Physics and Astronomy
Faculty
Professors: Blaisten-Barojas, Dworzecka (chair),
Ehrlich, Ellsworth, Kafatos, Lankford, Lieb, Satija,
Trefil (Robinson Professor)
Associate professors: Becker, Ceperley, Evans, Wallin
Assistant professors: Gluckman, McIntyre, So
Visiting assistant professors: Kowalski, Oerter
Visiting instructor: Ewell
Course Work
The Physics and Astronomy Department offers all
course work designated ASTR and PHYS in the "Course
Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
Physics, B.S.
In addition to the general requirements for the B.S.,
candidates must complete a total of 45 credits in the major
and 20 in mathematics, divided as follows:
- Required (21 credits): PHYS 160, 260, 261, 262,
263, 305, 308, and 407 (Engineering-physics double
majors may substitute ECE 305 for PHYS 305 and ECE
333, 334 for 407.)
- Twelve credits chosen from PHYS 251, 303, 306,
307, 402, 408 or 409, 416, and ASTR 328 or 428
- Twelve credits chosen from PHYS 121, 122, 123,
124, CS 112, or any approved upper-level physics,
astronomy, chemistry, electrical engineering, or mathematics courses
- Required (20 credits): MATH 113, 114, 203, 213,
214, and 313 or 413 or STAT 344
The requirements for the B.S. in Physics prepare
students for graduate school or for one of the many careers in
business or industry in which physics graduates are
employed. In meeting the requirement for 12 credits outside the
core, students have the option of electing an area of
emphasis. The courses required for each emphasis are listed
below. Students who wish to complete an emphasis should plan
a program of study in consultation with their advisor.
Emphasis in Graduate School Preparatory
Although any of the options listed here provide the
successful student with a fully adequate background to enter
graduate school, this emphasis is for the student whose
career goals definitely include graduate work in physics. To
complete this emphasis, the student should take at least
nine credits from the following courses: PHYS 510, 512,
540, and ASTR 530. In addition, the student should complete
a senior project (PHYS 408) in the specialty that he or
she intends to pursue in graduate school.
Emphasis in Computational Physics
This emphasis is for the student who wishes to pursue
a career that applies computers to the solution of physical
problems and data analysis. To complete this emphasis, the
student should take at least nine credits from the
following courses: PHYS 510, ECE 442, MATH 446 and 447. In
addition, the student should complete a senior project
(PHYS 408) on a problem that involves the use of the computer for
the solution of a physical problem.
Emphasis in Astrophysics
This emphasis is for the student who is planning to
attend graduate school in astrophysics or pursue a career in
industry. To complete this emphasis, the student should select
four courses from the following: PHYS 428, ASTR 328, 530,
532, 535, and MATH 446. In addition, the student should
complete a senior project (PHYS 408) on an astrophysics problem.
Emphasis in Electronics
This emphasis is for the student who wishes to pursue
a career in industry applying a strong background in
electronics to physical problems. To complete this emphasis, the
student should take at least nine credits from the
following courses: ECE 301, 333, 430, 431, and 433. In addition,
the student should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) on
an electronics problem.
Emphasis in Applied Solid State Physics
This emphasis is for the student who wishes to pursue
a career in the semiconductor industry. To complete this
emphasis, the student should take the following courses:
PHYS 512, ECE 430, and ECE 431. In addition, the student should
complete a senior project (PHYS 408 or 409) in applied
solid state physics.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least
one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at
the 300 level or above. Students majoring in physics may
fulfill this requirement by successfully completing PHYS 416.
Teacher Licensure (Certification)
Students who want to become elementary or
secondary school teachers should consult the sections on licensure
(certification) found in the catalog in the "Graduate School
of Education" chapter. Those planning to become
secondary school teachers should consult with the secondary
education advisor in their departments.
Minor in Physics
A minor in physics requires 18 credits, including PHYS
160, 260, 261, 262, and 263, and any two courses from
PHYS 303, 306, 307, 308, 402, 428, and 305 or 513.
Minor in Astronomy
A minor in astronomy requires the completion of a
physics prerequisite and 15 credits in astronomy. The
prerequisite consists of one of the two sequences PHYS 243, 244,
245, 246; or PHYS 160, 260, 261, 262, 263. Following the
introductory physics sequence, students are required to
take ASTR 111, 112, 113, 114; PHYS 416; and two
astronomy courses chosen from ASTR 228, 328, 428, and 530.
Premedical, Predental, and Preveterinary Students
Students planning to enter medical, dental, or
veterinary schools may choose to major in physics. Such
students should consult with the premedical advisor for
physics. Requirements for admission to schools in the health
sciences vary, but one year of biology and organic
chemistry (CHEM 313, 314, 315, and 318 or 320) is required in
addition to a B.S. in Physics.
Honors Students
The general education requirements for the B.S. may be
satisfied by the successful completion of the Honors
Program in General Education. See the Honors Program section
of this chapter and see the Honors office for sample
schedules for majors in physics.
Physics for Majors
Students who intend to major in physics should take
the physics introductory sequence (PHYS 160, 260, 261 or
265, 262, 263). However, students who decide to major in
physics after completing PHYS 243 and 245 may do so but
only with written permission of the Physics and
Astronomy Department. Such students are required to take at least
four additional credits in approved physics courses.
Physics for Nonmajors
PHYS 243, 244, 245, and 246 are recommended for
biology, chemistry, geology, and premedical students and
for mathematics students who seek a bachelor of arts
degree. PHYS 106 and 107 are also recommended for biology
majors. PHYS 101, 102, 103, and 104 are intended
for nonscience majors. PHYS 160, 260, 261 or 265, 262,
263 constitute a calculus-based sequence in general physics
to be taken by physics and engineering majors and
chemistry, computer science, and mathematics students who pursue
a bachelor of science degree. Students may receive credit
for only one of the following three sequences: 243, 244,
245, 246; or 103, 104; or 160, 260, 261, 262, 263.
Graduate Program
Applied and Engineering Physics, M.S.
The Master of Science in Applied and Engineering
Physics contains both elements of traditional physics programs
and the application of physics to a diversity of critical
societal problems. The program is divided into two emphases.
The applied physics emphasis is intended for those who wish
to apply the techniques and subject areas of physics to
multifaceted problems encountered in the work place,
particularly in physics, engineering, computational science, and
other related areas. The engineering physics emphasis,
jointly administered with the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, allows students to select a larger
fraction of courses from electrical engineering.
All courses are offered during late afternoon or evening
hours to allow students with full-time employment to attend
easily. Persons employed at area high-technology
organizations may take up to 6 credits (out of 30) for work done on the
job under the guidance of a faculty member. This
employment-related research may be conducted either under an
optional three-credit research project or an optional six-credit
master's thesis. Master's students who are not employed full time
may apply for financial aid or for a limited number of
research assistantships.
Admission Requirements
Those holding a baccalaureate degree in physics or a
related field from an accredited institution and who earned a
GPA of 2.750 (out of 4.000) in their last 60 credits are invited
to apply for admission. If the baccalaureate degree is in a
field other than physics, the applicant should have taken
several courses beyond the introductory physics courses, such
as junior-level classical mechanics, electricity and
magnetism, or electronics. An applicant may be required to make
up one or two deficiencies, based on a graduate
physics advisor's assessment, and still be permitted to enroll in
the program. Two letters of recommendation must be
submitted, preferably from former professors. The general
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the GRE subject test
in physics are recommended for applicants who received
their baccalaureate degrees within the last five years. A less
recent bachelor's recipient may wish to present a statement of
his/her work experience in lieu of the GRE.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for the degree must successfully
complete 30credits as follows:
- For both emphases within the program, a nine-credit
core consisting of PHYS 510, 513, and 732 or 736.
- For the applied physics emphasis, any three of the
following courses: PHYS 512, 533, 540, 575, 612, 613,
620, 676, 701, 705, 711, 722, 728, 732, and 736; ASTR
530, 761, 764, 765, and 766.
- For the engineering physics emphasis, PHYS 533 and
any six credits in electrical engineering (ECE) courses.
- Electives amounting to 12 credits may be chosen
from courses in physics, chemistry, mathematics,
engineering, information technology, and computational sciences
and informatics. However, no more than six credits may
be chosen from areas outside PHYS, ASTR, CSI, and
ECE. No more than six credits of PHYS 799 may be applied
to satisfy degree requirements.
- Credit may be received for eitherECE/PHYS
798 Research Project (three credits) or ECE/PHYS
799 Master's Thesis (six credits), but not both. The
research project may be performed at a student's place of
employment with the concurrence of a faculty advisor. The
thesis is a more substantial piece of work performed
under the supervision of a major professor and requires the
student to make an oral defense. ECE/PHYS 798 may
be taken only once.
Computational Sciences and Informatics, Ph.D.
Areas of concentration in computational physics and in
space sciences and computational astrophysics exist as part of
the doctoral program in computational sciences and
informatics (see the "Institute for Computational Sciences
and Informatics" chapter for degree and admission requirements).
George Mason University:1999-2000 University Catalog: Catalog Index: College of Arts and Sciences: Physics and Astronomy |
