Physics Courses

Course Number	Course Name	Course Description
Physics 111	General Physics I	Calculus-based introduction to mechanics, thermodynamics, and waves
Physics 112	General Physics II	Calculus-based introduction to electricity, magnetism, and optics
Physics 211	Mathematical Physics	Review of vectors, matrices, ordinary and partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, and special functions
Physics 314	Introductory Modern Physics	Topics of modern physics, including atomic physics, special theory of relativity, and introduction to solid state and nuclear physics
Physics 321	Optics	Ray optics, interference, diffraction, dispersion, absorption, and polarization of light
Physics 325	Atomic Physics	Relativistic mechanics, atomic structure, and spectra
Physics 331	Theoretical Mechanics I	Mechanics of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies
Physics 332	Theoretical Mechanics II	Kinematics and dynamics of particle systems, Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulation
Physics 333	Electricity and Magnetism I	Electrostatic fields, magnetic fields in matter, Maxwell's equations
Physics 334	Electricity and Magnetism II	Electrodynamics, waveguides and cavities
Physics 341	Advanced Physics Laboratory	Experiments in physics, methods of data evaluation and error analysis
Physics 451	Introductory Quantum Mechanics	Fundamental principles, Schrodinger's equation, state functions in position and momentum space, operators, hydrogen atom, angular momentum and spin
Physics 461	Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	Heat transfer, three laws of thermodynamics, statistical foundations of thermodynamics
Physics 463	Nuclear Physics	Nuclear structure, nuclear decay and reactions, nuclear forces and models, and elementary particles
Physics 471	Solid State Physics	Crystal structure, interatomic binding, lattice vibrations, free electron theory, band theory of solids
Physics 481	Plasma Physics	Introduction to physics of ionized gases, equilibrium and stability of plasmas and waves
Physics 493	Special Topics	Topics of current interest in physics (independent study)

Astronomy Courses

Course Number	Course Name	Course Description
ASTR 106	Descriptive Astronomy	The celestial sphere; Kepler’s laws; birth, evolution, and death of stars.
ASTR 367	Astrophysics I	Hertzsprung-Russell diagram; the sun; special and general relativity; star clusters and galaxies; the interstellar medium.
ASTR 368	Astrophysics II	Star formation, galaxy types, cosmology, planets and the solar system.
ASTR 469	Observational Astronomy	Student projects using techniques of visible, radio, and X-ray astronomy.
ASTR 470	General Relativity	Curved space-time, the metric, black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology.