Physics (B.S.)

Major

Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

Minimum Semester Hours required for the Physics Major: 76 semester hours

The Physics major comprises the following courses:

Students who have completed college-level, algebra-based physics courses (e.g., PHY 1151G, 1152G, 1161, 1162) should consult the department chair.

CHM 1310

General Chemistry I. (3 credits)

CHM 1315

General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)

CSM 2170

Computer Science I. (4 credits)

MAT 1441

Calculus and Analytic Geometry I. (5 credits)

MAT 2442

Calculus and Analytic Geometry II. (5 credits)

MAT 2443

Calculus and Analytic Geometry III. (4 credits)

MAT 2550

Introduction to Linear Algebra. (3 credits)

MAT 3501

Differential Equations I. (3 credits)

PHY 1001

Introduction to Physics and Engineering. (1 credits)

PHY 1351

General Physics I. (3 credits)

or PHY 1391G

PHY 1352

General Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)

or PHY 1392G

PHY 1361

General Physics II. (3 credits)

PHY 1362

General Physics II Laboratory. (1 credits)

PHY 1371

General Physics III. (3 credits)

PHY 1372

General Physics III Laboratory. (1 credits)

PHY 2450

Classical Dynamics. (3 credits)

PHY 3150

Electronics. (4 credits)

PHY 3415

Electricity and Magnetism I with Lab. (4 credits)

PHY 3420

Electricity and Magnetism II. (4 credits)

PHY 4000

Seminar in Physics. (1 credits)

PHY 4601

Research in Physics 1A.B,D,E,F,H,J,K,L,M (1 credits)

or PHY 4601B, D, E or PHY 4602A, B, D, E or PHY 4603A, B, D, E

(see footnote 1 and footnote 2)

PHY 4711

Experimental Physics I. (1 credits)

PHY 4712

Experimental Physics II. (1 credits)

PHY 4713

Experimental Physics III. (1 credits)

PHY 4750

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (3 credits)

PHY 4855

Quantum Mechanics. (3 credits)

PHY 4865

Advanced Quantum Mechanics. (3 credits)

Select at least one from the following 4 courses:

EGT 3103

Robots and Control Systems. (3 credits)

BUS 3010

Principles of Management. (3 credits)

ENG 3005

Technical Communication. (3 credits)

GEO 3430

Structural Geology. (3 credits)

Electives

And 3 semester hours of PHY electives, selected from the list below:

PHY 3350

Introduction to Solid State Physics. (3 credits)

PHY 4100

Astrophysics. (3 credits)

PHY 4320

Computational Physics. (4 credits)

PHY 4444

Honors Independent Study A. (3 credits)

or PHY 4444B or PHY 4444D

(See footnote 1)

PHY 4470

Optics. (4 credits)

PHY 4555

Honors Research. (3 credits)

(See footnote 1)

PHY 4800

Advanced Independent Study. (1 to 6 credits)

*Course Numbers: PHY 4800A, B, D-F, H-M, O-R, T-Y

(See footnote 1)

PHY 4780

Introduction to Plasma Physics. (3 credits)

Footnotes:

(Major GPA based on all physics courses taken at EIU.)

¹No more than 3 semester hours of PHY 4444*, PHY 4555, PHY 4600, 4601*, 4602*, 4603* and PHY 4800* in aggregate will count towards the Physics concentration electives.

² One semester hour of PHY 4601, 4602, or 4603 is required. It is suggested that students take more than one semester of these courses but additional semester hours will not count as electives.

Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.

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Physics (B.S.)

Major

The Physics major comprises the following courses:

Select at least one from the following 4 courses:

Electives

Footnotes:

CONNECT.

CONTACT US.

��������

Physics (B.S.)

Major

The Physics major comprises the following courses:

Select at least one from the following 4 courses:

Electives

Footnotes:

CONNECT.

CONTACT US.

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