Second Discipline - Physics
Information on Courses for Non-Physics Majors: Dr. Dana Browne
Undergraduate Advisor for Physics Majors: Dr. David Young and Dr. Kenneth Matthews
Our Undergraduate Program is for students wishing to major in Physics and Astronomy, Medical and Health Physics, or who would like to minor in Physics. The usual course of study includes Calculus, General Physics including laboratory experiments in the first year. In the second year, courses in differential equations, modern physics, mechanics are suggested. In your junior and senior years, you can choose an area in which to concentrate - Physics, Minor in Physics, Astronomy, Medical/Health Physics, Secondary Education or Second Discipline.
For those students who wish to pursue a second discipline concentration (LSU catalog):
In addition to the core physics courses, you will take 24 hours of classes outside
of the department. The intent of the concentration is to have you undertake a thorough
study of another academic field in addition to physics. Most often, these 24 hours
are courses for a single major. The courses should be lecture or lecture plus lab
format. The department requires that 12 of these hours be in 3000 or 4000 level courses,
and 6 hours of the 12 must be at the 4000 level. The list of courses must be approved
by the department, so if you are considering this concentration, you should consult
the department to ensure your planned program is acceptable.
Some examples of second disciplines are:
- Math
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Environmental Science
Freshman (31 Semester Hours)
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
|
PHYS 1201 General Physics for Physics Majors (4) This is a General Education course. Prereq.: credit or registration in MATH 1550 or
MATH 1551. |
PHYS 1202 General Physics for Physics Majors (4) This is a General Education course. Prereq.: PHYS 1201 and credit or registration
in MATH 1552 or MATH 1553. |
|
PHYS 1208 General Physics for Laboratory Physics Majors (1) Prereq.: credit or registration in PHYS 1201. Credit will not be given for this course
and PHYS 2108. Laboratory to accompany PHYS 1201. |
PHYS 1209 General Physics Laboratory for Physics Majors (1) Prereq.: credit or registration in PHYS 1202. Credit will not be given for this course and PHYS 2109. Laboratory to accompany PHYS 1202. 3 hrs. lab. |
|
MATH 1550 Analytic Geometry and Calculus (5) [LCCN: CMAT 2115, Calculus I] This is a General Education course. An honors course, MATH 1551, is also available. Prereq.:An appropriate ALEKS placement score. Credit will be given for only one of the following: MATH 1431, MATH 1550, MATH 1551.Limits, derivatives, and integrals of algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions, with applications. |
MATH 1552 Analytic Geometry and Calculus (4) [LCCN: CMAT 2124, Calculus II] This is a General Education course. An honors course, MATH 1553, is also available. Prereq.:MATH 1550 or MATH 1551. Credit will not be given for both this course and MATH 1553 or MATH 1554. Techniques of integration, parameter equations, analytical geometry, polar coordinates, infinite series, vectors in low dimensions; introduction to differential equations and partial derivatives. |
|
ENGL 1001 English Composition (3) [LCCN: CENL 1013, English Composition I] This is a General Education course. Placement by department. Introduction to analytical writing and research-based inquiry. |
Any 2000 level courses in English literature (3) |
| Art (3) General education courses | Humanities (3) General education courses |
| Total: (16) | Total: (16) |
Sophomore (32 Semester Hours)
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
|
PHYS 2203 Introductory Modern Physics (3) Prereq.: PHYS 1202 or PHYS 2112, PHYS 2113. Elementary modern physics; special relativity, wave/particle duality, quantum mechanics, hydrogen atom, many-electron atoms, nuclear structure elementary particles, solid state, astrophysics and cosmology. |
PHYS 2221 Introduction to Mechanics (3) Prereq.: MATH 2057; PHYS 1202 or both PHYS 2112 and PHYS 2113. |
|
PHYS 2207 Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory (1) Prereq.: PHYS 1209. Coreq.: PHYS 2203. For physics majors only. Laboratory to accompany
PHYS 2203. |
PHYS 3098 Instrumentation Electronics for Scientists (3) Prereq.: PHYS 1202 or both PHYS 2112 and PHYS 2113; PHYS 2207; CSC 1253 or equivalent. For physics majors only. 2 hrs. lecture; 3 hrs. lab. Basic electronic technology and circuits used in scientific instrumentation; circuit analysis, discrete components, operational amplifiers, digital electronics and microcontrollers. |
|
MATH 2057 Multidimensional Calculus (3) An honors course, MATH 2058, is also available. Prereq.: MATH 1552 or MATH 1553. Credit will not be given for both this course and MATH 2058. Three-dimensional analytic geometry, partial derivatives, multiple integrals. |
MATH 2090 Elementary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (4) Prereq.: MATH 1552 or MATH 1553. Credit will not be given for both this course and MATH 2065, MATH 2070,or MATH 2085.Introduction to first order differential equations, linear differential equations with constant coefficients, and systems of differential equations; vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, linear dependence, bases, systems of equations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and Laplace transforms. |
|
CSC 1253 Computer Science I with C++(3) Prereq.: credit or registration in MATH 1550 or credit in MATH 1431. Credit will not
be given for both this course and CSC 1250 or CSC 1350. |
BIOL 1X01 (3) |
|
ENGL 2000 English Composition (3) [LCCN: CENL 1023, English Composition II] This is a General Education course. Prereq.:
ENGL 1001 or equivalent and 39 total credit hours earned by the time of enrollment.
|
2nd Discipline Course (3) |
| 2nd Discipline Course (3) | |
| Total: (16) | Total: (16) |
Junior (28 Semester Hours)
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| PHYS 2411 Computational Science I (3)
Prereq.: CSC 1253 or equivalent and one of the following three choices: PHYS 2221; or MATH 2057 and PHYS 1202 or both PHYS 2112 and PHYS 2113; or CHEM 4581 and credit or registration in MATH 2065 (or MATH 2090). 2 hrs. lecture; 2 hrs. lab. Introduction to symbolic manipulation and numerical techniques used to analyze or simulate a broad range of physical systems. |
PHYS 4125 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3)
Prereq.: PHYS 2203 or CHEM 3491; PHYS 2221 or CHEM 4581; credit or registration in MATH 2065 or MATH 2090. Basic physical concepts and methods appropriate for description of systems involving many particles; unified view point of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and kinetic theory. |
| PHYS 2231 Electricity and Magnetism (3)
Prereq.: PHYS 2221 or CHEM 4581 and credit or registration in MATH 2065 or MATH 2090. Electricity and magnetism; static and quasistatic electromagnetic fields in vacua and in dielectric and magnetic media. |
PHYS 4132 Electromagnetism and Electromagnetic Waves (3)
Prereq.: PHYS 2231. Continuation of PHYS 2231. Emphasis on electromagnetic waves and radiation. |
| 2nd Discipline Course (3) | 2nd Discipline Course (3) |
| Soc. Sci. (3) General education courses | For. Lang. (4) General education courses |
| Total: (13) | Total: (15) |
Senior (26 Semester Hours)
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| 2nd Discipline Course (3) | 2nd Discipline Course (3) |
| 2nd Discipline Course (3) | 2nd Discipline Course (3) |
| Electives (6) | Electives (8) |
| Humanities (3) General education courses | |
| Total: (14) | Total: (15) |
Hours in Concentration - 24
ENGL 20XX is a Gen. Ed. English literature course
The core of the physics program can be started in the second year and still finished
in 4 years.
Student who need additional background before starting should fill their first year
with Gen Ed. and electives.