• PHYS 1050

    How Things Work
     Rating

    4.28

     Difficulty

    3.03

     GPA

    3.12

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    For non-science majors. Introduces physics and science in everyday life, considering objects from our daily environment and focusing on their principles of operation, histories, and relationships to one another. 1050 is concerned primarily with mechanical and thermal objects, while 1060 emphasizes objects involving electromagnetism, light, special materials, and nuclear energy. They may be taken in either order.

  • PHYS 1660

    Practical Computing for the Physical Sciences
     Rating

    4.30

     Difficulty

    2.00

     GPA

    3.75

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    This course teaches how to use the computer to solve quantitative problems. This involves learning the skills to write computer programs dedicated to certain tasks, to visualize data graphically, to use scientific software, and to learn other practical skills that are important for a future career in the sciences.

  • PHYS 3250

    Applied Nuclear Physics
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    2.00

     GPA

    3.32

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Applications of nuclear physics and nuclear energy: Introduction to nuclear physics, radioactivity, radiation standards and units, interaction of radiation with matter, accelerators, x-ray generators, detectors, biological effects, nuclear medicine, nuclear fission and reactors, nuclear fusion. Three lecture hours. (Y) Prerequisite: PHYS 2620 or instructor permission.

  • PHYS 3620

    Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    2.65

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    The course will examine basic principles of simple theories for metals, the basics of crystallography and crystal structures, the reciprocal space, lattice vibrations, elastic properties of solids, electronic band structure, impurities and defects, dielectric properties, magnetism and superconductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 2620.

  • PHYS 5640

    Computational Physics II
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.69

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Advanced topics in computational physics including numerical methods for partial differential equations, Monte Carlo modeling, advanced methods for linear systems, and special topics in computational physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 5630, or instructor permission.

  • PHYS 3150

    Electronics Laboratory
     Rating

    4.44

     Difficulty

    3.50

     GPA

    3.34

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    The course begins by covering the fundamentals of analog and digital electronics, including the use of transistors, FET's, operational amplifiers, TTL, and CMOS integrated circuits. Following this students conduct projects with modern microcontroller boards (Arduino and Raspberry Pi) using the concepts and the experience gained from the prior fundamentals. Six laboratory hours. Prerequisite: PHYS 2040 or PHYS 2419.

  • PHYS 1930

    Physics in the 21st Century
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    1.00

     GPA

    3.84

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Overview of current areas of research in the broad discipline of physics, including the historical context of their development. Describes various career options in physics, including academia, government, and industry. Outlines the college physics curriculum and describes opportunities to participate in research at the university.

  • PHYS 2720

    Problem Solving and Special Topics in Classical Physics
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.69

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Develop and extend the techniques of introductory physics and calculus to solve more complicated problems. The course covers topics in mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, waves, and optics. Recommended prerequisites: PHYS 1420 or 1425; MATH 2310. Recommended co-requisites: PHYS 2410 or 2415; MATH 3250.

  • PHYS 5190

    Electronics Lab
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    2.00

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Practical electronics for scientists, from resistors to microprocessors. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

  • PHYS 5630

    Computational Physics I
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    5.00

     GPA

    3.47

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Surveys computational methods for problem solving in the physical sciences. Topics include numerical precision and efficiency, solutions of differential equations, optimization problems, Monte Carlo simulation, statistical methods, and data analytics. Tools for data visualization and use of libraries in both C/C++ and Python will be explored. Prerequisites: PHYS 2410 or PHYS 2415, PHYS 2620, and programming experience in Python and/or C.