COLLEGE of ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Physics Department, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor Stefan Zollner, department head
Professor Heinz Nakotte, engineering physics program head
(575) 646-3831
http://engineeringphysics.nmsu.edu/
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
The Engineering Physics program is offered jointly by the Physics Department and the College of Engineering. The faculty is drawn from the Departments of Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
A strong grasp of underlying physical principles behind the development of new technologies is necessary to keep up with new developments in a high-tech world. The B.S. in Engineering Physics program is designed to provide quality education to students for immediate employment with technical jobs in private industries (especially high-tech industries), research laboratories, and public sectors. The program trains students with a combination of engineering knowledge, physics principles, mathematical background, problem-solving strategies, and effective communication skills. The B.S. in Engineering Physics also provides an excellent preparation for graduate studies in either physics or an engineering discipline.
The B.S. in Engineering Physics confers an engineering credential. Students in the program complete an engineering core curriculum, as well as a rigorous course of study in physics and mathematics. A strong laboratory component prepares students in experimental techniques and technology using state-of-the-art equipment.
The goals of the program are:
- to give students a strong education in the fundamentals of physics, engineering, applied mathematics, and computation;
- to develop skill in real-world problem solving starting from fundamental physical principles;
- to improve communication skills; and
- to develop ability to work in a team.
The student must choose one of four concentrations in Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering. The requirements are listed below. Students must earn a C or better in all required courses.
REQUIREMENTS FOR AEROSPACE CONCENTRATION
GENERAL EDUCATION
State of New Mexico Common Core (37 credits)
Area I: Communications (10 credits)
| ENGL 111, Rhetoric and Composition | 4 |
| Written Communications Elective | 3 |
| Oral Communications Elective | 3 |
Area II: Mathematics (4 credits)
| MATH 191, Calculus I | 4 |
Area III: Natural Science (8 credits)
| PHYS 213, Mechanics (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 214, Electricity and Magnetism (w/lab) | 4 |
Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 or 9 credits*)
| Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology electives | 6-9 |
Area V: Humanities & Fine Arts (6 or 9 credits*)
| History, Philosophy, Literature, Art, Music, Dance, Theater, or Foreign Language electives | 6-9 |
Institution Specific General Education (3 or 6 credits**)
| Viewing a Wider World Elective | 3-6 |
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (90 credits)
Mathematics (10 credits)
| MATH 192, Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 392, Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
Natural Science (4 credits)
| CHEM 111G, General Chemistry I | 4 |
Electives (3 credits)
| PHYS, A E, or M E elective | 3 |
Physics (28 credits)
| PHYS 217, Heat, Light, and Sound (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics (w/Lab) | 6 |
| PHYS 395, Intermediate Mathematical Methods of Physics | 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 475, Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
Engineering (45 credits)
| A E 339, Aerodynamics I | 3 |
| A E 362, Orbital Mechanics and Space Environment | 3 |
| A E 363, Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| A E 364, Flight Dynamics and Controls | 3 |
| A E 419, Propulsion | 3 |
| A E 424, Aerospace Systems Engineering | 3 |
| A E 428, Aerospace Capstone Design | 3 |
| A E 439, Aerodynamics II | 3 |
| A E 447, Aerofluids Laboratory | 3 |
| C E 301, Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| M E 102, Mechanical Engineering Orientation | 1 |
| M E 159, Graphical Communication and Design | 2 |
| M E 236, Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| M E 237, Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| M E 240, Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 345, Experimental Methods I | 3 |
* Students must complete 15 total credits from Area IV and V, with at least six credits from each area.
** See Alternatives for Meeting VWW requirements (nine-credit rule).
REQUIREMENTS FOR CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION
GENERAL EDUCATION
State of New Mexico Common Core (37 credits)
Area I: Communications (10 credits)
| ENGL 111, Rhetoric and Composition | 4 |
| Written Communications Elective | 3 |
| Oral Communications Elective | 3 |
Area II: Mathematics (4 credits)
| MATH 191, Calculus I | 4 |
Area III: Natural Science (8 credits)
| PHYS 213, Mechanics (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 214, Electricity and Magnetism (w/lab) | 4 |
Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 or 9 credits*)
| Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology electives | 6-9 |
Area V: Humanities & Fine Arts (6 or 9 credits*)
| History, Philosophy, Literature, Art, Music, Dance, Theater, or Foreign Language electives | 6-9 |
Institution Specific General Education (3 or 6 credits**)
| Viewing a Wider World Elective 3- | 6 |
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (91 credits)
Mathematics (10 credits)
| MATH 192, Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 392, Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
Natural Science (20 credits)
| CHEM 115, Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 116, Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 313, Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 314, Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 315, Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 371, Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
Electives (3 credits)
| PHYS 395 or CH E elective | 3 |
Physics (28 credits)
| PHYS 217, Heat, Light, and Sound (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics (w/Lab) | 6 |
| PHYS 451, Intermediate Mechanics I | 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 475, Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
Engineering (30 credits)
| CH E 111, Computer Calculations in Chemical Engineering | 3 |
| CH E 201, Material and Energy Balances | 4 |
| CH E 301, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| CH E 302, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II (w/lab) | 4 |
| CH E 305, Transport Operations I: Fluid Flow | 3 |
| CH E 306, Transport Operations II: Heat and Mass Transfer | 3 |
| CH E 307, Transport Operations III: Staged Operations | 3 |
| CH E 352 L, Simulation of Unit Operations | 1 |
| CH E 361, Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CH E 441, Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering | 3 |
* Students must complete 15 total credits from Area IV and V, with at least six credits from each area.
** See Alternatives for Meeting VWW requirements (nine-credit rule).
Students who wish to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination are encouraged to take CH E 490, Senior Seminar.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL CONCENTRATION
GENERAL EDUCATION
State of New Mexico Common Core (37 credits)
Area I: Communications (10 credits)
| ENGL 111, Rhetoric and Composition | 4 |
| Written Communications Elective | 3 |
| Oral Communications Elective | 3 |
Area II: Mathematics (4 credits)
| MATH 191, Calculus I | 4 |
Area III: Natural Science (8 credits)
| PHYS 213, Mechanics (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 214, Electricity and Magnetism (w/lab) | 4 |
Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 or 9 credits*)
| Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology electives | 6-9 |
Area V: Humanities & Fine Arts (6 or 9 credits*)
| History, Philosophy, Literature, Art, Music, Dance, Theater, or Foreign Language, electives | 6-9 |
Institution Specific General Education (3 or 6** credits)
| Viewing a Wider World Elective | 3-6 |
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (90 credits)
Mathematics (10 credits)
| MATH 192, Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 392, Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
Natural Science (4 credits)
| CHEM 111G, General Chemistry I | 4 |
Electives (15 credits)
| Either: | |
| PHYS 461, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| AND PHYS 462, Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
OR
| E E 310, Engineering Analysis II | 3 |
| AND E E 351, Applied Electromagnetics | 3 |
AND
| Additional PHYS or E E electives | 9 |
Physics (28 credits)
| PHYS 217, Heat, Light, and Sound (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics (w/Lab) | 6 |
| PHYS 395, Intermediate Mathematical Methods of Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 451, Intermediate Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 454, Intermediate Modern Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 455, Intermediate Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 475, Advanced Experimental Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 480, Thermodynamics | 3 |
Engineering (33 credits)
| E E 161, Computer Aided Problem Solving | 4 |
| E E 162, Digital Circuit Design | 4 |
| E E 210, Engineering Analysis I | 4 |
| E E 260, Embedded Systems | 4 |
| E E 280, DC and AC Circuits | 4 |
| E E 312, Signals and Systems I | 3 |
| E E 380, Electronics I | 4 |
| E E 418, Capstone Design I | 3 |
| E E 419, Capstone Design II | 3 |
* Students must complete 15 total credits from Area IV and V, with at least six credits from each area.
** See Alternatives for Meeting VWW requirements (nine-credit rule).
REQUIREMENTS FOR MECHANICAL CONCENTRATION
GENERAL EDUCATION
State of New Mexico Common Core (37 credits)
Area I: Communications (10 credits)
| ENGL 111, Rhetoric and Composition | 4 |
| Written Communications Elective | 3 |
| Oral Communications Elective | 3 |
Area II: Mathematics (4 credits)
| MATH 191, Calculus I | 4 |
Area III: Natural Science (8 credits)
| PHYS 213, Mechanics (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 214, Electricity and Magnetism (w/lab) | 4 |
Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 or 9 credits*)
| Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology electives | 6-9 |
Area V: Humanities & Fine Arts (6 or 9 credits*)
| History, Philosophy, Literature, Art, Music, Dance, Theater, or Foreign Language electives | 6-9 |
Institution Specific General Education (3 or 6** credits)
| Viewing a Wider World Elective | 3-6 |
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (89 credits)
Mathematics (10 credits)
| MATH 192, Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 3 |
| MATH 392, Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
Natural Science (4 credits)
| CHEM 111G, General Chemistry I | 4 |
Electives (9 credits)
| PHYS 451, Intermediate Mechanics or M E 333, Intermediate Dynamics | 3 |
| PHYS or M E electives | 6 |
Physics (28 credits)
| PHYS 217, Heat, Light, and Sound (w/Lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 315, Modern Physics (w/Lab) | 6 |
| PHYS 395, Intermediate Mathematical Methods of Physics | 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 475, Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
Engineering (38 credits)
| C E 301, Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| M E 102, Mechanical Engineering Orientation | 1 |
| M E 159, Graphical Communication and Design | 2 |
| M E 236, Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| M E 237, Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| M E 240, Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 261, Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving | 4 |
| M E 326, Mechanical Design | 3 |
| M E 328, Engineering Analysis I | 3 |
| M E 338, Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| M E 341, Heat Transfer | 3 |
| M E 426, Design Project Laboratory I | 3 |
| M E 427, Design Project Laboratory II | 3 |
| M E 449, Mechanical Engineering Senior Seminar | 1 |
* Students must complete 15 total credits from Area IV and V, with at least six credits from each area.
** See Alternatives for Meeting VWW requirements (nine-credit rule).