, math, computer science, chemistry, and biology departments, upon consultation with an adviser in the physics department.

Courses used to fulfill the requirements for the major or minor in Physics may not be taken with the Pass/Fail option.

Additionally, students interested in using physics as the basis for an engineering career should inquire about the 3/2 Engineering Program offering students a five-year option that combines a B.A. from Clark and a B.S. in engineering from Columbia University. Students who are majoring in physics and completing the 3/2 Engineering program may, for any physics major track, complete 2 of the ‘additional electives’ requirements by completing two courses at Columbia.

Overview of course offerings:

1. Introductory Physics:

2. Intermediate-level Physics:

3. Calculus:

4. Laboratory-based courses:

5. Upper-level courses:

6. Sampling of Additional Courses and Electives:

7. Research Opportunities:

PHYS 299 - Directed Studies in Physics

Total number of required courses for any physics major track: 18

Note:

Students with strong backgrounds in physics and mathematics may replace lower-level required courses with appropriate advanced courses with adviser approval. Advanced-placement credits may count toward major requirements. Advanced undergraduates may take graduate-level courses. Majors must meet with the undergraduate physics adviser prior to registration every semester to plan their course of study and to ensure that all requirements for the major are being satisfied. With careful planning, it is possible to complete all requirements for the major within three years. However, we strongly encourage our students to begin the study of physics in the first year.

Information about career opportunities and further information about courses and major requirements can be obtained from the undergraduate physics adviser and other physics faculty members.

The Capstone Experience

One capstone credit, typically fulfilled during the student’s senior year, is required for the physics major. This offers an opportunity to draw upon the skills and background acquired during the previous years of study, and allows students to acquire in-depth knowledge of a topic of interest, typically using some combination of theoretical analysis, computer simulations, and experimental research.

There are currently two ways of meeting the Physics capstone requirement:

1. Independent research projects (mainly in the form of Directed Studies, PHYS 299 , or Honors, PHYS 297 ), conducted under the guidance of a faculty member, will count toward the capstone requirement, and will be evaluated by the department.

2. The 200-level physics courses - PHYS 219 (Electronics), PHYS 243 (Technology of Renewable Energy), PHYS 290 (Senior Seminar), and PHYS 251 (Statistical Mechanics) - can count toward the Capstone Experience in Physics.

Students must submit the capstone declaration form with the instructor’s signature to the Physics Department when enrolling in a course that they have designated as their capstone. If the capstone requirement is fulfilled using a 200-level course, the student will also be required to do an additional project as a part of the course. Moreover, in the semester in which the capstone course is taken, the student will be required to make an oral presentation or present a poster based on the research or course project.

Honors

Students can apply for departmental honors in recognition of meritorious academic achievement and creativity in research. An honors candidate must maintain a minimum overall ‘B’ (3.0) average. All eligible majors are encouraged to participate. Candidates will conduct a research project under faculty member guidance during the junior and/or senior years. A thesis describing the work must be submitted no later than April 1 of the senior year and be defended orally in a special departmental convocation about two weeks later. Recommendation for honors, and the level of honors, in physics is made on the basis of the quality of the thesis and student performance in the defense. Students may gain credit for thesis research by registering for PHYS 299 or PHYS 297.

Physics Faculty

Program

Charles Agosta, Ph.D.
Michael Boyer, Ph.D.
Barbara Capogrosso Sansone, Ph.D.
Arshad Kudrolli, Ph.D.
Alexander Petroff, Ph.D.
Ranjan Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D.

Adjunct

Shuanghong Huo, Ph.D.

Emeriti

S. Leslie Blatt, Ph.D.
Harvey Gould, Ph.D.
Roger P. Kohin, Ph.D.
Christopher P. Landee, Ph.D.

Physics Courses

Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years