ARCHIVE:
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
2006–2007 General Catalog

Department of Physics and Astronomy

480/965-3561
PS F470

Barry G. Ritchie, Chair

Regents’ Professors

Smith, Spence, Starrfield, Windhorst

Professors

Alarcon, Bennett, Burstein, Chamberlin, Comfort, Cowley, Doak, Dow, Hester, Lindsay, Menéndez, Ponce, Rez, Ritchie, Sankey, Schmidt, Thorpe, Tillery, Treacy, Tsen, Tsong, Venables

Associate Professors

Culbertson, Drucker, Herbots, Marzke, McCartney, Newman

Assistant Professors

Belitsky, Desch, Lebed, Ortiz, Shumway

Distinguished Research Professor

Bauer

Physics—BS

Students majoring in Physics may pursue one of two options.

Option I

Designed for students who wish to pursue physics at the bachelor or graduate degree levels, option I consists of the following required courses:

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 150 Physics I SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ1 (3)

PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ1 (1)

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 151 Physics II SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and
Magnetism SQ2 (3)

PHY 132 University Physics Laboratory II SQ2 (1)

PHY 201 Mathematical Methods in Physics I CS (3)

PHY 252 Physics III SQ (4)

PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II (2)

PHY 310 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter I (3)

PHY 311 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter II (3)

PHY 314 Quantum Physics I (3)

PHY 315 Quantum Physics II (3)

PHY 333 Electronic Circuits and Measurements (3)

PHY 334 Advanced Laboratory I L3 (2)

PHY 412 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter III (3)

PHY 416 Quantum Physics III (3)

PHY 441 Statistical and Thermal Physics I (3)

PHY 465 Advanced Laboratory II (2)

Total 45

1 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

2 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

3 Both PHY 334 and 420 must be taken to secure L credit.

Supporting mathematics courses are as follows:

Choose between the course combinations below (12 or 10)

MAT 270 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MA (4)

MAT 271 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA (4)

MAT 272 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA (4)

——— or ———

MAT 290 Calculus I MA (5)

MAT 291 Calculus II (5)

Additional courses in physics and related fields are selected with the approval of the advisor. French, German, or Russian is strongly recommended to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

Option II

The interdisciplinary option II is designed for students who wish to obtain an undergraduate physics preparation for entry into other professions or graduate programs. A total of 53 hours are required, including the following courses:

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 150 Physics I SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ1 (3)

PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ1 (1)

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 151 Physics II SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and
Magnetism SQ2 (3)

PHY 132 University Physics Laboratory II SQ2 (1)

PHY 201 Mathematical Methods in Physics I CS (3)

PHY 252 Physics III SQ (4)

PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II (2)

PHY 310 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter I (3)

PHY 311 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter II (3)

PHY 314 Quantum Physics I (3)

PHY 315 Quantum Physics II (3)

PHY 333 Electronic Circuits and Measurements (3)

PHY 334 Advanced Laboratory I L3 (2)

PHY 412 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter III (3)

PHY 441 Statistical and Thermal Physics I (3)

Total 40

1 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

2 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

3 Both PHY 334 and 420 must be taken to secure L credit.

The remaining courses are selected from physics and an area of concentration as approved by the student’s advisor. Possible areas of concentration are astronomy, astrophysics, materials science, physical chemistry, applied mathematics, geophysics, biological physics, philosophy of science, scientific journalism, and premedical and prelaw programs. French, German, or Russian is strongly recommended to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

Supporting mathematics courses are as follows:

Choose between the course combinations below (12 or 10)

MAT 270 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MA (4)

MAT 271 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA (4)

MAT 272 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA (4)

——— or ———

MAT 290 Calculus I MA (5)

MAT 291 Calculus II (5)

Emphasis in Astronomy

The astronomy faculty offer courses in astronomy both for nonscience majors and for science and physics majors. For an emphasis in astronomy, the following courses (or their equivalents) should be taken:

AST 321 Introduction to Planetary and Stellar Astrophysics SQ1 (3)

AST 322 Introduction to Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics SQ2 (3)

AST 421 Astrophysics I (3)

AST 422 Astrophysics II (3)

AST 499 Individualized Instruction (3)

Total 15

1 Both AST 113 and 321 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

2 Both AST 114 and 322 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Minor in Astronomy

The minor in Astronomy consists of a minimum of 24 semester hours. Required courses are as follows:

AST 113 Astronomy Laboratory I SQ1 1

AST 114 Astronomy Laboratory II SQ2 1

AST 321 Introduction to Planetary and Stellar Astrophysics SQ1 (3)

AST 322 Introduction to Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics SQ2 (3)

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 150 Physics I SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ3 (3)

PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ3 (1)

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 151 Physics II SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ4 (3)

PHY 132 University Physics Laboratory II SQ4 (1)

PHY 252 Physics III SQ (4)

Approved upper-division electives (4)

Total 24

1 Both AST 113 and 321 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

2 Both AST 114 and 322 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

3 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

4 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Electives are chosen with approval of an astronomy advisor from upper-division courses in physics and astronomy.

Minor in Physics

The minor in Physics consists of a minimum of 29 semester hours. Required courses are as follows:

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 150 Physics I SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ1 (3)

PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ1 (1)

Choose between the course combinations below (4)

PHY 151 Physics II SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and
Magnetism SQ2 (3)

PHY 132 University Physics Laboratory II SQ2 (1)

PHY 201 Mathematical Methods in Physics I CS (3)

PHY 252 Physics III SQ (4)

PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II (2)

PHY 310 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter I (3)

PHY 311 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter II (3)

PHY 314 Quantum Physics I (3)

Approved electives (3)

Total 29

1 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

2 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Electives are chosen with approval of the physics advisor from upper-division courses in physics and astronomy.

BIS Concentrations

Concentrations in astronomy and physics are available under the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree, a program intended for the student who has academic interests that might not be satisfied with existing majors. Building on two academic concentrations (or one double concentration) and an interdisciplinary core, students in the BIS program take active roles in creating their educational plans and defining their career goals. For more information, see School of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Secondary Education—BAE

Physics

This degree is offered through the Initial Teacher Certification (ITC) program in the College of Education. Students pursuing a major in Secondary Education have an advisor in the College of Education and an advisor within the department of their academic specialization area.

See College of Education, for information on admission eligibility requirements, admission deadlines, field experiences, and student teaching. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with an advisor, call the Office of Student Services in the College of Education at 480/965-5555.

The following courses must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.00) or higher before applying to the ITC program: PHY 150 and 151 or PHY 121, 122, 131, and 132.

This academic specialization consists of 48 semester hours. Required courses are as follows:

MAT 270 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MA (4)

MAT 271 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA (4)

MAT 272 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA (4)

Choose between the course combinations below (8)

PHY 150 Physics I SQ (4)

PHY 151 Physics II SQ (4)

——— or ———

PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ1 (3)

PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ1 (1)

PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ2 (3)

PHY 132 University Physics Laboratory II SQ 2 (1)

PHY 201 Mathematical Methods in Physics I CS (3)

PHY 252 Physics III SQ (4)

PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II (2)

PHY 310 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter I (3)

PHY 333 Electronic Circuits and Measurements (3)

PHY 361 Introductory Modern Physics (3)
or PHY 314 Quantum Physics I (3)

PHY 480 Methods of Teaching Physics (3)
or PHY 484 Internship: Physics Teaching (1–4)

Approved electives3 10

Minimum total 48

1 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

2 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

3 Electives are chosen in physics or other closely related fields, subject to the approval of the advisor.

Teaching Methods

PHY 480 Methods of Teaching Physics (3)

PHY 484 Internship: Physics Teaching (3)

Total 6

Graduate Programs

The faculty in the department offer programs leading to degrees of Master of Natural Science, MS, and PhD. See the Graduate Catalog for requirements.

Courses

ASTRONOMY (AST); PHYSICAL SCIENCES (PHS); PHYSICS (PHY)


Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of courses offered but not specifically listed in this catalog, see Omnibus Courses.

Graduate-Level Courses. For information about courses numbered from 500 to 799, see the Graduate Catalog, or access www.asu.edu/aad/catalogs on the Web. In some situations, undergraduate students may be eligible to take these courses; for more information, see Graduate-Level Courses.