1995-1996 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Arts and Sciences - Physics		 NMSU

Professor George Burleson, department head
Associate Professor Thor Stromberg, assistant department head

Professors Armstrong, Burleson, Burr, Chen, Coon, Gibbs, George Goedecke (emeritus), Kyle, Liefeld, Ni, Ram; Associate Professors Shalaev; Assistant Professors Hearn, Young

DEGREE: Bachelor of Science
MAJOR: Physics
EMPHASIS: Applied Optics
EMPHASIS: Computational Physics
EMPHASIS: Energy Systems
EMPHASIS: Geophysics

A B.S. degree in physics at NMSU prepares a student well for graduate study in physics or geophysics, or for a variety of careers in research and teaching. Specialization in one of the emphasis areas should increase employability at the B.S. level.

Nondepartmental Requirements

MATH 191, 192, 291, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III, MATH 391, Vector Analysis, MATH 392, Differential Equations, and MATH 377, Numerical Methods plus 6 more math credits at the 300 level or higher. PHYS 495, 496 can be used to meet this.
Additional mathematics courses as recommended by the adviser
CHEM 111, 112, General Chemistry I, II, or higher-level courses
C S 157, FORTRAN Programming
ENGL 218G, Technical and Scientific Communication
COMM 253G, Public Speaking

Departmental Requirements

PHYS 151, Introduction to Computational Physics 2 cr.
PHYS 216, Engineering Physics II or
PHYS 260, Electricity and Magnetism
3 cr.
PHYS 216L, Engineering Physics II Lab or
PHYS 261, Experimental Electricity and Magnetism
1 cr.
PHYS 250, Mechanics 3 cr.
PHYS 251, Experimental Mechanics and Wave Motion 1 cr.
PHYS 280, Heat, Light, and Sound 3 cr.
PHYS 281, Experimental Thermal Physics, Light and Sound 1 cr.
PHYS 335, Experimental Electronics 3 cr.
PHYS 390, Modern Physics 3 cr.
PHYS 391, Experimental Modern Physics 2 cr.
PHYS 451, Mechanics 3 cr.
PHYS 454, Advanced Modern Physics 3 cr.
PHYS 461, Electricity and Magnetism 3 cr.
PHYS 476, Computational Physics 3 cr.
Advanced laboratory (PHYS 493, 471, 435, or 400) 2-3 cr.

Six additional credits in physics or geophysics numbered 300 or above.

Electives: Sufficient to bring total credits to at least 128, including 55 upper-division.

Students who plan to pursue graduate study in physics or geophysics are strongly advised to take PHYS 452, PHYS 462, PHYS 480, PHYS 455, and PHYS 495, plus one or more senior-level courses in optics, nuclear physics, atmospheric physics, condensed matter physics, or geophysics.

Students who plan to seek employment at the B.S. level are advised to take one of the following emphasis area curricula in addition to the general and departmental requirements.

EMPHASIS: Applied Optics

PHYS 370, Geometrical Optics 3 cr.
PHYS 470, Physical Optics 3 cr.
PHYS 471, Modern Experimental Optics 2 cr.
E E 478, Optical Sources, Detectors, and Radiometry 3 cr.
E E 478L, Radiometry Laboratory 1 cr.
E E 479, Lasers and Applications 3 cr.
E E 479L, Lasers and Applications Laboratory 1 cr.
PHYS 400, Undergraduate Research 3-4 cr.

EMPHASIS: Computational Physics

C S 171, Algorithmic Computations 4 cr.
C S 272, Introduction to Data Structures 4 cr.
C S 273, Machine Programming and Organization 4 cr.
C S 370, Operational Semantics 4 cr.
C S 363, Computer System Architecture 4 cr.
MATH 330, Discrete Mathematics 3 cr.
C S 371, Software Development 4 cr.

EMPHASIS: Geophysics

GEOL 111G, Survey of Geology 4 cr.
GEOL 310, Mineralogy 3 cr.
GEOL 312, Optical Mineralogy 3 cr.
GEOL 330, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 3 cr.
GPHY 451, Principles of Geophysics I 3 cr.
GPHY 452, Principles of Geophysics II 3 cr.
GEOL 470, Structural Geology 3 cr.

Students desiring to prepare to be high school physics teachers will find the specific requirements listed under the "College of Education'' section. Students taking the electrical engineering scientific option will find the specific requirements listed under ``Electrical Engineering.'' Geophysics courses are offered by the Department of Physics and are listed under ``Geophysics'' in the ``Course Description'' section of this catalog.

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Last modified: Fri Jan 12 16:54:45 1996
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