Course Descriptions
PHY 210 Physics I (3 credits)
Introduction to mechanics. Topics covered include vectors, statics, uniform accelerated motion, energy, momentum, uniform circular motion, elasticity and simple harmonic motion. This course emphasizes the development of quantitative concepts and problem solving skills for students needing a broad background in physics as part of their preparation in other major programs.
Prerequisite: MAT 211 or MMPT, ENG 201
Co-requisite: PHY 210L
PHY 210L Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)
A hands-on laboratory experiments selected from motion on an inclined plane, circular motion, momentum and energy in collisions, torques, and conservation laws. Use of the computer for organizing, graphing and analyzing data.
Co-requisite: PHY 210
PHY 220 Physics II (3 credits)
This course provides students with the principles and applications of electricity, magnetism, light, sound, atomic physics, and nuclear physics. Topics covered include: wave motion, sound, electric field, electric potential, direct current circuits, electrochemistry, the magnetic field, electromagnetic function, flux and electromotive force.
Prerequisite: PHY 210
Co-requisite: PHY 220L
PHYS 220L Physics II Laboratory (1 credit)
The purpose of this laboratory course is to transform theoretical principles into practical experimentation based on the topics covered in PHY 220. Experiments are selected from series and parallel circuits, RC circuits, EMF and terminal potential difference, electromagnets, and magnetic induction.
Co-requisite: PHY 220
PHY 230 Thermodynamics I (3 credits)
This course provides the students with the basic laws of conservation of mass, energy and the entropy balance. The course covers the properties and behavior of pure substances, concepts of work and heat, systems and control volumes, first law for systems, second law for systems, entropy and entropy production, and Carnot cycle. Introduction to the fundamentals of temperature measurement by experimentation.
PHY 260 Wave Motion and Optics (3 credits)
Students in this course are introduced to the theory and practice of the general properties of waves. Topics covered include: sound, electromagnetic, and mechanical waves; special emphasis on light and optics.
Prerequisite: MAT 213, PHY 220
PHY 280 Physical Optics (3 credits)
This course offers basic concepts on images formed by geometrical optics, waves, nature of light, interferences, diffraction, and X-ray diffraction.
Prerequisite: PHY 260
PHY 290 Modern Physics (3 credits)
A course designed to provide students with an introduction to modern physics and thermodynamics. Topics covered include: photons (spectra, photoelectric effect, blackbody radiation, Compton effect), atoms (Rutherford, Bohr), matter waves (Planck, de Broglie, probability interpretation, Schroedinger), nuclei, particles, special relativity, the laws of thermodynamics, and statistical physics.
Prerequisite: PHY 260
Co-requisite: PHY 290L
PHY 290L Modern Physics Laboratory (3 credits)
A full course consisting of Laboratory experiments investigating the breakdown of classical physics for microscopic phenomena. Topics covered include: absorption and emission spectra, the photoelectric effect, blackbody radiation, the Compton effect, X-ray diffraction, and other experiments in modern physics.
Co-requisite: PHY 290
PHY 320 Numerical Methods in Physics and Computational Techniques (3 credits)
This course provides students with the knowledge, and skills related to concepts and computational techniques in numerical methods for solving physics problems. Topics covered include: probability, statistics, data analysis, fits, numerical solutions, and interpretation of the experimental data.
Prerequisites: MAT 225
PHY 340 Classical Dynamics (3 credits)
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of elementary linear vector algebra, Newtonian mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics, central force motion, dynamics of rigid bodies, and theory of small oscillations.
Prerequisite: MAT 213, MAT 320
PHY 350 Electronics with Laboratory (3 credits0
This course is designed to provide students with the theory and practice of electronics as applied to physics instrumentation. Topics covered include: direct and alternating current circuits, diodes and transistors, feedback, passive and active filters, simple amplifiers, and combinatorial and sequential digital electronics. The course also includes laboratory experiments whereby students learn to build circuits and to diagnose and troubleshoot problems inherent in the circuits using typical laboratory instruments.
Prerequisite: PHY 220
PHY 360 Classical Electrodynamics I ( 3 credits)
Electrostatic fields, magnetostatic fields, derivation of Green's theorems and functions and of Maxwell's equations.
Prerequisite: PHY 290, MAT 340
PHY 370 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3 credits)
The course offers basic concepts of thermal physics; entropy, enthalpy, free energy, phase transitions, equilibrium distribution functions, applications.
Prerequisite: PHY 290
PHY 380 Quantum Physics I (3 credits)
A first course in quantum mechanics covering the foundations. Topics include: postulates of quantum mechanics, the bound states of the finite square well, the harmonic oscillator, operator-eigenvalue formulism and selected examples, the hydrogen atom, angular momentum, rigid rotor, simple scattering theory, and spin.
Prerequisite: MAT 430, PHY 290
PHY 430 Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
Students are introduced to the fundamental concepts in quantum mechanics. Topics covered include: the Stern Gerlach experiment; the Dirac formalism; kets; bras and operators; base kets and matrix representations. Measurements, observables and the uncertainty relations. Position, momentum, and translation. Wave functions in position and momentum space. Time evolution and Schrodinger's equation, Heisenberg picture. Orbital angular momentum, spin, and angular momentum addition. Applications include simple harmonic oscillator and the Hydrogen atom.
Prerequisites: PHY 360, MAT 430
PHY 440 Solid State Physics (3 credits)
This course provides students with the fundamentals of solid state physics. Topics covered include: crystal structure, x-ray crystallography, reciprocal space, lattice vibrations, thermal properties of solids, free electron gas, Bloch functions, metals, insulators, and semiconductors. The course concludes with a description of basic semiconductor devices.
Prerequisite: MAT 340, PHY 430
PHY 450 Quantum Physics II: Atoms and Molecules (3 credits)
An intermediate course in quantum physics. Topics covered include: the two-electron atom; spin and statistics; coupling schemes for many-electron atoms; atoms and the radiation field; perturbation methods for decay and collisions; thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties of solids; and free-electron metal and band theory. Practical examples are provided all though the course.
Prerequisite: PHY 380
PHY 460 Quantum Physics III: Particles and Nuclei (3 credits)
A more advanced course in quantum physics. Topics include: nuclei and nucleons, their gross properties; the hadrons; symmetries and conservation laws; nuclear stability; electromagnetic, weak, and hadronic interactions; nuclear reactions at low, medium, and high energies; nucleon structure; tools of experimental nuclear physics; models of theoretical nuclear physics; nuclear technology.
Prerequisite: PHY 380
PHY 470 Quantum Mechanics II (3 credits)
A more advanced course in quantum mechanics. Topics covered include: Fermions and bosons, perturbation theory, WKB approximation, scattering.
Prerequisite: PHY 430
PHY 475 Nuclear Physics (3 credits)
A study of the nucleus, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, fusion, interactions of radiation with matter and measurement of radiation.
Prerequisite: PHY 340, Consent of advisor
PHY 480 Space Science (3 credits)
A survey of the structure and dynamics of the atmospheres of planets, including ionospheres and magnetospheres, as influenced by the sun's radiation and the solar wind. Topics include aurora and airglow, photochemistry, and atmospheric electricity.
Prerequisite: PHY 290
PHY 490 Special Topics in Physics (1-3 credits)
Students are assigned a reading program or development of an assigned physics problem.
Prerequisite: Consent of Advisor
PHY 492 Special Topics in Undergraduate Research (1-3 credits)
Students apply supervised literature investigations of physics problems of contemporary interest.
Prerequisite: Consent of Advisor
PHY 497 Practical Training (3 credits)
Students in their junior year are required to work on part time or full time basis in order to experiment with and practice what they learned in class. A student presents a formal report by the end of this training period then he/she makes a public presentation exposing his/her experience.
Prerequisite: Junior standing and Consent of Advisor
PHY 499 Capstone Project (3 credits)
Students will utilize the blue prints prepared in the curriculum to deal with Physics Problems not encountered in regular course of study. It integrates and synthesizes concepts in Physics theory with applications. Topics include open-ended analysis of data, review of research literature on current techniques and practice of Physics and Applied Physics, development of physics communication skills and the use of computational tools in data analysis. Students are expected to introduce the method in a presentation and to prepare a comprehensive, professional report detailing the selected method and its application to a real problem.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing
MAT 211 Calculus I (3 credits)
This course is designed to introduce the basics of calculus. Topics covered include: real number system and its algebraic and analytic properties, functions and graphs, limits and applications, derivatives and applications, and an introduction to integration and applications.
Prerequisite: MMPT
MAT 212 Calculus II (3 credits)
This course continues what students learnt in MAT 211. Students will be trained to deal with integration concepts and applications. Students will use the basic techniques for integration to solve a variety of applications of integration. This course also will offer an introduction to differential equations.
Prerequisite: MAT 211 or MMPT
MAT 213 Calculus III (3 credits)
This advanced calculus course prepares students in theory and practice by building their abilities to define, model, and solve related problems in the following topics: sequences and series, Fourier series, Lagrange multipliers, polar coordinates, functions of multiple variables, partial differentiation, quadratic surfaces, cylindrical, spherical, and rectangular coordinates and multiple integrals. Special emphasis is also put on the applications.
Prerequisite: MAT 212 or MMPT
MAT 214 Calculus IV (3 credits)
Advanced engineering mathematics is covered in this course. Topics include linear second order differential equations, series solutions of differential equations including Bessel functions and Legendre polynomials, calculus of variations, optimization techniques, and solutions of the diffusion and wave equations in several dimensions.
Prerequisite: MAT 213
MAT 225 Probability & Statistics for Science (3 credits)
Students from the sciences and engineering programs are introduced to the basics of probability and statistics concepts. Students will cover the concepts, applications and techniques to solve related problems. Contents include probability theory, laws, models, and applications, density functions, statistical analysis using Chi-square testing, t- and f- distributions, estimation, confidence limits, significance tests, and regression analysis.
Prerequisite: MAT 212
MAT 320 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
This course acquaints students with the concepts, techniques, and solutions of linear equations and matrices, vector spaces, subspaces, linear independence, bases, dimension, inner product spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonal matrices and diagonalization, quadratic forms and numerical linear algebra.
Prerequisite: MAT 212
MAT 340 Differential Equations (3 credits)
This course is a cornerstone for engineering and sciences students. Topics covered include: classification, fundamentals, use, solution techniques, and applications of equations of the first order and second order. Also, this course familiarizes students with Fourier series and Laplace transforms and their solutions and applications.
Prerequisite: MAT 213
MAT 430 Vector and Tensor Analysis (3 credits)
This course is useful for those students intending to study higher level of mathematics in the physics and engineering majors. Topics include: vector algebra and calculus, integral theorems, general coordinates, invariance, tensor analysis, and perhaps an introduction to differential geometry.
Prerequisite: MAT 340
CHE 205 General Chemistry I (3 credits)
This course provides students with foundations of inorganic chemistry based on theoretical as well as practical working knowledge. Topics covered include: atomic structure, chemical bonding, properties of gases, liquids, and solids, acid-base chemistry, and chemical equilibria are emphasized.
Prerequisite: MAT 211, CHE 200 or MCPE,
Co-requisite: ENG 201, CHE 205L
CHE 205L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1 credit)
This is the practical part of CHE 205. Students will develop skills and techniques to experimentally assess and quantify chemical relationships.
Co-requisite: CHE 205