Jennifer L. Burris, Chair
 

Full Faculty Listing  

The objectives of the Department of Physics and Astronomy are:

1. To prepare students for a variety of careers which require a technical background or for studies at the graduate level
2. To provide service courses at appropriate levels for students in many disciplines

The versatility of physicists is a result of a basic education which emphasizes fundamental phenomena in nature. Understanding these fundamentals allows a physicist to solve a wide range of problems in many different fields, from energy resources and the environment to transportation and communications.

By taking appropriate physics courses, one can simultaneously learn about the physical side of nature in a most general way, acquire useful specific knowledge, and satisfy general education science requirements.

In keeping with these objectives, three undergraduate degrees in Physics and a graduate degree in Engineering Physics are offered. Minors are offered for both the undergraduate and the graduate student. A pre-engineering curriculum (see the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog) provides preparation necessary for transfer into engineering programs both in North Carolina and elsewhere.

Honors Program in Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers an honors program which culminates in a senior honors research and thesis course (PHY 4510  or AST 4510 ) open to majors in physics and astronomy with an outstanding undergraduate record. In order to graduate with “honors in physics and astronomy,” a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.45, overall and in physics and astronomy and must take nine semester hours of honors credits, including PHY 3560  or AST 3560 , and PHY 4510  or AST 4510  (with a grade of “B” or higher). Students may arrange to take specific additional physics and astronomy courses on an honors basis by negotiating an honors contract with the course instructor before class begins. The honors contract, which must be approved by the Department of Physics and Astronomy Honors Committee, allows the student to receive honors credit for a regular course in physics or astronomy by specifying the additional assignments that the student must perform in order to receive honors credit. Additional information may be obtained from the departmental honors director or the departmental chair. Students must earn a grade of ‘B’ (3.0 grade points) or higher on all honors coursework taken to fulfill any honors requirements.

Programs

• Physics - Applied Physics Concentration, BS
• Physics - Secondary Education Concentration, BS

• Physics, BA

• Astronomy Minor
• Physics Minor

Courses

• AST 1001 - Introductory Astronomy I - The Solar System (4)
• AST 1002 - Introductory Astronomy II - Stars and Galaxies (4)
• AST 1011 - Introductory Astronomy I - The Solar System Lab (1)
• AST 1012 - Introductory Astronomy II - Stars and Galaxies Lab (1)
• AST 1050 - Astrobiology: Exploring Life in the Universe (3)
• AST 1530-1531 - Selected Topics (1-4)
• AST 2001 - Observational Astronomy (3)
• AST 2300 - Public and School Outreach in Astronomy (1)
• AST 3001 - Techniques in Astronomical Photometry (3)
• AST 3002 - Techniques in Astronomical Spectroscopy (3)
• AST 3100 - Astrophysics (3)
• AST 3120 - Planets and Exoplanets (3)
• AST 3130 - Binary and Variable Stars (3)
• AST 3140 - Star Formation (3)
• AST 3200 - Astromechanics (2)
• AST 3530-3549 - Selected Topics (1-4)
• AST 3560 - Undergraduate Research (1-3)
• AST 4510 - Senior Honors Research and Thesis (1-3)

• PHY 1101 - How Things Work (4)
• PHY 1102 - Environment and Everyday Life (4)
• PHY 1103 - General Physics I (4)
• PHY 1104 - General Physics II (4)
• PHY 1111 - How Things Work - Lab (1)
• PHY 1112 - Environment and Everyday Life - Lab (1)
• PHY 1113 - General Physics I - Lab (1)
• PHY 1114 - General Physics II - Lab (1)
• PHY 1150 - Analytical Physics I (5)
• PHY 1151 - Analytical Physics II (5)
• PHY 1160 - Analytical Physics I - Lab (1)
• PHY 1161 - Analytical Physics II - Lab (1)
• PHY 1810 - Light and Color (4)
• PHY 1812 - Acoustics and Harmonics (4)
• PHY 1814 - Sound and Recording (4)
• PHY 1830 - The Physical Principles of Energy and Sustainability (3)
• PHY 2010 - Intermediate Physics I (4)
• PHY 2020 - Intermediate Physics II (4)
• PHY 2210 - Physics Laboratory Techniques and Data Analysis (3)
• PHY 2500 - Independent Study (1-4)
• PHY 2700 - Computer Interfacing (3)
• PHY 3001 - Analytical Methods in Physics (3)
• PHY 3010 - Classical Mechanics (3)
• PHY 3011 - Classical Mechanics II (3)
• PHY 3020 - Electromagnetism (3)
• PHY 3030 - Electomagnetic Waves and Optics (3)
• PHY 3140 - Environmental Physics (3)
• PHY 3150 - Atmospheric Physics (3)
• PHY 3160 - Introduction to Geophysics (3)
• PHY 3210 - Modern Physics I (3)
• PHY 3211 - Modern Physics II (3)
• PHY 3230 - Thermal Physics (3)
• PHY 3350 - Physical Science Investigations (3)
• PHY 3400 - Physics Instruction Practicum (3)
• PHY 3500 - Independent Study (1-4)
• PHY 3520 - Instructional Assistance (1)
• PHY 3521 - Secondary Science Field Experience (1)
• PHY 3530-3549 - Selected Topics (1-4)
• PHY 3560 - Undergraduate Research (1-3)
• PHY 3850 - Environucleonics (3)
• PHY 3851 - Environucleonics Laboratory (1)
• PHY 4020 - Computational Methods in Physics and Engineering (3)
• PHY 4210 - Methods of Experimental Physics (4)
• PHY 4330 - Digital Electronics (4)
• PHY 4510 - Senior Honors Research and Thesis (1-3)
• PHY 4640 - Quantum Mechanics (3)
• PHY 4730 - Analog Systems (4)
• PHY 4820 - Medical Physics (3)
• PHY 4845 - Nanoscience and Technology (3)
• PHY 4860 - Physical Principles of Electron Microscopy (4)
• PHY 4880 - Special Topics in Physics (3)
• PHY 4900 - Internship (3-12)