The paradigm below is one example of how you can begin your studies in this major. Consult your advisor on plans of study to complete the major. Students may use their elective credits to explore other majors or to enroll in skill-building courses in mathematics, reading, writing and/or study skills. With planning, students may use these credits to complete a minor, enroll in a practicum or internship, or study abroad.
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It is the responsibility of the student to complete all major and university requirements. Please refer to the university catalog for additional information regarding this major. Course title and content is subject to change. Not all courses are offered each semester or year. Please consult with your major advisor for the most current information.
Students enrolled in the Lasallian Honors Program should consult the program director for the appropriate sequence of courses.
(From the 11-13 Catalog)
A. Physics Core
All of the following courses:
(Either M148 & M149 or M151)
C131 - General Chemistry I (3 credits)
This course covers the fundamental principles upon which the study of chemistry is based. Stoichiometry, atomic structure, molecular structure, chemical bonding, behavior of gases, kinetic molecular theory, properties of solutions, chemical reactivity and thermochemistry are included. Three hours of lecture per week.
Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: M149, or grade of C or better in M148 with concurrent enrollment in M149, or M151 placement; concurrent with C133.
C133 - General Chemistry I Laboratory (1 credit)
This laboratory is an inquiry-based approach to understanding the process of doing chemistry. Each week, as a team member with a specific role working for a consulting company, the student receives a letter from a "chemical client" requesting the solution to a chemical problem. It is the responsibility of the team to design a solution, collect data, and report the results to the client in report form.
Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: concurrent with C131.
C142 - General Chemistry II (3 credits)
This course includes the study of the chemistry of redox reactions, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium theory, electrochemistry, chemical dynamics, organic chemistry, phase behavior and solution chemistry. Three hours of lecture per week.
Offered spring semester. Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in C131/133 and concurrent with C144.
C144 - General Chemistry II Laboratory (1 credit)
This laboratory is an inquiry-based approach to understanding the process of doing chemistry. Each week, as a team member with a specific role working for a consulting company, the student receives a letter from a "chemical client" requesting the solution to a chemical problem. It is the responsibility of the team to design a solution, collect data, and report the results to the client in report form.
Offered spring semester. Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in C131/133 and concurrent with C142.
M148 - Calculus with Precalculus I (4 credits)
This course, followed by M149, provides a two-semester sequence that covers the material of a traditional Calculus I course along with built-in coverage of precalculus topics. Topics in M148 include: solving equations, functions, classes of functions (polynomial, rational, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic), right triangle trigonometry, angle measure, limits and continuity, derivatives, rules for derivatives. Credit is not granted for this course and M151 or courses equivalent to college algebra and college trigonometry.
Prerequisite: mathematics competency satisfied.
M149 - Calculus with Precalculus II (4 credits)
This course completes the two-semester sequence that begins with M148, and together with M148 provides a two-semester sequence that covers the material of a traditional Calculus I course along with built-in coverage of precalculus topics. Topics in M149 include: trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions, rules for derivatives, applications of derivatives, and definite and indefinite integrals. Credit is not granted for this course and M151.
Prerequisite: M148.
This course provides an introduction to the differential and integral calculus. Topics include: the concepts of function, limit, continuity, derivative, definite and indefinite integrals, and an introduction to transcendental functions.
Credit cannot be granted for this course and M308 or M309.Prerequisites: M115 and M116, or departmental placement.
M152 - Calculus II (4 credits)
This course is a continuation of M151. Some of the topics of M151 are revisited at a higher mathematical level. Topics include: limits, differentiation, applications of the definite integral, inverse trigonometric functions, techniques of integration, improper integrals, indeterminate forms, numerical methods for integration and approximation, curves in the plane given parametrically, polar coordinates, and vectors in 2-space and 3-space.
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in either M149 or M151 or departmental placement.
M251 - Calculus III (4 credits)
This course continues the development of Calculus from M151 and M152. Topics include: sequences and series, conic sections, and differentiation and integration of functions of several variables.
Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in M152.
P201 - Introductory Physics I (3 credits)
This course is the first half of a two-semester introductory, calculus-based, physics course for all students planning to enter one of the scientific professions. It covers the fundamental principles of mechanics, oscillations, and fluid mechanics.
Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: M149 or M151 (M151 may be concurrent) and concurrent with P202.
P202 - Introductory Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)
One three-hour laboratory is held each week covering topics studied in the lectures.
Offered fall semester. Concurrent with P201.
P211 - Introductory Physics II (3 credits)
This course is the second half of a two-semester introductory, calculus-based, physics course for all students planning to enter one of the scientific professions. It covers the fundamental principles of waves, physical and geometrical optics, and electricity and magnetism.
Offered spring semester. Prerequisites: P201/202; concurrent with P212.
P212 - Introductory Physics II Laboratory (1 credit)
One three-hour laboratory is held each week covering topics studied in the lectures.
Offered spring semester. Concurrent with P211.
P304 - Introduction to Modern Physics with Laboratory (4 credits)
This course considers atomic and nuclear physics and studies the experimental evidence that led to the development of the theories of quantum mechanics. The special theory of relativity, wave particle duality, and atomic structure are also examined. Students meet for three lectures and one three-hour lab per week.
Offered in alternate fall semesters. Prerequisites: M152 and P211/212.
B. All of the following:
CS106 - Introduction to Programming for Sciences (3 credits)
This course teaches introductory programming within a problem solving framework applicable to the sciences. The course emphasizes technical programming, introductory data storage techniques, and the processing of scientific data. There is an emphasis on designing and writing correct code using an easy to learn scientific programming language such as Python. Advanced excel spreadsheet concepts will be taught and utilized during the programming process.
Prerequisite: mathematics competency.
M252 - Linear Algebra (4 credits)
This course provides an introduction to techniques and applications of linear algebra. Topics include: systems of linear equations, matrices, determinants, Euclidean n-space, real vector spaces, basis and dimension, linear transformations, inner products, and eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
Offered spring semester. Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in M152.
P314 - Digital Systems with Laboratory (4 credits)
This is a course on digital electronics and its applications in modern electronic instrumentation. Emphasis is placed on gaining experience with the use of individual digital integrated circuits and programmable arrays. The course covers Boolean algebra, simple gates, combinational and sequential logic circuits, counters, shift registers, state machines, astable multivibrators, encoding, decoding, multiplexing, and conversion between analog and digital representations. Coursework involves both circuit simulation and actual hardware implementations. The course targets applications in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Offered in alternate fall semesters. Prerequisites: P211/212.
P340 - Classical Mechanics (3 credits)
This course is an analytical study of Newtonian mechanics, including the harmonic oscillator, central force motion, non-linear oscillators, and an introduction to the Lagrangian formulation.
Offered in alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: M152 and P201/202.
P390 - Advanced Laboratory I (1 credit)
This course is generally taken during the senior year, although it may be taken earlier. Students either submit a project to be explored or constructed, perform a series of measurements and subsequent data analysis on an already-existing apparatus, or undertake a computational or theoretical project under the guidance of the laboratory instructor. The project must include a significant writing component.
Prerequisites: minimum junior standing and P304.
C. Two of the following:
P344 - Mathematical Methods for Science (3 credits)
This course serves physics majors as well as those mathematics majors whose area of interest is analysis. Topics include: Fourier series, complex numbers, analytic functions, and derivatives and integrals of complex functions. Other topics may include Laurent series and residues, partial differential equations, and boundary value problems.
Offered in alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: M251 and M252.
P360 - Electricity and Magnetism I (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to the physics of electricity and magnetism at the intermediate undergraduate level. It examines the experimental evidence that led to the development of the theories of electromagnetism (electrostatics, polarization and dielectrics, magnetostatics and magnetization, electrodynamics, electromagnetic waves, potentials and fields, and radiation) and the development of Maxwell's laws. The mathematical analysis of electromagnetic situations uses vector calculus to a great degree, so students also are exposed to working with a variety of vector operators.
Offered in alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: M251 and P211/212.
P370 - Microcontroller Organization and Architecture with Laboratory (4 credits)
The course covers the PIC18F4520 and Arduino microcontrollers as a paradigmatic microprocessor; other devices may be used as well. A brief survey of number systems, logic gates and Boolean algebra are followed by a study of the structure of microprocessors and the architecture of microprocessor systems. Programming microprocessors and the use of an assembler and a higher-level language (C) is covered. Peripheral interface devices are studied along with some wired logic circuits. Students gain experience through the use of microprocessor simulators and hardware implementations.
Offered in alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: CS106 and P314.
P380 - Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
This course expands on the ideas of quantum mechanics introduced in P304, and develops the necessary formalisms and tools for further work. Topics include the Schrödinger equation in its time-independent and time-dependent forms, an introduction to operators, square-well and harmonic oscillator potentials, scattering, the hydrogen atom, angular momentum, and perturbation theory.
Offered in alternate fall semesters. Prerequisites: M252 and P304.
Recommended electives:
M341 - Differential Equations with Applications (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the theory, methods, and applications of ordinary differential equations. Topics include: first order differential equations, linear differential equations with constant coefficients, and systems of differential equations.
Prerequisites: M251 and M252 (may be concurrent).
P356 - Introduction to Scientific Computing (3 credits)
A course designed to provide undergraduates students with the basic computational tools and techniques needed for their study in science and mathematics. Students learn by doing projects that solve problems in physical sciences and mathematics using symbolic and compiled languages with visualization. By use of the Sage problem-solving environment and the Python programming language, the students learn programming and numerical analysis in parallel with scientific problem solving.
Also offered as CS356 and M356. Prerequisites: CS106, M251, M252 and ST232.











