1996-1997 Undergraduate Catalog

 NMSU

PHYSICS

Professor George Burleson, department head

Associate Professor Thor Stromberg, assistant department head

Professors Armstrong, Burleson, Burr, Chen (emeritus), Coon, Daw (emeritus), Gibbs, Goedecke (emeritus), Ingraham (emeritus), Kyle, Kunz (emeritus), Liefeld, Miller (emeritus), Ni, Ram; Associate Professors Shalaev, Stromberg; Assistant Professors Burkardt, Hearn, Papavassiliou, Pate, Young

(505) 646-3831
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science
MAJOR: Physics

EMPHASIS: Applied Physics
EMPHASIS: Applied Optics
EMPHASIS: Computational Physics
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

C S 167, C Programming

ENGL 218G, Technical and Scientific Communication

COMM 265G, Principles of Human Communications

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

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 Physics

The program of study in applied physics is planned by the student and the physics adviser and includes classes in electrical and mechanical engineering along with classes in computer science. The program is designed for students who seek employment at the B.S. level.

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

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

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

Students desiring to prepare to be high school physics teachers will find the specific requirements listed under the College of Education chapter. 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 chapter of this catalog.

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Last Modified: Tuesday November 19, 1996
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