Department of Physics and Astronomy (GSP/GSA/PHY/AST) Anthony G. Calamai, Chair Patricia E. Allen Daniel B. Caton J. Sid Clements Richard O. Gray Karl C. Mamola Marian J. Peters Joseph T. Pollock Brian W. Raichle Thomas L. Rokoske Ronald G. Sparks The objectives of the Department of Physics and Astronomy are: 1. to prepare students for a variety of careers which require a technical background or for studies at the graduate level, and 2. to provide service courses at appropriate levels for students in many disciplines. The versatility of physicists is a result of a basic education which emphasizes fundamental phenomena in nature. Understanding these fundamentals allows a physicist to attack a wide range of problems in many different fields, from energy resources and the environment to transportation and communications. By taking appropriate physics courses, one can simultaneously learn about the physical side of nature in a most general way, acquire useful specific knowledge, and satisfy core curriculum science requirements. In keeping with these objectives, three undergraduate degrees and an M.S. degree in Applied Physics are offered. Minors are offered for both the undergraduate and the graduate student. A pre-engineering curriculum (see index) provides preparation necessary for transfer into engineering programs both in North Carolina and elsewhere. All majors in Physics and Astronomy require a minimum of 122 semester hours for the degree. The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minor. In addition to core curriculum, major and minor requirements, electives must be taken to meet the total required minimum hours. Two semester hours of free electives OUTSIDE the major discipline are required. A major in physics leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree consists of a minimum of 36 hours in physics including 1150-1151 or 1103-1104; 2010-2020, 2210, 3010-3020, 4210 and seven to nine hours of physics electives. Also required are CHE 1101, 1110 and 1102, 1120 and MAT 1110, 1120, 2130, and 3130. A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts degree may count NOT more than a total of 40 hours above core curriculum requirements in physics. An undergraduate minor in physics consists of PHY 1103-1104, or 1150-1151 and any eight hours of electives in physics numbered 2000 and above. An undergraduate minor in astronomy consists of AST 1001-1002, and either PHY 1103-1104 or PHY 1150-1151. Also required are six hours of electives in astronomy selected from AST 2001, 2002, 3100, 3200. A major in physics leading to the B.S. degree and teacher licensure requires a minimum of 32 hours in physics (including PHY 1103-1104, or 1150-1151, 2010- 2020, 2210, 3210, 3520, 4210, and five to seven hours of physics electives - (PHY 3400, and either AST 1001, PHY 3730 or 3630 being recommended), plus BIO 1110, GLY 1101, CHE 1101, 1110 and 1102, 1120, MAT 1110, 1120, 2130, 3130, and GS 4403 and RE 4630 (minimum grade of "C" required in GS 4403 and RE 4630). Graduates of this program have North Carolina secondary science licensure (Grades 9-12) and are licensed to teach both physics and physical science. A person with teacher licensure in physics may obtain an endorsement (Grades 9-12) in chemistry or biology or geology by taking a minimum of 12 hours in one of those areas. An endorsement in mathematics may be obtained by taking a minimum of 18 hours of mathematics courses. A person licensed in another science may obtain a physics endorsement by taking a minimum on 12 hours of physics courses. For those licensed in other fields, a minimum of 18 hours in physics is required for the physics endorsement. A teacher with an endorsement may teach up to one-half of her/his course load in the endorsed area. For information on necessary professional education requirements for secondary education licensure, see Department of Curriculum and Instruction. A major in physics leading to the Bachelor of Science degree (without teacher licensure) with a concentration in applied physics consists of a minimum of 32 hours in physics including 1150-1151 or 1103-1104; 2010-2020; 2210; 3210; 4210; MAT 1110, 1120, 2130; and at least 18 hours in an emphasis area. A committee consisting of two faculty members from physics and one from each of the other disciplines in the emphasis area must advise each student individually and approve a program of study and any subsequent modifications. Some suggested core emphasis areas are: astrophysics, geophysics, environmental physics, engineering electronics, radiation safety physics, medical physics, technical management, industrial physics, computational physics, mathematical physics, and technical writing. The technical management emphasis includes all those core courses that are prerequisite to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in the College of Business. (See the Graduate Bulletin for details regarding the MBA). Many other combinations for emphasis areas are possible and will be developed in consultation with the departmental chair and the faculty advisory committee. HONORS PROGRAM IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a senior honors research and thesis course (PHY 4510) open only to majors in physics and astronomy during their final undergraduate semester and who have an outstanding undergraduate record. A student who wishes to enroll in the senior honors research and thesis course should contact the department chairperson and make the necessary arrangements during the first semester of his/her senior year. In order to graduate "with honors in physics and astronomy" or "with highest honors in physics and astronomy", a student must successfully complete PHY 4510. Additional information may be obtained from the department chairperson. M.S. IN APPLIED PHYSICS The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers an M.S. degree in Applied Physics. Persons interested in this degree are requested to consult the Graduate Bulletin for further information. A graduate minor in physics consists of 8-12 hours selected from physics offerings numbered 4500 and above. COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY (GSP, GSA, PHY, AST) This catalog reflects only the fall and spring semester courses. Courses offered in summer terms can be found in the Summer Sessions Bulletin. (For a description of the course abbreviations used in the following list of courses, see the index for abbreviations.)