Physics (BS)

Program Overview

The B.S. in Physics at UCF provides a comprehensive education in physics with five specializations: General Physics, Materials Physics, Optics and Lasers, Computational Physics, and Astronomy. The program prepares students for graduate studies in physics or related fields. Students must complete a minimum of 15 upper-level courses in physics, maintain a GPA of 2.0 in all physics and mathematics courses, and participate in the Professional Physics Mentoring Program.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Objective: The B.S.
in Physics is designed to prepare students for graduate studies in physics or a closely related field.
• Program Description: The program offers five distinct specializations: General Physics, Materials Physics, Optics and Lasers, Computational Physics, and Astronomy.
While these specializations share a common core of courses, they allow students to tailor their studies for specific career paths.
• Degree Requirements:
• Students must adopt the most current catalog if they change degree programs and select this major.
• Grades below "C" (2.0) in any required physics or mathematics courses are not acceptable and must be repeated.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in all courses taken that could meet major requirements.
• The Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 15 semester hours of 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF Department of Physics.
• Students are discouraged from taking courses as a transient student at a Florida College System institution, except in situations where one semester of a two-semester sequence has already been taken at the Florida College System institution.
• All prerequisites of courses taught within the College of Sciences will be enforced.
• Upon reaching junior standing (60 hours), Physics majors are expected to have completed specific prerequisite courses, including:
• CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I
• CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II
• CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory
• MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
• MAC 2312 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
• MAC 2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
• PHY2048 and PHY2048L - General Physics Using Calculus I course and lab (or PHY2048C)
• PHY2049 and PHY2049L - General Physics Using Calculus II course and lab (or PHY2049C)

Assessment:

• Departmental Exit Requirements:
• Grades below "C" (2.0) in any required physics or mathematics courses are not acceptable and must be repeated.
• Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken that could meet major requirements.
• Students will be required to take a nationally normed test in Physics during their last year.
• Students will have an exit interview in their last semester with a representative of the Physics Undergraduate Committee.

Other:

• Professional Physics Mentoring Program: While declared as a Physics BS major, students must complete the Professional Physics Mentoring Program annually.
Exceptions will be granted on an annual basis for students who demonstrate participation on an independent and continuous physics professional mentoring plan with faculty in or affiliated to the department.
• Related Programs:
• Mathematics (B.S.)
Engineering/Physics Track
• Electrical Engineering - Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate (B.S.E.E.
/ M.S.E.E.)
• Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
• Advising Notes: Students should consult with a departmental advisor.
• Transfer Notes:
• Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
• Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit.
• The student must provide all supporting information.
• Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses:
• CHM 2045C: may use CHM 1040 plus CHM 1041 or CHM 2040C plus CHM 2041C
• Program Academic Learning Compacts: Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
• Equipment Fees:
• Part-Time Student: $12.40 per term
• Full-Time Student: $24.80 per term