Program Overview

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Overview

The Bachelor of Science with a major in applied physics requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 56–87 s.h. of work for the major. Total credit required for the major depends on a student's choice of concentration. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They must also complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Requirements

The major in applied physics is intended primarily for students interested in a broad program of study in physics combined with a significant concentration of courses in a field that has immediate application to high-technology industries. The degree provides a foundation for a wide range of employment opportunities in high-technology industries, including research and development, product design and testing, sales, and quality control. It is also designed to include exposure to physics sufficient to allow students to continue with graduate studies in either physics or astronomy.

Common Requirements

Students in all concentrations must successfully complete the following courses or their equivalents.

• Mathematics:
  • MATH:1850 and MATH:1860: Calculus I and Calculus II (8 s.h.)
  • MATH:2700: Introduction to Linear Algebra (4 s.h.)
  • MATH:2850: Calculus III (4 s.h.)
  • Or all of these:
    • MATH:1550: Engineering Calculus I (4 s.h.)
    • MATH:1560: Engineering Calculus II (4 s.h.)
    • MATH:2550: Engineering Matrix Algebra (2 s.h.)
    • MATH:3550: Engineering Vector Calculus (3 s.h.)
• Physics:
  • One of these sequences:
    • PHYS:1611 and PHYS:1612: Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics II (8 s.h.)
    • PHYS:1701, PHYS:1702, and PHYS:2703: Physics I, Physics II, and Physics III (strongly preferred) (12 s.h.)
  • All of these:
    • PHYS:2704: Physics IV (4 s.h.)
    • PHYS:3710: Intermediate Mechanics (3 s.h.)
    • PHYS:3741: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I (3 s.h.)
    • PHYS:3811: Electricity and Magnetism I (3 s.h.)
• Experiential Learning:
  • One of these:
    • A one-semester industrial internship (requires a research report)
    • A one-semester practicum in a research laboratory (requires a research report)

Concentrations

Students select one of four concentration areas, or, with approval from the applied physics advisor, a custom concentration is permitted, such as acoustics and propulsion science.

Computer Science Concentration

• All of these:
  • PHYS:3730: Statistical Physics (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3756: Intermediate Laboratory (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3812: Electricity and Magnetism II (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3850: Electronics (4 s.h.)
  • CS:1210: Computer Science I: Fundamentals (4 s.h.)
  • CS:2210: Discrete Structures (3 s.h.)
  • CS:2230: Computer Science II: Data Structures (4 s.h.)
  • One additional computer science course numbered 3000 or above (3 s.h.)
• Two of these:
  • CS:2630: Computer Organization (4 s.h.)
  • CS:2820: Introduction to Software Development (4 s.h.)
  • CS:3330: Algorithms (3 s.h.)

Optics Concentration

• All of these:
  • PHYS:3730: Statistical Physics (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3756: Intermediate Laboratory (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3812: Electricity and Magnetism II (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3850: Electronics (4 s.h.)
  • PHYS:4720: Introductory Optics (3 s.h.)
• Two of these:
  • PHYS:4726: Electro Optics (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:4728: Introductory Solid State Physics (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:4820: Optical Signal Processing (3 s.h.)

Solid-State Electronics Concentration

• All of these:
  • PHYS:3730: Statistical Physics (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:4728: Introductory Solid State Physics (3 s.h.)
  • ECE:2400: Linear Systems I (3 s.h.)
  • ECE:2410: Principles of Electronic Instrumentation (4 s.h.)
  • ECE:3320: Introduction to Digital Design (3 s.h.)
  • ECE:3410: Electronic Circuits (4 s.h.)
  • ENGR:1300: Introduction to Engineering Computing (3 s.h.)
  • ENGR:2120: Electrical Circuits (3 s.h.)
  • ENGR:2730: Computers in Engineering (3 s.h.)
• One of these:
  • PHYS:3742: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3812: Electricity and Magnetism II (3 s.h.)

Medical Physics Concentration

• All of these:
  • PHYS:3756: Intermediate Laboratory (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3850: Electronics (4 s.h.)
  • BIOL:1411 and BIOL:1412: Foundations of Biology and Diversity of Form and Function (8 s.h.)
  • CHEM:1110 and CHEM:1120: Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry II (8 s.h.)
  • CHEM:2210 and CHEM:2220: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II (6 s.h.)
  • CHEM:2410: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (3 s.h.)
  • Two additional biology courses numbered 2000 or above (6-8 s.h.)
• One of these:
  • BIOS:4120: Introduction to Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
  • STAT:3510: Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
• One of these:
  • PHYS:3730: Statistical Physics (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3742: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:3812: Electricity and Magnetism II (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:4750: Advanced Laboratory (3 s.h.)
  • PHYS:4905: Special Topics in Physics (when topic is physics of the body) (3 s.h.)

GE CLAS Core

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge and a focused practice of transferable skills necessary for a lifetime of learning.

Communication and Literacy

• Understanding Cultural Perspectives: a minimum of 3 s.h.
• Interpretation of Literature: a minimum of 3 s.h.
• Rhetoric: a minimum of 4 s.h.
• World Languages Pathways: required credit varies

Sustainability

Students complete this requirement by choosing an approved GE CLAS Core course that integrates Sustainability (with no additional semester hours) with a course from the Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences category or the Culture, Society, and the Arts category.

Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences

• Natural Sciences: a minimum of 7 s.h.; must include one lab
• Quantitative or Formal Reasoning: a minimum of 3 s.h.
• Social Sciences: a minimum of 3 s.h.

Culture, Society, and the Arts

• Historical Perspectives: a minimum of 3 s.h.
• International and Global Issues: a minimum of 3 s.h.
• Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts: a minimum of 3 s.h.
• Values and Society: a minimum of 3 s.h.

Career Advancement

Applied physics graduates have mastered skills that are readily transferable to a number of fields. They might choose to work in research, engineering, software development, teaching, finance, biomedical research, or consulting.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the university's Four-Year Graduation Plan.

• Before the third semester begins: MATH:1860 Calculus II and PHYS:1702 Physics II.
• Before the fifth semester begins: PHYS:2703 Physics III, PHYS:2704 Physics IV, MATH:2700 Introduction to Linear Algebra, MATH:2850 Calculus III, one more course in the major, and up to four courses in another science or engineering department.
• Before the seventh semester begins: two to four more courses in the major, up to three other science or engineering courses, and at least 90 s.h. earned toward the degree.
• Before the eighth semester begins: two or three more courses in the major or other science or engineering courses and all or part of an academic year research experience or a summer research experience or internship as approved by the applied physics coordinator.
• During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining coursework in the major, all remaining CLAS Core courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor.

Applied Physics, BS

Plan of Study Grid (Manual) Academic Career

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • PHYS:1701: Physics I (4 s.h.)
    • CHEM:1110: Principles of Chemistry I (4 s.h.)
    • MATH:1850: Calculus I (4 s.h.)
    • RHET:1030 or ENGL:1200: Rhetoric: Writing and Communication or The Interpretation of Literature (3-4 s.h.)
    • CSI:1600: Success at Iowa (1 s.h.)
  • Spring:
    • PHYS:1702: Physics II (4 s.h.)
    • CHEM:1120: Principles of Chemistry II (4 s.h.)
    • MATH:1860: Calculus II (4 s.h.)
    • RHET:1030 or ENGL:1200: Rhetoric: Writing and Communication or The Interpretation of Literature (3-4 s.h.)
• Second Year:
  • Fall:
    • PHYS:2703: Physics III (4 s.h.)
    • BIOL:1411: Foundations of Biology (4 s.h.)
    • MATH:2700: Introduction to Linear Algebra (4 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: World Languages First Level Proficiency or elective course (4-5 s.h.)
  • Spring:
    • PHYS:2704: Physics IV (3-4 s.h.)
    • BIOL:1412: Diversity of Form and Function (4 s.h.)
    • MATH:2850: Calculus III (4 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: World Languages Second Level Proficiency or elective course (4-5 s.h.)
• Third Year:
  • Fall:
    • PHYS:3741: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I (3 s.h.)
    • PHYS:3811: Electricity and Magnetism I (3 s.h.)
    • CHEM:2210: Organic Chemistry I (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: Understanding Cultural Perspectives (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: World Languages Third Level Proficiency or elective course (4-5 s.h.)
  • Spring:
    • PHYS:3710: Intermediate Mechanics (3 s.h.)
    • PHYS:3850: Electronics (4 s.h.)
    • CHEM:2220: Organic Chemistry II (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: Values and Society (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: World Languages Fourth Level Proficiency (4-5 s.h.)
• Summer:
  • Internship: industrial internship or research practicum (3 s.h.)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall:
    • PHYS:3756: Intermediate Laboratory (3 s.h.)
    • CHEM:2410: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (3 s.h.)
    • Major: biology course numbered 2000 or above (3-4 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: Historical Perspectives (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts (3 s.h.)
  • Spring:
    • BIOS:4120 or STAT:3510: Introduction to Biostatistics or Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
    • Major: biology course numbered 2000 or above (3-4 s.h.)
    • Major: medical concentration select one course (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: International and Global Issues (3 s.h.)
    • GE CLAS Core: Social Sciences (3 s.h.)
    • Degree Application: apply on MyUI before deadline (typically in February for spring, September for fall)