Program Details | Physics BA/BS

In addition to meeting all university requirements for the bachelor's degree, the following outlines the requirements for the BA/BS degree in Physics. Students will choose from either the standard, environmental, biomedical or engineering physics option, which provides the flexibility to take courses that best fit your interests and career goals:

Standard Option: Standard physics gives a strong background in physics. Courses focus on force and motion, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and the physical properties of materials, learning both the theoretical and the experimental aspects. The standard option is for student who pursue a traditional physics undergraduate degree towards graduate programs and careers in physics, engineering, and related physical sciences.
Environmental Option: Environmental physics explores the measurement and analysis of interactions between organisms and their environment. Courses include physics courses and electives from biology, chemistry, geology, geography, and environmental science and management. The environmental physics track is designed for students who wish to pursue graduate studies or careers in atmospheric, climate and geophysical sciences, energy science, and green technology.
Biomedical Option: Biomedical physics focuses on the application of physics concepts, theories, and methods to medicine and healthcare. Courses include Physics in Biomedicine and Radiation Therapy Physics, as well as electives from biology and chemistry. The biomedical option is for students who want to enter a professional career in biophysics, biomedical engineering, medical physics, or the healthcare field.
Engineering Option: Engineering physics is intended for students who plan to work in engineering and applied physics fields in high-tech industries. Courses include physics courses and electives from computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

It is important that students planning to major in physics contact the Department of Physics prior to the start of their work in order that a coherent program can be planned with their assigned adviser.

Students planning to transfer to PSU from community colleges or other universities are strongly advised to contact the Department of Physics well ahead of their proposed date of transfer so that a smooth transition, which avoids course duplication and untimely delays, can be accomplished.

Standard Option

Course Number and Title	Credits
Ph 201 General Physics I	4
Ph 202 General Physics II	4
Ph 203 General Physics III	4
or
Ph 211 General Physics (with Calculus) I	4
Ph 212 General Physics (with Calculus) II	4
Ph 213 General Physics (with Calculus) III	4
or
Ph 221 General Physics (with Calculus) I	3
Ph 222 General Physics (with Calculus) II	3
Ph 223 General Physics (with Calculus) III	3
with
Ph 214 Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231	1
Ph 215 Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232	1
Ph 216 Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233	1

Ph 311 Introduction to Modern Physics I	4
Ph 312 Introduction to Modern Physics II	4
Ph 314 Experimental Physics I	4
Ph 315 Experimental Physics II	4
Ph 316 Experimental Physics III	4
Ph 322 Computational Physics	4
Ph 424 Classical Mechanics I	4
Ph 426 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	4
Ph 431 Electricity and Magnetism I	4

Mth 251 Calculus I	4
Mth 252 Calculus II	4
Mth 253 Calculus III	4
Mth 254 Calculus IV	4
Mth 256 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations	4
Mth 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra	4

One year of general chemistry:
Ch 221 General Chemistry I	4
Ch 222 General Chemistry II	4
Ch 223 General Chemistry III	4
Ch 227 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 228 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 229 General Chemistry Laboratory	1

At least two of the following courses:
Ph 411 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics	4
Ph 412 Quantum Mechanics II	4
Ph 425 Classical Mechanics II	4
Ph 432 Electricity and Magnetism II	4
Ph 434 Methods of Mathematical Physics	4
Ph 464 Applied Optics	4

Two courses in a related area of science or technology (minimum 6 credits total):
biology, geology, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, or physics	6
Total Credit Hours:	101-104

Environmental Option

Course Number and Title	Credits
Ph 201 General Physics I	4
Ph 202 General Physics II	4
Ph 203 General Physics III	4
or
Ph 211 General Physics (with Calculus) I	4
Ph 212 General Physics (with Calculus) II	4
Ph 213 General Physics (with Calculus) III	4
or
Ph 221 General Physics (with Calculus) I	3
Ph 222 General Physics (with Calculus) II	3
Ph 223 General Physics (with Calculus) III	3
with
Ph 214 Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231	1
Ph 215 Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232	1
Ph 216 Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233	1

Ph 311 Introduction to Modern Physics I	4
Ph 312 Introduction to Modern Physics II	4
Ph 314 Experimental Physics I	4
Ph 322 Computational Physics	4
Ph 426 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	4
Ph 431 Electricity and Magnetism I	4
Ph 471/ESM 471 Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change	4

Mth 251 Calculus I	4
Mth 252 Calculus II	4
Mth 253 Calculus III	4
Mth 254 Calculus IV	4
Mth 256 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations	4
Mth 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra	4
Stat 451 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I	4

One year of general chemistry:
Ch 221 General Chemistry I	4
Ch 222 General Chemistry II	4
Ch 223 General Chemistry III	4
Ch 227 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 228 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 229 General Chemistry Laboratory	1

Choose two of the following courses:
Ph 315 Experimental Physics II	4
Ph 316 Experimental Physics III	4
Ph 411 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics	4
Ph 424 Classical Mechanics I	4
Ph 432 Electricity and Magnetism II	4
Ph 434 Methods of Mathematical Physics	4
Ph 464 Applied Optics	4
Ph 473 Alternative Energies	4
Ph 490 Cellular and Molecular Biophysics	4

Choose 12 credits of electives from the following:
Bi 211 Principles of Biology: Biology of Cells	4
Bi 212 Principles of Biology: The biology of organisms	4
Bi 213 Principles of Biology: Evolution and ecology of living organisms	4
Bi 214 Principles of Biology Lab I	1
Bi 215 Principles of Biology Lab II	1
Bi 216 Principles of Biology Lab III	1
Bi 357 General Ecology	4
Bi 476 Population Ecology	5
Ch 360U Origins of Life on Earth	4
Ch 426 Instrumental Analysis	4
Ch 427 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory	4
CE 371 Environmental Engineering	4
ESM 220 Introduction to Environmental Systems	4
ESM 221 Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving	4
ESM 222 Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration	4
ESM 320 Environmental Systems I	4
ESM 321 Environmental Systems II	4
ESM 322 Environmental Risk Assessment	4
ESM 324 Environmental Systems Laboratory II	2
ESM 460/CE 488 Air Quality	4
G 322 Global Biogeochemical Cycles	5
G 351 Introduction to Oceanography	4
G 426 Numerical Modeling of Earth Systems with G 426L Lab for G 426	4
G 434 Structural Geology and Tectonics	5
G 458 Astrobiology	4
G 462 Hillslope Materials and Processes	4
G 476 Earthquake Geology	4
Geog 310U/Sci 333U Climate and Water Resources	4
Geog 311U Climatology	4
Geog 312U/Sci 334U Climate Variability and Change	4
Geog 314U Severe Weather	4
ME 320 Fluid Mechanics	4
ME 415 Advanced Topics in Energy Conversion	4
ME 426 Solar Engineering	4
Ph 333U/Geog 333U Weather	4
Total Credit Hours:	103-106

Biomedical Option

Course Number and Title	Credits
Ph 201 General Physics I	4
Ph 202 General Physics II	4
Ph 203 General Physics III	4
or
Ph 211 General Physics (with Calculus) I	4
Ph 212 General Physics (with Calculus) II	4
Ph 213 General Physics (with Calculus) III	4
or
Ph 231 General Physics I with Life Science and Medical Applications	4
Ph 232 General Physics II with Life Science and Medical Applications	4
Ph 233 General Physics III with Life Science and Medical Applications	4
with
Ph 214 Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231	1
Ph 215 Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232	1
Ph 216 Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233	1

Ph 311 Introduction to Modern Physics I	4
Ph 312 Introduction to Modern Physics II	4
Ph 314 Experimental Physics I	4
Ph 316 Experimental Physics III	4
Ph 322 Computational Physics	4
Ph 426 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	4

Required non-physics courses:
Bi 211 Principles of Biology: Biology of Cells	4
Bi 214 Principles of Biology Lab I	1
Ch 221 General Chemistry I	4
Ch 222 General Chemistry II	4
Ch 223 General Chemistry III	4
Ch 227 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 228 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 229 General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Ch 334 Organic Chemistry I	4
Ch 337 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	2
Mth 251 Calculus I	4
Mth 252 Calculus II	4
Mth 253 Calculus III	4
Mth 254 Calculus IV	4
Mth 256 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations	4
Mth 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra	4

At least 12 credits of the following electives:
a) Courses particularly recommended for pre-professionals in biophysics, biomedical engineering, medical physics:
Ph 315 Experimental Physics II	4
Ph 337 Physics in Biomedicine	4
Ph 411 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics	4
Ph 424 Classical Mechanics I	4
Ph 431 Electricity and Magnetism I	4
Ph 432 Electricity and Magnetism II	4
Ph 464 Applied Optics	4
Ph 490 Cellular and Molecular Biophysics	4

b) Courses particularly recommended for pre-health care professionals:
Bi 212 Principles of Biology: The biology of organisms	4
Bi 212 Principles of Biology: Evolution and ecology of living organisms	4
Bi 215 Principles of Biology Lab II	1
Bi 216 Principles of Biology Lab III	1
Bi 301 Human Anatomy and Physiology	4
Bi 302 Human Anatomy and Physiology	4
Bi 303 Human Anatomy and Physiology	4
Ch 335 Organic Chemistry II	4
Ch 336 Organic Chemistry III	4
Ch 338 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (nonmajors)	4
Ph 337 Physics in Biomedicine	4
Ph 490 Cellular and Molecular Biophysics	4

Please see the undergraduate adviser to register for the following OHSU substitute courses:
RDTT 331 Radiation Therapy Physics I	3
RDTT 430 Radiation Therapy Physics II	3
Total Credit Hours:	101

Engineering Physics Option

Course Number and Title	Credits
Ph 201 General Physics I	4
Ph 202 General Physics II	4
Ph 203 General Physics III	4
or
Ph 211 General Physics (with Calculus) I	4
Ph 212 General Physics (with Calculus) II	4
Ph 213 General Physics (with Calculus) III	4
with
Ph 214 Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221 or Ph 231	1
Ph 215 Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222 or Ph 232	1
Ph 216 Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223 or Ph 233	1

Ph 311 Introduction to Modern Physics I	4
Ph 312 Introduction to Modern Physics II	4

Ph 319 Solid State Physics for Engineering Students	4
or
Ph 413 Introduction to Solid State Physics	4

Ph 314 Experimental Physics I	4
Ph 315 Experimental Physics II	4
Ph 316 Experimental Physics III	4
Ph 322 Computational Physics	4
Ph 426 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	4
Ph 431 Electricity and Magnetism I	4
Mth 251 Calculus I	4
Mth 252 Calculus II	4
Mth 253 Calculus III	4
Mth 254 Calculus IV	4
Mth 256 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations	4
Mth 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra	4

At least four of the following electives:
Ph 401 Research	4
Ph 402 Independent Study	4
Ph 411 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics	4
Ph 424 Classical Mechanics I	4
Ph 432 Electricity and Magnetism II	4
Ph 434 Methods of Mathematical Physics	4
Ph 440 Physics of Solid State Devices	4
Ph 445 Microelectronic Device Fabrication I	4
Ph 464 Applied Optics	4
Ph 481 Introduction to Nano(materials)-Science and –Engineering	4
Ph 495 Materials Physics: Structure and Physical Properties of Ordered and Disordered Condensed Matter	4

Three courses in a related area of science or engineering (minimum 9 credits):
chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or statistics	9-12
Total Credit Hours:	100-103