COLLEGE of ARTS and SCIENCES
PHYSICS
Associate Professor Thomas Hearn, department head
Professor Stephen Pate, undergraduate program head
Professor Matthias Burkardt, graduate program head
Professors Armstrong, Burkardt,Burleson (emeritus), Daw (emeritus), Gibbs, Goedecke (emeritus), Ingraham (emeritus), Kyle, Liefeld (emeritus), Miller (emeritus), Ni, Pate; Associate Professors Hearn, Kanim, Nakotte, Papavassiliou, Stromberg (emeritus); Assistant Professors Engelhardt, Kiefer, Urquidi, Vasiliev
(575) 646-3831
DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Physics
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science
MAJOR: Physics
- EMPHASIS: Applied Physics
- EMPHASIS: Computational Physics
- EMPHASIS: Geophysics
- EMPHASIS: Optics
- EMPHASIS: Materials Science
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science
MAJOR: Engineering Physics
DESIGNATED MINORS:
- Physics/Classical Mechanics
- Computational Physics
- Physics/Electromagnetics
- General Physics
- Geophysics
- Physics/Materials
- Physics/Optics
- Physics/Quantum Mechanics
A bachelor degree in physics provides the basis for careers in industry, teaching, the military, government, or for study toward advanced degrees in physics or engineering. It should also provide the skills that recipients of physics degrees have listed as among the most important in obtaining their current positions, including problem solving ability, computer skills, mathematical skills, and laboratory skills, as well as knowledge of physics.
The Physics Department requires B.A. and B.S. students to have some knowledge of a foreign language. To meet this requirement, the student must do one of the following:
- Complete the introductory foreign language course sequence, 111 and 112, for any language taught at NMSU. Students should enter the sequence at their proficiency level.
- Challenge the 112 level of any foreign language taught at NMSU.
- Obtain college certification of completion of two years of one foreign language at the high school level with a grade of C or higher in the second year level.
- Obtain, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a foreign language if such language is not taught at NMSU.
- Obtain certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.
- Successfully complete a regular university course taught in a language other than English. A student can receive credit only once for the same course taught in two languages.
- Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a foreign language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.
- Pass C D 375, American Sign Language II with a grade of C or better.
- In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam, the Department will automatically waive the foreign language requirement.
Further information about the department may be found on the web at www.physics.nmsu.edu.
DEGREE:Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Physics
The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for students who would like to have a firm foundation in physics combined with study in another area and greater flexibility in choosing elective courses. The program requires a minor in a second field of study chosen by the student in consultation with an advisor.
Nondepartment Requirements (May not be taken S/U and must earn a grade of C or better.)
| MATH 191, 192, 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III; and MATH 392, Differential Equations | |
| Minor in a second field from another department (18 credits) |
Department Requirements
| PHYS 150, Elementary Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 213/213L, Mechanics, and Experimental Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 214/214L, Electricity and Magnetism, and Experimental Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 217/217L, Heat, Light, and Sound, and Experimental Heat, Light, and Sound | 4 |
| PHYS 315 Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 315L, Experimental Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 451, Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 454, Intermediate Modern Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 455, Intermediate Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 461, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 462, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 480, Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Electives: Sufficient to bring total number of credits to 128, including 48 upper-division. |
Suggested Minors for the Bachelor of Arts Physics Major
Basic Science Minor - A minor in a related scientific field broadens the overall knowledge of the student majoring in physics. Some departments which offer such minors are astronomy, chemistry, computer science, geology, and mathematics.
Prehealth Minor - Students wishing to attend a medical or dental post-graduate school are strongly encouraged to obtain a minor in a life science field such as biochemistry, biology, human biology, microbiology, and molecular biology.
Prelaw Minor - Students wishing to attend a post-graduate law school should obtain a minor in a law-related field, such as government, accounting, finance, international business, global political economy, or a Supplementary Major in Law and Society (24 credits).
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science
MAJOR: Physics
A Bachelor of Science degree in physics at NMSU prepares a student well for graduate study in physics or geophysics, or for a variety of careers in research and teaching. Specialization in one of the emphasis areas should increase employability at the B.S. level.
Nondepartmental Requirements (Must earn a grade of C or better)
| MATH 191, MATH 192, MATH 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III; MATH 392, Differential Equations. | |
| CHEM 115, CHEM 116, Principles of Chemistry I, II, or higher-level courses. |
Departmental Requirements
| PHYS 150, Elementary Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 213/213L, Mechanics, and Experimental Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 214/214L, Electricity and Magnetism, and Experimental Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 217/217L, Heat, Light, and Sound, and Experimental Heat, Light, and Sound | 4 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 315L, Experimental Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 451, Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 454, Intermediate Modern Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 455, Intermediate Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 461, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 462, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 480, Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Advanced laboratory (PHYS 471 or 475) | 2 |
| Six additional credits in physics or geophysics numbered 300 or above | 6 |
Electives: Sufficient to bring total number of credits to at least 128, including 48 upper-division.
Students who plan to pursue graduate study in physics or geophysics are strongly advised to take one or more senior-level courses in optics, nuclear physics, atmospheric physics, condensed matter physics, geophysics, or computational physics.
Students who plan to seek employment at the B.S. level are advised to take one of the following emphasis area curricula in addition to the general and departmental requirements. The program of study should be chosen by the student in consultation with an advisor. Some recommended courses are listed below.
EMPHASIS: Applied Physics
The program of study in applied physics is planned by the student and the physics advisor and includes classes in electrical and mechanical engineering along with classes in computer science.
EMPHASIS: Applied Optics
| PHYS 370, Optics I | 3 |
| PHYS 470, Optics II | 3 |
| PHYS 471, Modern Experimental Optics | 2 |
| PHYS 478, Optical Sources, Detectors, and Radiometry | 4 |
| PHYS 479, Lasers and Applications | 4 |
EMPHASIS: Materials Science
| CH E 361, Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CHEM 461, Polymers, their Composites and Mechanical Behavior | 3 |
| PHYS 475, Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 488, Condensed Matter Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 489, Introduction to Modern Materials | 3 |
EMPHASIS: Computational Physics
| C S 157, FORTRAN Programming, or C S 167, C Programming | 3 |
| C S 171, Algorithmic Computations | 4 |
| MATH 279, Introduction to Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| PHYS 476, Computational Physics | 3 |
EMPHASIS: Geophysics
| GEOL 111G, Survey of Geology | 4 |
| GPHY 330, Introduction to Geophysics | 3 |
| GPHY 451, Principles of Geophysics | 3 |
| GPHY 452, Exploration Geophysics | 3 |
Students desiring to prepare to be high school physics teachers will find the specific requirements listed under the College of Education chapter. Geophysics courses are offered by the Department of Physics and are listed under "Geophysics" in the course description chapter of this catalog.
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
MAJOR: Physics
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics is a joint degree program of the Department of Physics and the College of Engineering. This degree is ideal preparation for technical careers in high-tech industries, research laboratories, and the public sector. It also provides an excellent preparation for graduate studies in physics or engineering. A full description of the program requirements can be found in the College of Engineering section of this catalog.
MINOR: Physics
A student cannot earn a B.A. or a B.S. in Physics and a minor in Physics.
| PHYS 213, Mechanics, or PHYS 215, Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 214, Electricity and Magnetism, or PHYS 216, Engineering Physics II. | 3 |
| PHYS 217, Heat, Light and Sound | 3 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics. | 3 |
| Six additional Physics credits, not including PHYS 350, Special Topics; PHYS 400, Undergraduate Research, PHYS 450, Selected Topics; or any Physics General Education courses | 6 |
Designated Minors
In addition to the regular minor, the department offers several special designated minors, listed under "Academic Majors and Minors" in the "General Information" chapter. Any of these, together with an appropriate degree in another field, should give the student a background that is adequate to pursue graduate study in physics, along with the skills that physics bachelor degree recipients have rated as among the most important in obtaining their current positions. Further information may be obtained from the department or its web page at www.physics.nmsu.edu.
A student cannot earn a B.A. or B.S. in Physics and any designated minor.
| To earn a designated minor, students must pass: | |
| PHYS 213, Mechanics, or PHYS 215, Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 214, Electricity and Magnetism, or PHYS 216, Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 217, Heat, Light and Sound | 3 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics | 3 |
| Six credits as listed below for each designated minor | 6 |
| Classical Mechanics: PHYS 451, Intermediate Mechanics I, and PHYS 480, Thermodynamics | |
| Computational Physics: PHYS 476, Computational Physics, and PHYS 495, Mathematical Methods of Physics I | |
| Electromagnetism: PHYS 461, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I, and PHYS 462, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II | |
| Materials: PHYS 488, Condensed Matter Physics; and PHYS 489, Introduction to Modern Materials | |
| Optics: PHYS 370, Optics I, and PHYS 470, Optics II | |
| Quantum Mechanics: PHYS 454, Intermediate Modern Physics I, and PHYS 455, Intermediate Modern Physics II |