Physics
EHD 154B. Final Student Teaching Seminar - Physical Science
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in EHD 155B. Seminar to accompany final student teaching that provides opportunities for candidates to investigate and discuss variety of topics and strategies and to reflect on issues that surface during their student teaching experience.
Units: 1
EHD 155B. Student Teaching - Physical Science
Prerequisites: admission to student teaching, EHD 155A, CI 161 (or concurrently, depending on major departmental policy); senior or post baccalaureate standing; approval of major department including subject matter competency approval; completion of the subject matter preparation program or passing the subject matter examination(s) designated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Supervised teaching in single subject classroom; assignment is for the full day; five days per week. CR/NC grading only.
Units: 5-10, Repeatable up to 20 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 2A. General Physics
Prerequisites: MATH 6 or DS 71 or MATH 75 or MATH 75A or MATH 70 (or permission to register from department office). Topics and concepts in Newtonian mechanics of point particles and rigid bodies, energy, properties of fluids, heat and thermodynamics, waves and sound. G.E. Breadth B1. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours)
Units: 4
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
GE Area: B1
PHYS 2B. General Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 2A with a grade C or better. Topics and concepts in light, electricity, magnetism, atomic structure, relativity, quantum nature of light and matter, nuclear structure and radiation. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours)
Units: 4
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 4A. Mechanics and Wave Motion
Prerequisite: G.E. Breadth B4 with a grade of C or better; Math 75 or Math 75A and Math 75B; MATH 76 with a C grade or better. MATH 76 may be taken concurrently Topics in classical Newtonian mechanics including linear and circular motion; energy; linear and angular momentum; systems of particles; rigid body motion; fluids; gravity; wave motion and sound. G.E. Breadth B1 when taken with PHYS 4AL.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: B1
PHYS 4AL. Laboratory in Mechanics and Wave Motion
Introduction to laboratory methods. Experiments in mechanics, waves, and sound. G.E. Breadth B1. (3 lab hours)
Units: 1
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: B1
PHYS 4B. Electricity, Magnetism, and Heat
Prerequisites: PHYS 4A with a grade of C or better; MATH 77 with a C grade or better (may be taken concurrently). Topics in classical physics including heat and thermodynamics, electrostatics, electric fields and potential, currents and AC and DC electric circuits, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 4BL. Laboratory in Electricity, Magnetism, and Heat
Experiments in electricity, magnetism, heat, and thermodynamics. (3 lab hours)
Units: 1
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 4C. Light and Modern Physics
Prerequisites: PHYS 4B with a grade of C or better, MATH 77 with a grade of C or better. Maxwell's Equations, geometrical optics; electromagnetic radiation; physical optics; introduction to special relativity; quantum physics; and the physics of atoms, nuclei, and the solid state.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 10. Conceptual Physics
Prerequisite:G.E. Foundation B4 (except for those with declared majors in the College of Science and Mathematics.) Basic ideas of physics and their relationship to the everyday environment. Physical phenomena, misconceptions, terminology, scientific method, and metric system. Memorable demonstrations in lectures; household-related experiments in the lab. G.E. Breadth B1. (3 lecture, 2 lab hours)
Units: 4
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: B1
PHYS 90. Directed Study
Prerequisite: any university-level physics or physical science course. Individually arranged course of study in some limited area of physics, either to remove a deficiency or to in vestigate in more depth. (1-2 hours to be arranged)
Units: 1-2, Repeatable up to 3 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 100. Concepts of Quantum Physics
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area B. Key discoveries in Quantum physics and conceptual development of quantum theory. Lecture demonstration of experiments, graphical visualization of theory, hi-tech applications. G.E. Integration IB (3 lecture hours)
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: IB
PHYS 102. Modern Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 4C; MATH 81 (may be taken concurrently). Fundamental concepts of atomic and nuclear structure, transitions and radiation. Includes discussions of relativistic mechanics, quantum mechanics, solid state physics. Special topics as they pertain to modern developments in physic, engineering, and chemistry.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 104. Experimental Techniques in Condensed Matter Physics
Prerequisites: PHYS 4C. Shop techniques and safety instructions. Basic concepts in condensed matter physics. Measurements of conductivity, energy gap in semiconductors, drift mobility, Hall coefficients, photoconductivity, magnetic susceptibilities, excition spectra, dieletric loss. Experience in X-ray diffraction, vacuum technology, thin-film deposition, and low temperature techniques. (1 lecture, 9 lab hours)
Units: 4
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 105A. Analytical Mechanics
Prerequisite: PHYS 4C: MATH 81 (may be taken concurrently). (A) Analytical and vector treatment of the fundamental principles of statics, kinematics, and dynamics. Prerequisite: PHYS 105A. (B) Advanced dynamics; harmonic motion, central force fields, and Lagrange's equations.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 105B. Analytical Mechanics
Prerequisite: PHYS 105A. (B) Advanced dynamics; harmonic motion, central force fields, and Lagrange's equations.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 106. Introduction to Computer Simulations in Physics
Prerequisites: PHYS 4C. This course introduces computational techniques in Physics. Basic programming in Python will be presented, with focus on designing computer simulations and applying them to solve problems in statistical physics, quantum mechanics and modeling of complex systems. Topics in probability theory and statistics will be discussed and a modern introduction to artificial intelligence will be presented. (3 lecture hours).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 107A. Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
Prerequisites: PHYS 105A, MATH 81. (A) Mathematical analysis of electrostatics and magnetostatics, Gauss'law, solutions of Laplace's equation, images, theory of conduction, magnetic potentials. (B) Prerequisites: PHYS 107A. Motion of ions in electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations and wave propagation, electron theory, and magnetic properties.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 107B. Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
Prerequisites: PHYS 107A. Motion of ions in electric and magnetic fields, electgromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations and wave propagation, electron theory, and magnetic properties.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 110. Physical Optics
Prerequisites: PHYS 4C, MATH 81. Theory of optical phenomena; wave theory of light with applications to optical instruments; interference and diffraction phenomena, dispersion, polarization, coherence, and laser phenomena. Practical experience in using lasers and optical instruments. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 115. Quantum Mechanics
Prerequisites: PHYS 102, MATH 81. PHYS 170A strongly recommended. Historical background, postulates, meaning, and methods of quantum mechanics; applications to atomic phenomena.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 135. Introduction to Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
Prerequisites: PHYS 4A, PHYS 4AL, PHYS 4B, PHYS 4BL and PHYS 4C. Introduction to fundamentals of nuclear magnetic resonance and application in imaging and spectroscopy in-vivo. T1, T2, PD-weighted images, spin echo sequence, and artifacts in images. (3 lecture hours)
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 136. Radiation Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 102. The interaction of radiation with matter: photoelectric, Compton and pair production processes, neutron and charged particle interactions, linear energy transfer, quality factor, attenuation coefficients, shielding. Biological effects, RBE, internal dose, permissible exposures, beneficial application. Instrumentation.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 137. Radiation Measurements Laboratory
Prerequisite: PHYS 136. Advanced experiments in atomic and nuclear physics. Radiation safety. Gamma ray, X-ray, and particle detection and spectroscopy. Application of Gas-filled detectors, Scintillators and High Purity Germanium Detectors. Statistics and error analysis. (1 lecture, 4 lab hours). Formerly PHYS 130.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 140. Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory
Prerequisite: PHYS 102, MATH 81. Fundamental concepts and laws of classical thermodynamics. Rudiments of kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics with application to physical and chemical systems.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 150. Astrophysics
Prerequisites: PHYS 4C. Introduction to celestial mechanics, spectral classification, stellar atmospheres and interiors, star formation and evolution, variable stars, neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, the nature of galaxies, and the expansion of the universe.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 151. Observational Astronomy
Prerequisites: PHYS 4C. Celestial coordinates, time, stellar motions, constellations, star charts, catalogs, astronomical sources, observational limits, telescopes, detectors, atmospheric effects, digital image processing, photometry, and spectroscopy. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours). (Formerly PHYS 175T)
Units: 4
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 155. Seminar in Biomedical Physics/Neurosciences
Prerequisite: Biomedical Physics Major or permission of the Department Chair. One-to-one interaction with invited speakers giving talks onthe state-of-the-art in medical imaging including MR, CT, PET, SPECT, etc, new radiation oncology systems such as CYBERKNIFE, IMRT, etc, neurobiology, radiobiology, and molecular imaging.
Units: 1, Repeatable up to 2 units
PHYS 156. Diagnostic X-Ray Imaging Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 136. The fundamentals of x-ray production, image quality, digital radiography, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography. Image artifacts. (3 lecture hours)
Units: 3
PHYS 157. Nuclear Medicine Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 136. Fundamentals of nuclear imaging. Gamma camera, basic principles and performance characteristics. Emission tomography: SPECT and PET, basic principles and performance characteristics. (3 lecture hours)
Units: 3
PHYS 158. Radiation Oncology Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 136. Introduction to linear accelerators, geometry of photon beams, photon beam and electron beam dosimetry, treatment planning, brachytherapy, clinical applications, and new techniques. (3 lecture hours).
Units: 3
PHYS 162. Condensed Matter Physics
Prerequisites: PHYS 102, or CHEM 110B and permission of instructor. Classification of solids; crystalline state and lattice vibrations; properties of metallic lattices and dielectrics; magnetic properties of solids; free electron theory and band theory of metals; semiconductors; imperfections.
Units: 3
PHYS 163. Introduction to Particle Physics and ATLAS Experiment of LHC at CERN
Prerequisites: PHYS 4A and PHYS 4B. PHYS 4C is strongly recommended. Online course to 17 CSU Nuclear and Particle Physics Consortium (NUPAC) campuses, especially those intended to work at CERN on ATLAS research during summer (Formerly PHYS 175T).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
PHYS 164. Tools and Skills for Working on Experimental Particle Physics Research
Prerequisite: PHYS 163. Students will learn how to use CERN/ATLAS computing accounts in Linux platform to perform physics and statistical data analysis with C++, Python, ROOT, and other tools and packages, Indico and Vidyo systems, access to ATLAS simulation and data, and examples of ATLAS physics analysis in searching for new physics, etc. (3 lecture hours)
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 168S. Physics Outreach
Prerequisite: Any one of the following courses: NSCI 1A, PHYS 10, PHYS 2A, PHYS 4A. Provides science majors and future teachers hands-on experience demonstrating physics in K-12 schools. Best practices based on education research, theories of science instruction, and core concepts in physics in a service-learning environment. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) FS
Units: 3
PHYS 170A. Mathematical Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 4A and MATH 81. Application of mathematical methods to the solution of problems in physics.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
PHYS 171. Analytical Methods
Prerequisite: PHYS 102, PHYS 110, PHYS 105A, PHYS 105B, PHYS 107A, PHYS 115, PHYS 140 (PHYS 105B and PHYS 115 may be taken concurrently). Advanced analytical techniques in solving problems in core physics disciplines
Units: 2
PHYS 175T. Topics in Contemporary Physics
Designed to provide students with special work in such areas of physics as biophysics, modern optics, plasmas, high energy physics, solid state, chaos theory, nuclear structure, astrophysics, low temperature phenomena. Some topics may have labs.
Units: 1-4, Repeatable up to 12 units
PHYS 175T. Introduction to Medical Imaging
Introduction to Medical Imaging for Nurses, Physical Therapists and other Professionals in the Healt This course will cover an overview of multiple modalities in medical imaging such as x-rays, nuclear medecine. fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, etc.
Units: 3
PHYS 180. Seminar in Physics
Prerequisite: senior or graduate physics major or permission of department chair.
Units: 1, Repeatable up to 3 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 190. Independent Study
See Academic Placement. Approved for RP grading.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYS 203. Classical Mechanics
Prerequisites: PHYS 105B, PHYS 170A. Advanced treatment of classical analytical mechanics including Lagrange's and Hamilton's formulation of the laws of motion, special relativity, small oscillation theory, hydrodynamics.
Units: 4
PHYS 220A. Advanced Electricity and Magnetism I
Prerequisites: PHYS 107B, PHYS 170A. Electromagnetic theory and its applications; electrostatics, boundary-value problems in electrostatics, dielectrics, multipoles, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic radiation, basic optics, dispersion, wave guides and resonant cavities.
Units: 4
PHYS 220B. Advanced Electricity and Magnetism II
Prerequisite: PHYS 220A. Radiating systems; multipole radiation; special relativity; Lorentz symmetry and Lorentz transformations; dynamics of relativistic particles and fields; Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of field theory; radiation of charged particles; Lienard-Wiechert potentials; Larmor formula; radiation damping.
Units: 4
PHYS 222A. Quantum Mechanics I
Prerequisite: PHYS 115, PHYS 170A. Quantum Dynamics: representations and pictures, path integrals, evolution operator, propagators. Angular Momentum: orbital and spin, addition. Perturbation Theory: time-independent and time-dependent problems, sudden and adiabatic approximations. Scattering: Lippman-Schwinger equations, scattering matrix, Born approximation, partial waves. Berry Phases, Aharonov-Bohm effect, EPR experiments, Bell theorem.
Units: 4
PHYS 222B. Quantum Mechanics II
Prerequisite: PHYS 222A. Identical Particles: fermions and bosons, second quantization. Electromagnetic Fields: radiation field, photons, coherent states, vacuum state and Casimir effect, interactions with charged particles. Relativistic Quantum Mechanics: Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, relativistic hydrogen atom, perturbation theory and Feynman diagrams.
Units: 3
PHYS 262. Advanced Condensed Matter Physics
Prerequisites: PHYS 115, PHYS 162, PHYS 170A. Binding and crystal structure, crystal electron theories, elementary excitations, transport theories, crystal defects, superconductivity.
Units: 3
PHYS 270. Advanced Mathematical Physics
Prerequisite: PHYS 170A. Group theory, including continuous (Lie) groups, Lie algebras, and an introduction to the theory of representations, Green's functions and their applications to physical problems, and integral equations including diagrammatic methods of solution.
Units: 3
PHYS 272. General Relativity
Prerequisite: PHYS 203. The principle of equivalence, tensor calculus in curved space-times, the Einstein-Hilbert equations, the Schwarzschild solution, tests of general relativity, gravitational radiation, introduction to cosmology.
Units: 3
PHYS 275T. Topics in Contemporary Physics
Advanced topics in such areas as modern optics, plasma physics, high energy physics, astrophysics, nuclear physics, biophysics. Some topics may have labs.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
PHYS 275T. Graduate Statistical Mechanics
This course covers the foundations and several applications of Statistical Mechanics, including interdisciplinary applications in the modeling of complex systems. Starting from the basic equations of Quantum Mechanics, the theory of statistical ensembles will be presented. The theory of quantum gases will be discussed, with applications in Condensed Matter Physics and Astrophysics. Interacting systems will be discussed, from magnets to superfluids and superconductors. Phase transitions and critical phenomena will be discussed. Finally, an introduction to computer simulation techniques and quantum computing will be discussed. This topic may not be repeated for credit. (Offered Spring 2023)
Units: 3
PHYS 280. Physics Graduate Seminar
Prerequisite: Graduate Physics major or permission of department chair. Presentation on a host of research and career topics by outside researchers as well as Fresno State faculty. Graduate Physics students doing a thesis must take this course and give a 30-40 minute talk on their research.
Units: 1, Repeatable up to 2 units
PHYS 290. Independent Study
See Academic Placement. Approved for RP grading.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
PHYS 298. Project
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Scholarly investigation by the advanced graduate student as a culminating experience for the master's degree, including a written project report and an oral defense, and followed by a competency exam. Approved for RP grading.
Units: 2-6
PHYS 298C. Project Continuation
Pre-requisite: Project PHYS 298. For continuous enrollment while completing the project. May enroll twice with department approval. Additional enrollments must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Units: 0
PHYS 299. Thesis
Prerequisite: See. Preparation, completion, and submission of an acceptable thesis for the master's degree. Approved for RP grading.
Units: 2-6
PHYS 299C. Thesis Continuation
Pre-requisite: Thesis PHYS 299. For continuous enrollment while completing the thesis. May enroll twice with department approval. Additional enrollments must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Units: 0
PSCI 21. Elementary Astronomy
Recommended: second-year high school algebra. Concepts, theories, important physical principles, and history of astronomy. Stellar properties, distances, and evolution. Three field trips for observing with telescopes. G.E. Breadth B1. (3 lecture, 2 lab hours) (Course fee, $40)
Units: 4
GE Area: B1
PSCI 131. Concepts of Classical Physics from Babylon to Maxwell
Prerequisites: General Education Quantitative Reasoning and Area B Breadth requirements. Concepts, theories, and laws of classical physics. Mathematics, astronomy, mechanics, light, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, chemistry, and the atom. G.E. Integration 1B.
Units: 3
GE Area: IB
PSCI 168. Energy and the Environment
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area B. Analysis of energy crisis; introduction to various forms of energy, energy conversion processes and environmental effects; present energy supply and energy projections; future energy demands and ways of evaluating alternatives. G.E. Integration IB
Units: 3
GE Area: IB
PSCI 180T. Topics in Physical Science
Detailed discussion of special topics within the realm of physical science.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 9 units
Back to Top