Physics Major - B.S.
The B.S. degree in physics is intended for those entering graduate or professional schools in engineering and medicine. It is also excellent preparation for entry-level careers in physics, engineering and other allied fields. The Physics Major Program will prepare students for employment in a wide variety of jobs in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). The program gives students a broad and deep level of physical insight, critical and analytical thinking, mathematical and computational facility, and experimental ability. This major may be combined with other programs such as Pre-Med or education for those students intending on a career in the medical profession or teaching.
B.S. Degree Requirements: A total of 58 credit hours of physics, mathematics, and chemistry are required. A minimum of 38 credit hours must be in physics. In addition, 20 credit hours are required in selected mathematics and chemistry courses. At the discretion of the physics department, a student's four-year plan of study may include taking upper level physics coursework in conjunction with Taylor University classes. Access to these courses will be available either through internet-based technology or personal transportation. Taylor University is approximately 20 minutes away by car. Due to differences in academic calendars between IWU and Taylor University, fall semester courses will be preferentially (but not exclusively) selected and will require physics majors to start Taylor courses approximately one week earlier than their corresponding IWU courses. Taylor U. courses will not be transcribed as transfer courses but as IWU courses at Taylor U. Therefore these courses will not represent a challenge to the policy requiring the last 30 hours must be taken at IWU. Students are responsible for any additional fees and/or transportation costs to and from Taylor U.
Plan of Study:
Physics Core Required Courses (38 credits)
PHY 321 may be taught together with IWU CHE 440 Physical Chemistry I.
PHY 490 taken with CHE 490 Chemistry Senior Seminar.
Note: Only two credits of Research in Physics may count toward the B.S. degree.
Physics Electives (0-13 credits)
The courses below are not part of the 58 hours required in the major. However, they will be offered to allow students further specialization of their degree program.
| PHY-361 | Introduction to Health and Medical Physics | 3 |
| PHY-341 | Waves and Optics | 3 |
| PHY-440 | Astrophysics | 3 |
| PHY-488 | Special Topics in Physics | 1 to 3 |
| PHY-475 | Independent Learning-Physics | 0 to 1 |
Recommended Courses (0-5 credits)
Required Courses in Chemistry and Mathematics (20 credits)
