You are in the official 1998-99 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, 4, and 5)
Math 75, 76, 77, 81; Chem 1A, 1B; IT 53; C Sci 15 or 20 or 40 or ECE 70
General Education* (45 units)
(see Note 3)
Electives and remaining degree requirements (0-1 units)
(see Degree Requirements and Note 3)
Total (124-125 units)
__________
* This figure takes into consideration that one General Education
CORE class (Math 72) and a BREADTH Division 1 class (Phys 4A) also may be
applied to satisfy physics major additional requirements (see General
Education). Under this provision, up to 6 units of courses required
for the physics major also may be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Consult the physics department chair or your faculty adviser for additional
details.
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.
- General Education and elective units may be used toward a minor (see department minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
- Courses which satisfy additional requirements may also be used to satisfy requirements in General Education, a dual major, or a minor, as appropriate.
- Students without a strong foundation in mathematics should consider substituting Math 71 and 72 for Math 75.
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; I T 53; 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)
Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences
Physics Emphasis
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, School 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 Science Interdisciplinary
Courses section in this catalog. The B.A. in Natural Sciences with the
Physics Emphasis is as follows:
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Natural Sciences Major
Core requirements (48-49 units)
Biology (12-13 units)
BioSc 1A or Biol 15 (see advising note 1) BioSc 1B and 130
Chemistry (13 units)
Chem 1A, 1B; Chem 8 or 128A
Geology (5 units)
Geol 1 and 3 (or 15) (see advising note 1)
Natural Science (3 units)
N Sci 106
Physics (8 units)
Phys 2A, 2B (see advising note 2)
Physical Science (7 units)
P Sci 21, 168
Physics Emphasis (see advising note 3) (23 units)
Math 77, 81 (8 units)
Phys 4A, 4B, 4C, 4AL, 4BL (replaces Phys 2A-B in core, 3 additional units)
(3 units)
Phys 102, 105A, 107A, 140 (12 units)
Additional requirements (8 units)
Math 75, 76
General Education (see advising note 4) (42 units)
6-unit CAPSTONE requirement to be met by Geol/Geog 168
Electives (see advising note 5) 2-3 units
Total (124 units)
Advising Notes
- Biol 15 and Geol 15 are part of the cluster course Man/Woman and the Natural Environment. See Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Course section in this catalog for details.
- Substitutions may be made with the permission of the appropriate department chair. Phys 4A-B-C (with 4AL and 4BL) is recommended instead of Phys 2A-B for those students well prepared for physics.
- Consult your faculty adviser regarding the selection of your elective units to have this emphasis used as the Science Waiver Program.
- This figure takes into account that 9 units in the major and additional requirements may also be applied to satisfy General Education requirements as follows: CORE, Quantitative Reasoning -- Math 75 (3 units); BREADTH, Division 1 -- Chem 1A or Geol 1 or 15 or Phys 2A (3 units); and Division 2 -- BioSc 1A or Biol 15 (3 units). Consult your major academic adviser for details. (See General Education.)
- 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 for graduation.
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 1 (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.
__________
* 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, 151, 168, 169; Phys 145;
P Sci 106, 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 writing proficiency requirement. Advancement is dependent upon achieving
a satisfactory score 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.
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 current faculty are active include condensed
matter theory and experiment, dipolar magnetism, Fullerene research, X-ray
fluorescence analysis, laser Raman spectroscopy, classical and quantum field
theory, scanning probe microscopies, the biophysics of self-assembled biomolecules,
and 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, and 222B.
Upper-division or graduate electives in physics or related fields (9
units)
Total (30 units)
