Auburn University Physics Department

Majoring in Physics
Physics, the most fundamental science, tries to explain how the physical universe behaves. Undergraduate physics study provides an ideal background for personal growth and for a broad spectrum of rewarding careers, e.g., scientific research, academic, business, medicine, law, education, or computer science. The only limit is your imagination. Click her for more information on Careers in Physics .
We have a very high ratio of faculty members to physics majors which means each student receives individual attention usually only available at much smaller schools. As an undergraduate physics major, you can take courses on sub-atomic particles, the origins of the universe, super-cooled superconductivity, and superheated plasmas. Physics majors are exposed to faculty performing world class research in several areas and many undergraduates research physics questions throughout the year. Several features of the AU physics program make it ideal for an undergraduate physics education. Physics majors are the science team leaders in a national effort to send student-built satellites to space. We have a very active chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) which provides support and opportunities for majors; in years past, the SPS has organized the building of a vehicle for the national Moon Buggy competition. Also, Auburn University has a very active Honors Program which provides smaller and more challenging classes.

     The Physics Department offers a number of scholarships for physics majors. Students can apply through the College of Sciences and Mathematics.
     The Physics Department welcomes visits by prospective undergraduate physics majors. Arrangements can be made for lab tours and visits with faculty. If you would like to visit the physics department, contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to arrange a convenient time.
     The AU Physics Department awards undergraduate degrees to students completing the Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. The curriculum model is designed to provide a high degree of flexibility so that students may select a course schedule that meets their individual needs. A Sample Curriculum in Physics is provided below to assist in planning course schedules.
     Physics majors have 21 hours of free electives among the 120 hours required for graduation. They are expected to choose these hours with the approval of their departmental faculty advisor in a coherent manner. One way is to choose at least 9 of these hours at the 3000 level or above in a specific field and thereby earn an option in that area. For example students planning to pursue a graduate degree in physics might choose the Advanced Physics option or the Mathematics option. Other options are Chemistry, Materials Science, Biological Sciences, Electrical Engineering, or any other that advances the student’s career plans.

Courses for Undergraduate Physics Majors:

Catalog Listing:

PHYS 2100 INTERMEDIATE MECHANICS (3) LEC. 3. Pr., PHYS 1617 or PHYS 1610. Coreq., MATH 2690. Principles and applications of Newtonian mechanics, noninertial reference frames, harmonic motion, central forces, rigid bodies, introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics.

PHYS 2300 PHYSICS LABORATORY SKILLS (2). LAB. 6. Pr., PHYS 1617 or PHYS 1610. The measurement process and its unavoidable uncertainties; standard laboratory instruments; data analysis techniques and tools.

PHYS 3200 STATISTICAL THERMODYNAMICS (3). LEC. 3. Pr., PHYS 2200. The basic laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics including entropy, the partition function, free energy, and the quantum statistic of Fermions and Bosons.

PHYS 3500 PHJYSICS OF THE WORLD AROUND US (3) LEC. 3. Interdisciplinary topic e.g. Biophysics, Astrophysics, Physics of Weather, Physics of Music, or Environmental Physics. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours.

PHYS 4900 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHYSICS (1-5). IND. SU. Pr., departmental approval. Student will investigate a topic of interest under the direction of faculty member. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

PHYS 4930 DIRECTED READING IN PHYSICS (1-5) IND. Pr., departmental approval. Student will study a topic of interest under the direction of a faculty member. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

PHYS 4967 HONORS READING (1-3). IND. Pr., Membership in the Honors College; departmental approval. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

PHYS 4990 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN PHYSICS (1-5). IND. Pr., departmental approval. Student will work under the direction of a faculty member on a problem of mutual interest. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

PHYS 4997 HONORS THESIS (1-6). IND. Pr., membership in the Honors College; departmental approval. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

PHYS 5100 APPLICATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS (3). LEC. 3. Pr., PHYS 4100. Quantum mechanics applied to atomic physics, solid state physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, electrodynamics, and cosmology.

PHYS 5500 FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS (3) LEC. 3. Pr., departmental approval. A subject such as Wave Mechanics, Mathematical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Optics, Nuclear Physics, Elementary Particles, Relativity, or Electrodynamics. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

PHYS 5610 INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS (3). LEC. 3. Pr., PHYS 6100 or departmental approval. Lattice vibrations, band description of electronic states in metals, semiconductors and insulators, and magnetic, super-conducting and defect properties of solids.

PHYS 5620 SURVEY OF PLASMA PHYSICS (3). LEC. 3. Pr., PHYS 3100 or departmental approval. Single particle motions: fluid description of a plasma; plasma waves and oscillations; kinetic description, diffusion, and resistivity; non-linear effects.

Curriculum Model in Physics
(Courses or hours in bold are required. Italics indicate recommended choices when there is an option.)

Year	Course	Fall Description	Hrs	Course	Spring Description	Hrs
Fr.	*PHYS1607* or PHYS1600	Honors Physics I Engineering Physics I	4	*PHYS1617* or PHYS1610	Honors Physics II Engineering Physics II	4
	MATH1610 or *MATH1710*	Derivatives and application, integrals Vectors, derivatives, integrals	4	MATH1620 or *MATH1720*	Application of the integral, infinite series Integrals, infinite series, partial derivative	4
		Core Written Composition I	3		Core Written Composition II	3
		Core Fine Arts	3		Core Philosophy	3
		Total	14		Total	14
Soph.	PHYS2200	Introductory Quantum Physics and Relativity	3	PHYS2100	Intermediate Mechanics	3
	MATH2630	Multivariate Calculus (Vector Calculus)	4	MATH2650	Linear Differential Equations	3
				PHYS2300	Laboratory Skills	2
		Core History I	3		Core History II	3
		Core Great Books I	3		Core Great Books II	3
	COMM1000	Public Speaking	3
		Total	16		Total	14
Jr.	PHYS3100	Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism	3	PHYS3200	Statistical Thermodynamics	3
	PHYS4100	Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics	3	PHYS5100	Applications of Quantum Mechanics or Professional Elective at 3000 level or higher	3
		Core Social Science I	3		Core Social Science II	3
		Science Elective I - Chemistry, Biology, Geology	4		Science Elective II - Chemistry, Biology, Geology	4
		Elective	3		Elective	3
		Total	16		Total	16
Sr.	PHYS4200	Fundamental Experiments in Physics	2	PHYS3500, PHYS5500, PHYS5610, or PHYS5620	Physics Elective (2 choices will be offered each Spring; PHYS5610 (Solid State) and PHYS5620 (Plasma) will alternate	3
	PHYS3500 or PHYS5600	Physics Elective(both will be offered each Fall) or Professional Elective at 3000 level or higher	3	PHYS4990	Undergraduate Research or Professional Elective at 3000 level or higher	4
		Elective	3	PHYS3500, PHYS5500, PHYS5610, or PHYS5620	Physics Elective (2 choices will be offered each Spring; PHYS5610 (Solid State) and PHYS5620 (Plasma) will alternate	3
		Elective	3		Elective	3
		Elective	3		Elective	3
		Total	14		Total	16
		Total Hrs in Fall	60		Total Hrs in Fall	60