Physics (BS): Interdisciplinary Physics Concentration
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. In the modern world, physicists often interact with a large number of other disciplines to address pressing academic and applied problems.
Most physics majors find 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 go on to graduate studies in physics or related sciences, or professional schools (such as medicine or law).
The Interdisciplinary Physics Concentration at NC State allows students to customize a highly technical Bachelor of Science degree in consultation with an expert Faculty advisor. The combinations of different scientific fields that can be incorporated into the Interdisciplinary concentration are almost limitless. Examples include aerospace engineering, astrophysics, biophysics, geophysics, mathematical physics, and data science.
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 | 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 1 | ||
| PY 201 | University Physics I | 4 |
| PY 202 | University Physics II | 4 |
| PY 203 | University Physics III | 4 |
| PY 252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics | 2 |
| PY 401 | Quantum Physics I | 3 |
| PY 411 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| PY 413 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PY 414 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| Advanced Experimental Physics | 3 | |
| Math / Statistics / Computing 2 | ||
| MA 141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| Advanced Math Elective | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| PY 251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 3 |
| Computing / Numerical Methods Elective | 3 | |
| Other Science/Engineering 3 | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Basic Science Elective | 3 | |
| Advised Science/Engineering Electives 4 | 18 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives | 10 | |
| 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 Other Science/Engineering category.
- 4
Students in the Interdisciplinary Physics option for the B.S. in Physics will identify a second area of interest in which to also focus their studies. These 18 credit hours will be planned by the student in consultation with their advisor and must be approved by the advisor and by the program, to ensure sufficient breadth and depth of study. This second disciplinary focal area can be selected from a wide range of fields in science or engineering. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested.
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 |
| FS 301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 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 |
Advanced Math Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MA 305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| MA 401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| MA 405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| 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 | 4 |
| PY 251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing 2 | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III (CP) 2 | 4 |
| Basic Sciences 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 252 | Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics 1 | 2 |
| PY 411 | Mechanics I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I 2 | 3 |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 414 | Electromagnetism I 1 | 3 |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| Advanced Math Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 401 | Quantum Physics I 1 | 3 |
| PY 413 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Computing/Numerical Methods Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Science/Engineering Electives 3,4 | 6 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advanced Experimental Physics 1 | 3 | |
| Advised Science/Engineering Elective 3,4 | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 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 Other Science/Engineering category.
- 4
Students in the Interdisciplinary Physics option for the B.S. in Physics will identify a second area of interest in which to also focus their studies. These 18 credit hours will be planned by the student in consultation with their advisor and must be approved by the advisor and by the program, to ensure sufficient breadth and depth of study. This second disciplinary focal area can be selected from a wide range of fields in science or engineering. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested.
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
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