PHYSICS

The physics program provides necessary co-requisites for chemistry and biology majors, as well as for students who desire to enrich their programs with study in one of these courses and may have an interest in physics or applied mathematics. The physics minor provides a rigorous foundation in physics with the opportunity to learn advanced physics concepts and strengthen the academic credentials of students pursuing a secondary education mathematics or science career, applying for employment or graduate school in science, applied mathematics or engineering.

*Note: Chemistry 331, an elective for the physics minor, is offered in the fall of odd numbered years.

101 INTRODUCTORY PHYSICAL SCIENCE (3)	FALL/SPRING
This course provides an introductory survey of the physical sciences with particular emphasis upon topics selected from physics and chemistry. In addition to studying the science concepts the history of and methods used in science will be reviewed. Designed to fulfill the physical science general education requirement for non-science majors. This class includes a laboratory component.

121 GENERAL PHYSICS I (4)	FALL
This course is an introduction to the basic laws and theories of the following main areas of classical physics: mechanics, wave motion, heat, and thermodynamics. This class includes a laboratory component.

122 GENERAL PHYSICS II (4)	SPRING
This course is a continuation of Physics 121. This course is an introduction to the basic laws and theories of electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic waves, light and optics, and modern physics. This class includes a laboratory component. Prerequisite: Physics 121.

211 CALCULUS BASED GENERAL PHYSICS (4)	FALLL
This course is a calculus-based introduction to the basic laws and theories of the following main areas of classical physics: mechanics, wave motion, heat, and thermodynamics. This class includes a laboratory component. Prerequisite: Mathematics 111 (or concurrent enrollment).

212 CALCULUS BASED PHYSICS II (4)	SPRING
This course is a continuation of Physics 211. This course is a calculus-based introduction to the basic laws and theories of electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic waves, light and optics, and modern physics. This class includes a laboratory component. Prerequisite: Physics 211.

221 INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS (4)

FALL

This course will cover special relativity, foundations of quantum mechanics, Schrödinger’s equation, atoms and ordering of the Periodic Table, and some applications of quantum mechanics. The course will provide important concepts that help students build knowledge needed to bridge the introductory physics sequence to upper level physics courses as well as an introduction to modern physics. Prerequisites: Physics 212, Mathematics 112.

301 CLASSICAL MECHANICS (4)

SPRING-EVEN

This course will cover Newton’s Laws and projectiles and charged particles; momentum, energy, and oscillations; calculus of variations; Lagrange’s equations and two-body central-force problems; mechanics in non-inertial frames; rotational motion and coupled oscillators. A strong foundation in classical mechanics will help students understand quantum mechanics, relativity, chaos theory, and parts of string theory. Prerequisites: Physics 212, Physics 221, Mathematics 211, or permission from the instructor. Mathematics 310 suggested.

311 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM (3)	FALL-EVEN
This course will cover vector analysis and electrostatics, special analysis techniques including Laplace’s equation and the method of images, electric fi elds in matter, magnetostatics, magnetic fi elds in matter, electrodynamics, conservation laws and electromagnetic waves. Prerequisites: Physics 212, Physics 221, Mathematics 211, or permission from the instructor. Mathematics 310 suggested.

321 OPTICS (3)	SPRING-ODD
This course will cover the nature of light, geometrical optics, optical instrumentation, wave equations, superposition of waves, lasers, interference of light, optical interferometry, coherence, fi ber optics, fraunhofer diffraction, and the diffraction grating. Prerequisites: Physics 212, Physics 221, Mathematics 211, or permission from the instructor.

WV GEN ED PHYS SCIENCE WAIVER (3)