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Degrees and Requirements

Applied Physics Minor

A total of 24 credits is required for completion of a minor in Applied Physics. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the following courses to qualify for the minor. NOTE: All labs are zero (0) credits and must be taken with the corresponding course.

Summary of Requirements

Required Courses:

  • PHYS1032
    GENERAL PHYSICS I

    PHYS1032
    GENERAL PHYSICS I

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    PREREQUISITE: MATH1032 This is the first of a three-semester introduction to calculus-based physics stressing experimental and problem-solving techniques. Concepts covered are mechanics, kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, conservation laws, rotational motion, gravitation, oscillation, and wave/acoustics.

    PREREQUISITES:

    MATH1032, Coreq: PHYS1032L

  • PHYS1032L
    GENERAL PHYSICS I - LAB

    PHYS1032L
    GENERAL PHYSICS I - LAB

    Credits (Min/Max): 1/1

    PREREQUISITE: MATH1032 Laboratory for PHYS1032 General Physics I

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS1033
    GENERAL PHYSICS II

    PHYS1033
    GENERAL PHYSICS II

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    PREREQUISITE: PHYS1032 The second of a three-semester introduction to calculus-based physics. Concepts covered are thermal properties and electromagnetism: thermo dynamics, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic wave, geometrical optics, and physics optics.

    PREREQUISITES:

    PHYS1032, Coreq: PHYS1033L

  • PHYS1033L
    GENERAL PHYSICS II - LAB

    PHYS1033L
    GENERAL PHYSICS II - LAB

    Credits (Min/Max): 1/1

    Laboratory for PHYS1033 General Physics II

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS2030
    GENERAL PHYSICS III

    PHYS2030
    GENERAL PHYSICS III

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    PREREQUISITE: PHYS1033 The third of a three-semester introduction to calculus-based physics. This course is devoted to the study of the two great theories that underlie almost all of modern physics, quantum theory and relativity theory. There is an emphasis on quantum mechanical description of semiconductor physics, which forms our modern electronics age (computers and electronic communication devices in general). A series of laboratory projects enables the student to retrace experimentally the development of modern physics.

    PREREQUISITES:

    PHYS1033, Coreq: PHYS2030L

  • PHYS2030L
    GENERAL PHYSICS III - LAB

    PHYS2030L
    GENERAL PHYSICS III - LAB

    Credits (Min/Max): 1/1

    PREREQUISITE: PHYS1033L Laboratory for PHYS2030 General Physics III

    PREREQUISITES:

    PHYS1033L

  • PHYS2080
    ANALOG ELECTRONICS

    PHYS2080
    ANALOG ELECTRONICS

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    An introductory course of electronics. Students will learn the fundamental principles of electronics circuits while engaging in various laboratory projects using electronic components such as passive devices and integrated circuit chips. Topics to be studied include basic circuit theory, diode applications, Bipolar and Filed Effect transistors, operational amplifiers, and basic TTL gates. This course will provide students with both theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to start understanding of computers and data communication devices.

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS2080L
    ANALOG ELECTRONICS - LAB

    PHYS2080L
    ANALOG ELECTRONICS - LAB

    Credits (Min/Max): 0/0

    Lab for PHYS2080 Analog Electronics

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS3080
    DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

    PHYS3080
    DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    This is an intermediate digital electronics and focuses on the study of computer architecture, and digital signal processing technology. It will provide students with the working knowledge necessary for understanding in computer science and telecommunication technologies. Students will learn practical digital circuits while conducting practical laboratory projects. Typical digital integrated circuits and digital/analog interface chips will be used for designing and constructing a prototype computer, interfaces, and digital signal processing circuits.

    PREREQUISITES:

    PHY 280(L)

  • PHYS3080L
    DIGITAL ELECTRONICS - LAB

    PHYS3080L
    DIGITAL ELECTRONICS - LAB

    Credits (Min/Max): 0/0

    Lab for PHYS3080 Digital Electronics

    PREREQUISITES:

Six (6) credits (2 courses) selected from the following:

  • PHYS3075
    COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS

    PHYS3075
    COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    This course will focus on analyzing problems of physics with numerical methods and simulation techniques. Various problems are selected from Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermal/Statistical Physics, and Quantum Mechanics. It will provide students with additional computational skill and knowledge necessary for analyzing various models and simulations of physics and other disciplines.

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS3082
    ELECTRONICS COMMUNICATION

    PHYS3082
    ELECTRONICS COMMUNICATION

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    This course will present the fundamental technology of wireless and cable telecommunications. Students will become familiar with modulation/demodulation and noise reduction for high-fidelity electronic and data communications. They will also learn advanced data communication technologies such as digital broadband technology. Transition from electronics (application of electrons) to photonics (application of lights and photons) is also presented. Hands-on laboratory projects will be conducted in connection with the basic hardware of telecommunication not covered in PHYS2080 Analog Electronics and PHYS 3080 Digital Electronics.

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS3082L
    ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

    PHYS3082L
    ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

    Credits (Min/Max): 0/0

    Lab for PHYS3082 Electronic Communication

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS4075
    PHYSICS OF INFORMATION THEORY

    PHYS4075
    PHYSICS OF INFORMATION THEORY

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    This course will offer fundamental concepts of physics that forms information and computation theories. The first part of this course is an overview of information theory. The concept of entropy and negative entropy in Thermodynamics and Information will be discussed. Then, noise in electric communication will be treated as a stochastic process. The second part of this course is an introduction to quantum computation and information. Mathematical background of quantum mechanics will be overviewed for the theoretical background of quantum computation/information. Experimental feasibility will be also discussed with recent development. It will provide students with fundamental knowledge of classical and quantum computation/information.

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS4080
    INSTRUMENTAL PHYSICS

    PHYS4080
    INSTRUMENTAL PHYSICS

    Credits (Min/Max): 3/3

    In this course, students will learn how to design and construct test and measurement instruments. They will design, construct various hands-on apparatuses and conduct measurements with their own instruments in the laboratory session. Students will also learn basic knowledge of design and construction of computer-based data acquisition systems and virtual instruments, emphasizing the application of microelectronics for controlling processes and systems. The integration of microprocessors with sensors/actuators and the use of digital device interface are central to these applications. In addition, typical computer network application of laboratory will be overviewed.

    PREREQUISITES:

  • PHYS4080L
    INSTRUMENTAL PHYSICS - LAB

    PHYS4080L
    INSTRUMENTAL PHYSICS - LAB

    Credits (Min/Max): 0/0

    PREREQUISITES: