You are in the official 2002-2003 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Physics
Bachelor of Science in Physics
The B.S. in Physics offers preparation appropriate to employment
in government and industry involving a range of activities from
laboratory work to technical sales. It also offers appropriate
background preparation for graduate study in physics and a large
number of other fields. With an appropriate choice of electives,
it provides a very strong premedical, predental, or preoptometry
program.
Beyond professional goals, the study of physics provides a deep
understanding of fundamental processes which underlie our physical
world and fosters methods of inquiry which promote intelligent
analysis generally.
Bachelor of Science
Degree Requirements
Physics Major
Physics requirements (47 units)
(see note 1)
Physics core (30 units)
PHYS 4A, 4AL, 4B, 4BL, 4C, 102, 104, 105A, 105B, 107A, 110
Upper-division electives (17 units)
Includes courses in physics and, with approval, in related fields.
Students planning to pursue graduate study in physics are strongly
encouraged to take PHYS 107B, 115, 130, 140, 162, and 170A (see
note 2)
Additional requirements (31-33 units)
(see notes 1 and 4)
MATH 75, 76, 77, 81; CHEM 1A, 1B; IT 53; IT 52; CSCI 15 or 40
or ECE 70
General Education requirements (51 units)
(see notes 3 and 4)
Electives (0-1 units)
(see note 4)
Total (124-125 units)
Advising Notes
- CR/NC grading is not permitted in the physics major. Additional requirements, however, may be taken CR/NC (see Credit/No Credit Grading).
- Courses outside the Department of Physics may be substituted for physics upper-division electives with prior approval of the department chair.
- Of the 51 required General Education units, 6 units will be satisfied by the following two courses in additional requirements: 3 units of CHEM 1A in G.E. Breadth B1, and 3 units of MATH 75 in G.E. Foundation B4. See the department chair or faculty adviser for additional details.
- Students should be sure to take sufficient upper-division units in their General Education courses and electives to satisfy the university requirement of 40 upper-division units. It is important to fulfill the upper-division writing skills requirement by exam or W class after completing 60 units.
Suggested Sequence of Courses for the B.S. in Physics
The list below is a suggested schedule of courses for the major
for students planning to complete the suggested pregraduate study
sequence in four years.
In addition to the specific courses listed below, General Education
requirements and electives should be included to bring the total
to 15-17 units per semester. A total of 124 units must be completed
for the Bachelor of Science degree. (See Degree
Requirements.)
1st Year: PHYS 4A, 4AL; CHEM 1A, 1B; MATH 75, 76; Computer Programming
2nd Year: PHYS 4B, 4BL, 4C; MATH 77, 81
3rd Year: PHYS 102, 104, 105A, 105B, 110, 150, 170A
4th Year: PHYS 107A, 107B, 115, 130, 140, 162; plus upper-division
electives
Physics Minor
PHYS 4A, 4AL, 4B, 4BL, 4C (11 units)
PHYS 102 (3 units)
Other upper-division physics (6 units)
Total (20 units)
Note: The Physics Minor also requires a 2.0 GPA and
6 upper-division units in residence.
Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences
Physics Option
The B.A. in Natural Sciences is designed primarily to meet the
needs of students interested in pursuing a teaching career in
the sciences at the secondary level. Students interested in satisfying
the waiver program in the natural sciences should consult an appropriate
adviser early in their academic program. Contact either the Department
of Physics or the Office of the Dean,
College of Natural Sciences.
The degree is also a suitable choice for students with a general
interest in physics and interest in pursuing a career in law,
medicine, dentistry, optometry, and other areas for which the
breadth of scientific coverage of this degree is advantageous.
A full description of the degree, including all of the emphases
available, can be found in the Natural
Sciences Interdisciplinary Courses section in this catalog.
For more information, please contact David Andrews, B.A. Natural
Science Degree Coordinator and Science Credential Adviser at (559)
278-2412. The B.A. in Natural Sciences with the Physics Emphasis
is as follows:
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Natural Sciences Major
Core requirements (37 units)
Biology (see note 1) (12 units)
BIOSC 1A, 1B, 130
Chemistry (10 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B
Geology (see note 1) (8 units)
GEOL 1 and 3 (or 15) (see note 1), 168
Natural Science (3 units)
NSCI 106
Physical Science (4 units)
PSCI 21
Physics Option (44 units)
Physics (45 units)
CHEM 128A (3 units)
PSCI 168 (3 units)
MATH 75, 76, 77, 81 (16 units)
PHYS 4A, 4AL, 4B, 4BL, 4C (11 units)
PHYS 102, 105A, 107A, 130 (11 units)
General Education requirements (see notes 2,3) (51 units)
Total (120 units)
Advising Notes for the Natural Sciences Major
- GEOL 15 is part of the Humans and the Natural Environment. See the Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Courses section in this catalog. GEOL 15 is equivalent to GEOL 1 and 3.
- Of the 51 General Education units, 12 units may be satisfied as follows: CHEM 1A (3 units), BIOSC 1A (3 units), GEOL 168 (3 units), and MATH 75 (3 units). Consult your major adviser for details. CHEM 1A (3 units), BIOSC 1A or BIOL 15 (3 units), GEOL 168 (3 units), and MATH 75 (3 units). Consult your major adviser for details.
- Students should be sure to take sufficient upper-division units in their General Education courses and electives to satisfy the graduation requirements of 40 upper-division units and upper-division writing skills.
Waiver Program for the Single Subject
Credential in the Sciences
Students interested in satisfying the waiver program in the Natural
Sciences should consult an appropriate adviser early in their
academic program.
Physical Science Minor
The Physical Science Minor offers an opportunity for both nonscience
and science majors to diversify into important and interesting
fields. It consists of 21 units of courses selected according
to one of the patterns below:
A. CHEM 3A and 3B* (7 units)
PHYS 2A and 2B* (8 units)
Upper-division electives** (6 units)
Total (21 units)
B. CHEM 10 (3 units)
PHYS 2A and 2B* (8 units)
GEOL 1 (4 units)
Upper-division electives** (6 units)
Total (21 units)
C. CHEM 3A and 3B* (7 units)
PHYS 10 (4 units)
GEOL 1 (4 units)
Upper-division electives** (6 units)
Total (21 units)
For chemistry, geology or physics majors, all courses must be
outside the major department. The revised program must be approved
by the chair of the major department.
Note: The Physical Science Minor also requires a 2.0
GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.
__________
* CHEM 1A may be substituted for CHEM 3A, and CHEM 1B may be substituted
for CHEM 3B. PHYS 4A and 4AL may be substituted for PHYS 2A, and
PHYS 4B and 4BL may be substituted for PHYS 2B.
** The upper-division electives may be any upper-division courses
for which the student is qualified, from the three departments.
Courses with very few prerequisites are CHEM 139; GEOL 105, 114,
154, 168, 169; PHYS 100, 145; PSCI 106, 131, 168.
Graduate Program
The Department of Physics offers graduate instruction and research
leading to the Master of Science degree.
For general information, read the Graduate
Studies section in this catalog, and in particular, the sections
on Admission to Graduate
Standing, Advancement
to Candidacy, and Program
Requirements. The minimum entrance requirements are a GPA
of 2.5 over the last 60 units, satisfactory scores on the GRE
General Examination, and good references. Although the GRE scores
are not the only, or most important, criteria used in the admission
process, we generally look for scores above 600 on the quantitative
portion of the exam or for a total above 1,000 on the combined
quantitative and verbal portions. The GRE General Examination
must be taken before applying for admission.
It is important to achieve classified standing quickly, before
completion of 10 units. The next step is advancement to candidacy,
after completion of at least 9 units of graduate study with a
minimum GPA of 3.0 and satisfaction of the graduate writing proficiency
requirement by taking PHYS 290. The graduate writing requirement
may be fulfilled by taking PHYS 290 and passing the writing proficiency
component of the course. Please contact the graduate coordinator
for more information. Advancement also requires a scoring at or
above the 25th percentile on the Advanced Physics GRE Subject
Examination.
Teaching assistantships are usually available, as is general financial
aid. For some forms of financial aid, application must be completed
before the end of February.
For specific questions, consult the chair of the department or
the graduate adviser/coordinator.
Master of Science in Physics
The objective of our M.S. program is to build a firm basis
for subsequent Ph.D. study in physics or in related fields, for
positions in industry, and for teaching at the community college
level. We offer a broad-based academic program with the opportunity
for specialized theoretical or experimental research. Students
completing degrees have successfully pursued all three of these
career goals -- with roughly equal numbers going to doctoral programs
and industry, and a smaller number directly into teaching.
Areas of research in which our faculty are active include condensed
matter theory and experiment, characterization of materials properties
(amorphous semiconductors), dipolar magnetism, Fullerene research,
laser Raman spectroscopy, radiation medical physics, classical
and quantum field theory, and general relativity. Faculty also
study forces and interaction of fundamental constituents of matter
with experiments using the world's most powerful particle accelerator
at Fermi National Laboratory. Also used in study of observational
astronomy are the Hubble Space Telescope and other NASA spacecraft.
Students look at cataclysmic variable stars, search for black
holes, scan probe microscopies, examine the biophysics of self-assembled
biomolecules, and learn physics pedagogy.
Under the direction of the graduate adviser and the graduate
faculty, a coherent program, directed toward the student's goal
in graduate study and designed within the framework outlined below,
is prepared and submitted to the department. There is a standard
core of classical mechanics (PHYS 203), classical electrodynamics
(PHYS 220A, B) and quantum mechanics (PHYS 222A, B) which is strongly
recommended for students planning to pursue further graduate study
- and, at least in part, for all students. Other courses, both
from within and from outside the department, can be used to complete
the 30 unit master's program. A culminating experience, consisting
of either a project (PHYS 298) plus a competency examination or
a thesis (PHYS 299), is required.
Undergraduate education equivalent to a physics major at California
State University, Fresno is necessary for admission. Note the
other requirements under Graduate Program.
Physics graduate courses (21 units)
PHYS 298 or 299 (minimum) (3 units)
Additional graduate courses in physics (18 units)
Students planning further graduate study should include PHYS 203,
220A-B, 222A, 222B and 290.
Upper-division or graduate electives in physics or related
fields (9 units)
Total (30 units)
Physics
Courses