Home > Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences > Physics > Course Information
Majors and Minors in Physics
The Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences offers a major and a minor in Physics. Any student, regardless of major program of study, may obtain a minor by successfully completing a minimum of 20 hours of selected courses at the 3000 or 4000 level in physics. If you major or minor in physics you can become involved in research projects carried out by VSU faculty members or off-campus student research programs.
What can I do with a degree in Physics?
Graduates in Physics from VSU have gone on to graduate school for MS or PhD degrees in Physics, Medical Physics, Nuclear Engineering, and Meteorology. Other types of employment with a BS in physics include aeorspace engineering, laboratory technician in engineering, software administrator/engineer, and teaching.
Courses for the Physics Major or Minor:
Majors and minors in Physics take the introductory series ( "Principles of Physics" and three semesters of calculus (see MATH 2261, 2262, 2263 in the Math Department). The student minoring in Physics chooses among various electives (see catalog for specific requirements), whereas the major takes all of the following in addition to 3 electives from MATH or PHYS courses.:
PHYS 2211K and 2212K "Principles of Physics I & II" are laboratory courses and introduce mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, electromagnetism and optics using differential and integral calculus. |
PHYS 2700 "Modern Physics" is designed to introduce the incoming physics or astronomy major to the ideas of modern physics. The course includes special relativity, an overview of quantum mechanics and solid state physics. |
PHYS 4111 and 4112 "Analytic Mechanics" are two semesters worth of Newtonian mechanics, including conservation's laws, Lagrange's equations, Euler's equations and Hamiltonian physics. |
PHYS 4411 and 4412 "Quantum Mechanics " are two semesters of quantum physics and its application to atomic and nuclear structure. Wave and matrix formalism is used, including Dirac notation. |
PHYS 4211 and PHYS 4212 "Electromagnetism" are two semesters of electrostatics, magnetostatics, electrodynamics, and Maxwell's equations. |
PHYS 3810 "Mathematical Methods in Physics" this course emphasizes special topics in mathematics related to advanced physics. Topics include vector and tensor calculus, differential equations, orthogonal functions, eigenvalue problems, matrix methods and complex variables. |
PHYS 3040 "Electronics" is a combination lecture-laboratory course in basic electrical circuits and techniques, including extensive use of the oscilloscope. Both continuous wave and pulse phenomena are treated. |
PHYS 3100 "Optics" is an intermediate level course with an emphasis on physical optics. Topics include interference, polarizations, dispersion, absorption, resonance, and quantum effects. The nature of light is emphasized. |
PHYS 3820 "Computational Physics" is a course that introduces the student to use of the computer to solve otherwise intractable problems. This includes: simulations of physics systems, acquisition and analysis of data, and graphical display of data. |
PHYS 4310 "Thermodynamics" is a study of classical thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics. |
PHYS 4040 "Experimental Physics" is a lecture-laboratory course devoted to techniques of research in experimental physics. Topics include treatment of data, vacuum techniques, magnetic devices, preparation and manipulation of beams of particles and radioactivity. A number of modern physics experiments are studied and performed. |
MATH 3340 (differential equations); MATH 2150 (linear algebra) |
We also offer courses for Internship, Special Topics, and Directed Study in Physics; recent topics have included: Special Relativity, General Relativity, Plasma Physics, FORTRAN Programming in Physics, and Differential Equations in Physical Systems.