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Physics - B.S. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Attribute Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

 DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  UC 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1 1  
  MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (56 credits)  Courses count in major GPA 
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KBS CHEM 10060 General Chemistry I 4  
KBS CHEM 10061 General Chemistry II 4  
KBS CHEM 10062 General Chemistry I Laboratory 1  
KBS CHEM 10063 General Chemistry II Laboratory 1  
KMC MATH 12002 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I 5  
  MATH 12003 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II 5  
  MATH 32051 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences I 4  
  MATH 32052 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences II 4  
ELR PHY 12000 Introductory Physics Seminar 1  
KBS PHY 23101 General University Physics I 2 5  
KBS PHY 23102 General University Physics II 2 5  
WIC PHY 30020 Intermediate Physics Laboratory 2 C 3
  PHY 35101 Classical Mechanics 4  
  PHY 36001 Introductory Modern Physics 3  
WIC PHY 40020 Advanced Physics Laboratory 2 C 3
ELR PHY 40092 Internship in Physics 4 2  
  PHY 45201 Electromagnetic Theory 4  
 ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (34-42 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  Foreign Language 5 8-10  
  Kent Core Composition 6  
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts 6 9  
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 0-6  
  General Electives
Number of general elective credit hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and minimum 42 upper-division hours.
1-8  
 
CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (26-39 credits) 
  Research (26)  
  Applied Mathematics (26)  
  Applied Physics (26)  
  Biological Sciences (28)  
  Chemistry (29)  
  Computer Science (29)  
  Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy (39)  
MINIMUM TOTAL 
120
 
  1. UC 10097 is not required of transfer students with 25 credits (excluding College Credit Plus) or students age 21+ at time of admission.
  2. Credit is not granted for both the PHY 13001/PHY 13002 and the PHY 23101/PHY 23102 series, nor for the PHY 13011/
    PHY 13012 series.
  3. A minimum C grade must be earned in either PHY 30020 or PHY 40020 in order to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  4. With advisor’s permission. PHY 40092 may be replaced with PHY 40096 Individual Investigation or PHY 40099 Senior Honors Thesis. If PHY 40096 is taken, a suitable research project should be selected.
  5. Fulfills College General Requirement.
  6. PHIL 21001, Introduction to Ethics (3), is highly recommended to fulfill the Kent Core Humanities category. This course also fulfills the global diversity requirement.


Note:
The following courses may not count towards the Physics major:
PHY 11030 Seven Ideas that Shook the Universe (3)
PHY 21040 Physics in The Entertainment and the Arts (3)   
PHY 21041 Physics in The Entertainment and the Arts Laboratory (1)
PHY 21430 Frontiers in Astronomy (3)
PHY 21431 Frontiers in Astronomy Laboratory (1)

 

 

Research Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (26 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  CS

CS
CS
13001

13011
13012
Computer Science I: Programming and Problem Solving (4)
or
Computer Science IA - Procedural Programming (2) 1   and
Computer Science IB - Object Oriented Programming (2)
4  
  PHY 36002 Applications of Modern Physics 3  
  PHY 45301 Thermal Physics 3  
  PHY 45403 Data Analysis and Computational Physics Techniques 3  
  PHY 46101 Quantum Mechanics 4  
  PHY Physics electives (minimum 4 upper-division credit hours) 9  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
26  
  1. A minimum grade of C (2.000) must be earned in CS 13011 in order to take CS 13012.

 


Applied Mathematics Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (26 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  CS

CS
CS
13001

13011
13012
Computer Science I: Programming and Problem Solving (4)
or
Computer Science IA - Procedural Programming (2) 1   and
Computer Science IB - Object Oriented Programming (2)
4  
  PHY 36002 Applications of Modern Physics 3  
  PHY 45401 Mathematical Methods in Physics 4  
  PHY 45403 Data Analysis and Computational Physics Techniques 3  
  PHY Physics Electives 6  
  Choose from the following: MATH electives 1 6  
  MATH 23022 Discrete Structures for Computer Sciences (3) 2    
  MATH 31011 Discrete Mathematics (3) 3    
  MATH 40011 Introduction to Probability Theory and Applications (3)    
  MATH 40012 Introduction to Statistical Concepts (3)    
  MATH 40051 Topics in Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes (3)    
  MATH 41021 Theory of Matrices (3)    
  MATH 42011 Mathematical Optimization (3)    
  MATH 42031 Mathematical Models and Dynamical Systems (3)    
  MATH 42039 Modeling Projects (3)    
  MATH 42041 Advanced Calculus (3)    
  MATH 42045 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations (3)    
  MATH 42048 Introduction to Complex Variables (3)    
  MATH 42201 Introduction to Numerical Computing I (3)    
  MATH 42202 Introduction to Numerical Computing II (3)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
26  
  1. A minimum grade of C (2.000) must be earned in CS 13011 in order to take CS 13012.
  2. There may be additional prerequisites required for some courses in the MATH elective list. See course catalog or department for more information. MATH electives must be approved by an advisor.
  3. Credit for both MATH 23022 and 31011 is not permitted.

 

 

Applied Physics Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (26 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  CS

CS
CS
13001

13011
13012
Computer Science I: Programming and Problem Solving (4)
or
Computer Science IA-Procedural Programming (2) 1   and
Computer Science IB - Object Oriented Programming (2)
4  
  PHY 22564 Introduction to Materials Physics 3  
  PHY 32511 Electronics 4  
  PHY 36002 Applications of Modern Physics 3  
  PHY 45403 Data Analysis and Computational Physics Techniques 3  
  PHY 45501 Electromagnetic Waves and Modern Optics 3  
  PHY Physics electives (minimum 3 upper-division credit hours) 6  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
26  
  1. A minimum grade of C (2.000) must be earned in CS 13011 in order to take CS 13012.

 

 

Biological Sciences Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (28 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KBS BSCI 10110 Biological Diversity 4  
KBS BSCI 10120 Biological Foundations 4  
  BSCI 30140 Cell Biology 4  
  BSCI 30156 Elements of Genetics 3  
  BSCI 40163 Evolution 3  
  BSCI 3/4xxxx Biological Sciences upper-division electives 4  
  PHY 45301 Thermal Physics 3  
  XXXX 3/4xxxx Major upper-division elective 1 3  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
28  
  1. Recommended Major Electives:

BSCI  40158 Molecular Biology (3)
CHEM 30481 Organic Chemistry I (3)
PHY 41010 Biophotonics (3)
PHY 44600  Introduction to Biological Physics (3)

 

 

Chemistry Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (29 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  CHEM

CHEM
CHEM
20481

30481
30482
Basic Organic Chemistry I (4)
or
Organic Chemistry I (3) 1   and
Organic Chemistry II (3) 1
4-6  
  CHEM 30105 Analytical Chemistry I 3  
WIC CHEM 30107 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory I 1  
  CHEM 30301 Inorganic Chemistry I 2  
  PHY 36002 Applications of Modern Physics 3  
  PHY 45301 Thermal Physics 3  
  PHY Physics Electives 8  
  Choose from the following: Chemistry electives 3-5  
  CHEM 20482 Basic Organic Chemistry II (2) 1    
  CHEM 30050 Introduction to Materials Chemistry (2)    
  CHEM 30106 Analytical Chemistry II (2)    
WIC CHEM 30108 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory II (2)    
  CHEM 30284 Introductory Biological Chemistry (4)    
ELR CHEM 30475 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)    
  CHEM 30476 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)    
  CHEM 40556 Physical Chemistry II (3) 2    
  CHEM 40567 Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences (4) 2    
  CHEM 40568 Elementary Physical Chemistry Laboratory(1) 3    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
29  
  1. CHEM 20482 may not be taken if CHEM 30481 and 30482 are taken.
  2. Students who choose CHEM 40567 should not take CHEM 40556.
  3. CHEM 40568 may be selected only if CHEM 40556 or 40567 is taken as a pre/corequisite.

 

 

Computer Science Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (29 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  CS

CS
CS
13001

13011
13012
Computer Science I: Programming and Problem Solving (4)
or
Computer Science IA - Procedural Programming (2) 1    and
Computer Science IB - Object Oriented Programming (2)
4  
  CS 23001 Computer Science II: Data Structures and Abstraction 4  
  CS 23022 Discrete Structures for Computer Science 3  
  CS 42201 Introduction to Numerical Computing I 3  
  CS 3/4xxxx Computer Science upper-division electives 6  
  PHY 36002 Applications of Modern Physics 3  
  PHY Physics upper-division electives 6  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
29  
  1. A minimum grade of C (2.000) must be earned in CS 13011 in order to take CS 13012.

 

 

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (39 credits)   Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KBS BSCI 10120 Biological Foundations 4  
  BSCI 30140 Cell Biology 4  
  BSCI 30156 Elements of Genetics 3  
  BSCI 30171 General Microbiology 4  
  BSCI
BSCI
30130
40430
Human Physiology (3)   or
Animal Physiology (3)
3  
ELR CHEM 30475 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1  
  CHEM 30476 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1  
  CHEM 30481 Organic Chemistry I 3  
  CHEM 30482 Organic Chemistry II 3  
  CHEM
CHEM
30284
40245
Introductory Biological Chemistry (4)   or
Biochemical Foundations of Medicine (4)
4  
KSS/DD PSYC 11762 General Psychology 3  
KSS/DD SOC 12050 Introduction to Sociology 3  
Choose from the following concentration electives: 3-4  
  BSCI 30518 Vertebrate Anatomy (4)    
  BSCI 40174 Immunology (3)    
  BSCI 40517 Medical Histology (3)    
  PHY 41010 Biophotonics (3)    
  PHY 44600 Introduction to Biological Physics (3)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
39