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 Program Description
Physics, the fundamental natural science, provides
explanations for a large number of physical phenomena through the use of a small
number of general concepts, principles, and theories. The study of physics
contributes to an understanding of the physical world and develops the ability
to reason analytically. The physics department at Southwestern College provides
undergraduate instruction in a broad range of physics courses designed to
fulfill the needs and interests of a variety of students. Students who take
advantage of all of the physics course offerings are introduced to the core
subfields of physics. Physics program graduates have the knowledge and skills
needed to pursue careers in physics, engineering, physics education, and related
fields.
Physics courses at
Southwestern are set in a liberal arts context. As a result, the historical,
philosophical, and cultural implications of physics are considered in the
program, and physics majors are required to express the concepts of physics in
writing and in oral presentations.
The physics department provides two semesters of introductory physics at two separate levels; algebra and trigonometry based
instruction (College Physics) for students majoring in other fields (i.e. biology) and calculus based instruction (General Physics) for
physics majors and others needing a more mathematically rigorous treatment. All intermediate and advanced courses in physics
require General Physics. In addition, the B.S. in Chemistry, the B.A. in Mathematics, and most engineering schools require General
Physics.
Because of prerequisites in intermediate and advanced
courses, students considering physics as a major should take two semesters of calculus in their freshman year and Calculus 3,
Differential Equations, and two semesters of General Physics in their sophomore year. After completion of these course the
student will be prepared to take upper level courses in physics during their junior and senior years.
Dual Degree Program
Southwestern College offers a dual-degree program
in engineering in cooperation with Washington University in St. Louis, one of
the nation’s leading engineering schools. Students who complete the dual-degree
program receive an undergraduate degree in engineering physics from Southwestern
College and an undergraduate degree in engineering from Washington University.
Participants attend Southwestern College for three years and then transfer to
Washington University for an additional two years of concentrated engineering
study at the School of Engineering and Applied Science. At Washington
University, students may pursue a degree in biomedical engineering, chemical
engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science,
electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or system science and
engineering. Dual-degree graduates, who combine technical excellence with
strong communication skills and a broad background in the humanities and social
sciences, have proven to be highly successful in obtaining positions in
industry, government, and graduate schools.
Students interested in the
dual-degree program should contact the physics department for additional
information.
Requirements
B.A., Major in Physics
Major requirements: 211 General Physics
1
212 General Physics 2
213 General Physics 3
310 Mathematical Physics
320 Modern Physics
Two of the following laboratory courses:
380 Optics
440 Mechanics
470 Electricity and Magnetism
One of the following:
410 Thermal and Statistical Physics
480 Quantum Mechanics
Cognate requirements:
In mathematics:
222 Calculus 1
223 Calculus 2
224 Calculus 3
321 Ordinary Differential Equations
B.A., Major in Engineering Physics
Major requirements:
211 General Physics 1
212 General Physics 2
213 General Physics 3
310 Mathematical Physics
320 Modern Physics
One of the following
laboratory courses:
380 Optics
470 Electricity and Magnetism
Cognate requirements:
In Mathematics:
222 Calculus 1
223 Calculus 2
224 Calculus 3
321 Ordinary Differential Equations
In Chemistry:
111 General Chemistry 1
112 General Chemistry 2
In Computer Science:
212 Programming 1
In Engineering:
Completion of a two-year engineering program at Washington University
Minor in Physics
Requirements:
In Physics:
211 General Physics 1
212 General Physics 2
213 General Physics 3
320 Modern Physics
In Mathematics:
222 Calculus 1
223 Calculus 2
224 Calculus 3
321 Ordinary Differential Equations
Secondary Certification in Physics
Requirements:
In addition to the
requirements for the physics major, the student must satisfy all the
requirements for Kansas teacher certification as listed in the Education section
of the Southwestern College catalog
and complete the following courses:
In Integrative Studies
(LAS):
280 History of Science
In Chemistry:
111 General Chemistry 1
112 General Chemistry 2
Additional Recommended Courses
In Chemistry:
CHEM 111 General Chemistry 1
CHEM 112 General Chemistry 2
In Mathematics:
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics
MATH 240 Statistics and Probability
MATH 319 Linear Algebra
MATH 460 Complex Variables
In Computer Science:
CPTR 216 BASIC Programming, or
CPTR 215 FORTRAN
In Liberal Arts and Sciences:
LAS 110 Atom and Cosmos
In Business:
BUS 332 Managing Human Resources, or
BUS 328 Organizational Behavior, or
BUS 394 Marketing
In Biology:
BIOL 121 General Zoology
Physics Courses
201 College Physics 1.
Algebra-based treatment of the laws of motion, energy, momentum, rotational
motion, gravitation, mechanical waves, wave interference, and sound.
Prerequisite: Math 112 or satisfactory completion of a trigonometry competency
test. Lecture and laboratory. Credit 4 hours.
202 College Physics 2.
Algebra-based treatment of electricity, direct current circuits, magnetism,
geometric optics, and interference. Prerequisite: 201. Lecture and laboratory.
Credit 4 hours.
211 General Physics 1.
Calculus-based treatment of the laws of motion, energy, momentum, rotational
motion, gravitation, mechanical waves, wave interference, and sound.
Prerequisite: Math 222. Lecture and laboratory. Credit 5 hours.
212 General Physics 2.
Calculus-based treatment of electricity, Gauss’s Law, direct current circuits,
magnetism, geometric optics, and interference. Prerequisite: 211. Lecture and
laboratory. Credit 5 hours.
213 General Physics 3.
Calculus-based treatment of statics, periodic motion, fluid mechanics,
temperature and heat, thermal properties of matter, inductance, and alternating
current. Prerequisite: 212. Credit 3 hours.
310 Mathematical Physics.
Complex numbers, determinants, matrices, eigenvectors and eigenvalues, vector
calculus, Lagrange multipliers, Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms,
and probability. Prerequisites: 212, Math 224, Math 321. Credit 3 hours.
320 Modern Physics.
Foundations of modern physics including the special theory of relativity,
quantum physics, wave mechanics, and the hydrogen atom. Prerequisites: 212,
Math 224, Math 321. Lecture and laboratory. Credit 5 hours.
380 Optics.
Geometric and physical optics - lenses, mirrors, lens aberrations, optical
instruments, interference, and diffraction. Prerequisites: 310, 320. Lecture
and laboratory. Credit 4 hours.
410 Thermal and Statistical Physics.
Classical thermodynamics, kinetic theory,
and classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Prerequisites: 310, 320.
Credit 3 hours.
440 Mechanics.
Newton’s Laws, rectilinear motion, oscillations, general motion in three
dimensions, noninertial reference systems, central force motion, and the
dynamics of a system of particles. Prerequisite: 310 (or concurrent
enrollment). Lecture and laboratory. Credit 4 hours.
470 Electricity and Magnetism.
Electrostatics, electrostatic fields in matter, magnetostatics, magnetostatic
fields in matter, and electrodynamics. Prerequisite: 310, 320. Lecture and
laboratory. Credit 4 hours.
480 Quantum Mechanics.
The Schrödinger equation, wave packet motion, operator methods, bracket
notation, the harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, and spin. Prerequisites:
310, 320. Credit 3 hours.
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