Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics
According to the Princeton Review: “With technology’s constantly expanding influence in our society, a major in applied physics could place you at the forefront of the next technology revolution.” Applied physics combines fundamental research in physics with knowledge of how to solve real-world problems, thus putting graduates of this major in high demand by employers. Through research in applied physics, lasers in DVD players, flash memories in iPods, diagnostic tools for medicine, and many other cutting edge technologies have been developed. With this degree, graduates will be prepared to immediately begin a career in a multitude of different areas or to enter into a graduate program in physics, engineering, or a non-physics related field. College Board sums up this degree in one word: flexibility.
The Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics degree provides an option for students who have a strong affinity for physics but who wish to pursue a career in application of basic scientific principles to the design of equipment, which includes electronic and electro-mechanical systems for use in measurements, communications, and data acquisition. The program is recommended for students interested in newly developing areas of physics, high technology, instrumentation, and communications. It provides students with a solid physics background while allowing for a significant engineering or other technical concentration.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Physics Requirements | (49) | |
| PHYS 100 | Intro to the Profession | 2 |
| PHYS 123 | General Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 221 | General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 223 | General Physics III | 4 |
| PHYS 240 | Computational Science | 3 |
| PHYS 300 | Instrumentation Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 301 | Mathematical Methods of Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 304 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 308 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 309 | Classical Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 405 | Fundamentals of Quantum Theory I | 3 |
| PHYS 406 | Fundamentals of Quantum Theory II | 3 |
| PHYS 413 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 414 | Electromagnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 427 | Advanced Physics Laboratory I | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Physics Colloquium | 1 |
| Specialization Requirements | (27) | |
| Select 27 credit hours in a specific engineering, math, or science discipline 1 | 27 | |
| Mathematics Requirements | (18) | |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 152 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariate and Vector Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 252 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| Technical Electives | (6) | |
| Select six credit hours, approved by the advisor, from the physics, mathematics, computer science, or engineering departments | 6 | |
| Chemistry Requirement | (4) | |
| CHEM 124 | Principles of Chemistry I with Laboratory | 4 |
| Computer Science Requirement | (2) | |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers | 2 | |
| Introduction to Computer Programming | 2 | |
| Object-Oriented Programming I | 2 | |
| Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) | (6) | |
| See Illinois Tech Core Curriculum, section E | 6 | |
| Humanities and Social Science Requirements | (21) | |
| See Illinois Tech Core Curriculum, sections B and C | 21 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 133 | |
- 1
See the Specializations tab for a few recommended specializations.
Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics Curriculum
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| PHYS 100 | 2 | MS 2011 | 3 |
| PHYS 123 | 4 | PHYS 221 | 4 |
| CHEM 124 | 4 | MATH 152 | 5 |
| MATH 151 | 5 | Humanities 200-level Course | 3 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| PHYS 223 | 4 | PHYS 240 | 3 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | PHYS 304 | 3 |
| Specialization Course2 | 4 | MATH 252 | 4 |
| Social Sciences Elective | 3 | Specialization Course2 | 4 |
| Computer Science Course3 | 2 | Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| PHYS 3004 | 4 | PHYS 309 | 3 |
| PHYS 301 | 3 | Technical Elective5 | 3 |
| PHYS 308 | 3 | IPRO Elective I | 3 |
| Specialization Course2 | 3 | Specialization Course2 | 4 |
| Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 | Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| PHYS 405 | 3 | PHYS 406 | 3 |
| PHYS 413 | 3 | PHYS 414 | 3 |
| PHYS 427 | 3 | PHYS 485 | 1 |
| IPRO Elective II | 3 | Technical Elective5 | 3 |
| Specialization Course2 | 3 | Specialization Course2 | 3 |
| Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 | Specialization Course2 | 3 |
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Total Credit Hours: 133 | |||
- 1
MS 201 is only required for the aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering specializations. For other specializations, students should choose one of the specialization course options.
- 2
A minimum of 27 credit hours are required in a specific engineering, math, or science discipline. See the Specializations tab for a few examples of engineering specializations. Courses should be chosen in consultation with an academic adviser.
- 3
Choose from: CS 104, CS 105, or CS 115 based on your specialization.
- 4
For students who choose the electrical engineering specialization, PHYS 300 is satisfied by ECE 211, ECE 213, and ECE 218.
- 5
See the Specializations tab for technical electives listed in some approved engineering specializations.
Engineering Specializations for Applied Physics
Courses should be chosen in consultation with an academic adviser. Approved specializations for the Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics degree include, but are not limited to, the following:
Aerospace Engineering
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required course | (27) | |
| MS 201 | Materials Science | 3 |
| Students should take the following courses: | ||
| MMAE 200 | 3 | |
| MMAE 202 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| MMAE 304 | Mechanics of Aerostructures | 3 |
| MMAE 311 | Compressible Flow | 3 |
| MMAE 312 | Aerodynamics of Aerospace Vehicles | 3 |
| MMAE 313 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MMAE 320 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MMAE 372 | Aerospace Materials Lab | 3 |
| The three credit hours of technical electives may be chosen from the following: | ||
| Aerospace Propulsion | 3 | |
| Aircraft Flight Mechanics | 3 | |
| Spacecraft Dynamics | 3 | |
| Spacecraft Design I | 3 | |
| Aircraft Design I | 3 | |
| Systems Analysis and Control | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 27 | |
Electrical Engineering
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students should take the following courses: | ||
| ECE 211 | Circuit Analysis I | 3 |
| ECE 213 | Circuit Analysis II | 4 |
| ECE 218 | Digital Systems | 4 |
| ECE 308 | Signals and Systems | 3 |
| ECE 311 | Engineering Electronics | 4 |
| ECE 319 | Fundamentals of Power Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 333 | Matrix Algebra and Complex Variables | 3 |
| The remaining six credit hours may be chosen from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 | |
| Power Electronics | 4 | |
| Hybrid Electric Vehicle Drives | 4 | |
| Power Distribution Engineering | 3 | |
| Power System Analysis | 3 | |
| Introduction to VLSI Design | 4 | |
| Digital Signal Processing I with Laboratory | 3-4 | |
or ECE 437 | Digital Signal Processing I | |
| Control Systems | 3 | |
| Advanced Logic Design | 4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 31 | |
In addition, three credit hours of technical electives may be chosen from the ECE courses listed above if the required course, PHYS 300, is satisfied by ECE 211, ECE 213, and ECE 218.
Mechanical Engineering
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required course | (21-28) | |
| MS 201 | Materials Science | 3 |
| Students should take the following courses: | ||
| MMAE 202 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| MMAE 232 | Design for Innovation | 0 OR 3 |
| MMAE 302 | Advanced Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| MMAE 313 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MMAE 319 | Mechanical Laboratory I | 0 OR 4 |
| MMAE 323 | Heat and Mass Transfer | 3 |
| MMAE 332 | Design of Machine Elements | 3 |
| The remaining three credit hours may be chosen from below. The applied physics technical elective may be chosen from below as well. | 3 | |
| Mechanical Laboratory II | 4 | |
| Design of Mechanical Systems | 3 | |
| Introduction to Robotics | 3 | |
| Systems Analysis and Control | 3 | |
| Manufacturing Processes | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 21-28 | |
