Physics (BA)
Physics provides the conceptual foundation for science and engineering. A physics degree is a mark of major intellectual achievement and a gateway to a thousand careers. The physics major at NC State combines the resources of a major research university with the ambience of a small college. Our ratio of physics majors to faculty of about 3 to 1 allows us to offer small classes, personal attention, and unparalleled opportunities for involvement in research.
Most physics majors are preparing for employment in a government or industrial laboratory, or with a company that provides STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) products or services. Other physics majors are preparing for graduate studies in physics or related sciences, or enrollment in professional schools (such as medicine or law). Some physics majors are preparing for a career as a high school teacher. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) curriculum has a flexible course of study if you desire an interdisciplinary program with an emphasis on physics.
For more information about this program, visit our website.
Department of Physics and Astronomy
NC State University
Campus Box 8202
Raleigh, NC 27695-8202
Dr. Dan Dougherty
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs
NC State University
Riddick Hall 101
Raleigh, NC 27695-8202
Phone: 919.514.2610
Email: dbdoughe@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| Science of Change (Verify Requirement) | ||
| Communication | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| Physics | ||
| PY 201 | University Physics I 1 | 4 |
| PY 202 | University Physics II 1 | 4 |
| PY 203 | University Physics III 1 | 4 |
| PY 252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| PY 401 | Quantum Physics I 1 | 3 |
| PY 411 | Mechanics I 1 | 3 |
| PY 413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| PY 414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| Advanced Experimental Physics 3 | 3 | |
| Math / Statistics / Computing | ||
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III 1 | 4 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I 1 | 3 |
| MA 405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra 1 | 3 |
| Statistics Elective 1 | 3 | |
| PY 251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing 1 | 3 |
| Computing / Numerical Methods Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Science/Tech Electives | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Basic Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Technical Electives 1 | 6 | |
Courses at the 300 level or above in science, mathematics, technology , engineering, and in math and science education. | ||
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Restricted Electives | 13 | |
| Select courses from the GEP Humanities list, GEP Social Sciences list, GEP Visual and Performing Arts list, and from courses at the 200 level or above in Education or Management. | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
- 3
Other Senior capstone experiences (including student teaching) may satisfy this requirement, subject to advisor and department approval.
Statistics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 350 | Economics and Business Statistics | 3 |
| EC 351 | Econometrics I | 3 |
| ST 307 | Introduction to Statistical Programming- SAS | 1 |
| ST 308 | Introduction to Statistical Programming - R | 1 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ST 312 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 |
| ST 350 | Economics and Business Statistics | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| ST 371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | 3 |
| ST 372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression | 3 |
Computing / Numerical Methods Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 302 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 |
| CSC 427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| CSC 428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| MA 402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 |
| MA 427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| MA 428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| PY 525 | Computational Physics | 3 |
Basic Science Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AEC 203 | An Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping | 3 |
| ANS 105 | Introduction to Companion Animal Science | 3 |
| ANS 110 | Introduction to Equine Science | 3 |
| BIO 105 | Biology in the Modern World | 3 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIO 227 | Understanding Structural Diversity through Biological Illustration | 3 |
| BIT 100 | Current Topics in Biotechnology | 4 |
| BIT 200 | Early Research in Biotechnology | 4 |
| CS 210 | Lawns and Sports Turf | 3 |
| ENT 201 | Insects and People | 3 |
| ENT 207 | Insects and Human Disease | 3 |
| ENT 305 | Introduction to Forensic Entomology | 3 |
| ENT 402 | Forest Entomology | 3 |
| ES 113 | Earth from Space | 3 |
| FOR 402 | Forest Entomology | 3 |
| FS 201 | Introduction to Food Science | 3 |
| FW 221 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| GN 301 | Genetics in Human Affairs | 3 |
| HS 200 | Home Horticulture | 3 |
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| MB 200 | The Fourth Horseman: Plagues that Changed the World | 3 |
| MB 210 | Phage Hunters | 3 |
| MEA 100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 |
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| MEA 150 | Environmental Issues in Water Resources | 4 |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| MEA 215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 |
| MEA 220 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| MEA 240 | The Planets of Our Solar System | 3 |
| MEA 250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments | 3 |
| NE 290 | Introduction to Health Physics | 3 |
| NTR 301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| PB 200 | Plant Life | 4 |
| PB 205 | Our Green World | 3 |
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
| PY 124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 |
| SMT 202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials | 3 |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| TOX 201 | Poisons, People and the Environment | 3 |
Advanced Experimental Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PY 452 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PY 456 | Senior Design Project in Physics | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| PY 201 | University Physics I (CP) 1 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I (CP) 2 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| COS 100 | Science of Change | 2 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 202 | University Physics II (CP) 1 | 4 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II (CP) 2 | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 203 | University Physics III (CP) 1,3 | 4 |
| PY 251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing 2 | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III (CP) 2 | 4 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 411 | Mechanics I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| PY 252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I 2 | 3 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 1 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| MA 405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra 1 | 3 |
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 401 | Quantum Physics I 1 | 3 |
| Computing/Numerical Methods Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective 2 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 452 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| Basic Sciences Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
At most one passing grade below C- is permitted in the Physics category.
- 2
At most one passing grade below C- is permitted in the Math/Statistics/Computing category.
- 3
At most one passing grade below C- is permitted in the Sciences/Technical Electives category.
Career Opportunities
Career Titles
- Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineer
- Aerospace Engineering Technician
- Architect
- Astronomer
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist
- Biophysicist
- Cartographer and Photogrammetrists
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Research Analyst
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Hazardous Waste Management Analyst
- Hydrographer
- Hydrologist
- Industrial Engineer
- Industrial Hygienist
- Materials Engineer
- Materials Scientist
- Mathematician
- Mechanical Engineer
- Meteorologist
- Nuclear Engineer
- Nuclear Fuels Research Engineer
- Oceanographer
- Optometrist
- Petroleum Engineer
- Photogrammetrist
- Physicist
- Physics Professor
- Radiation Protection Engineer
- Seismologist
- Soil Engineer
- Solar Energy Systems Designer
- Structural Engineer
- Sustainability Specialists
- Technical Publications Writer
- Water Pollution Control Inspector
- Weather Forecaster
Learn More About Careers
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