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Liberal Arts and Sciences Physics Major
The students who choose this major can generally be grouped into three categories.
- Professional Physicist: these students intend to continue their formal education in physics by pursuing a graduate degree in physics.
- Professional School Preparatory: these students are using the physics major as preparation for enter professional school programs such as medicine, engineering, or law.
- Second Major: these students use the physics major to develop their problem solving skills and for increasing their understanding of the physical universe while choosing their primary major in areas such as computer science, chemistry, or mathematics.
Students in all three categories are required to complete the following courses in physics:; PHY 110, 199, 201, 202 or 303, 301, 305, 350, 463, 467 and 501. In addition to the core courses, students much complete two additional courses in physics selected from the following: PHY 306, 320, 345, 350, 361, 502, 568, and AST 300. Students must also complete a combination of theory and laboratory courses in physics at the 300 to 500 level. Students must complete no fewer than 30 semester hours of physics courses. All physics majors are expected to present the results of their research experience while enrolled in PHY 463 at a departmental colloquium. Mathematics courses required by all physics majors are Calculus I, II, and III (MTH 121, 122 and 223), Linear Algebra (MTH 207), and Differential Equations (MTH 224). The computer science course CS 106 or equivalent is also required.
Students seeking to become professional physicists are strongly encouraged to complete the following:
MTH 510; Numerical Methods I
CHM 161; General Chemistry I or CHM 162 Engineering Chemistry and three additional mathematics courses chosen from the following:
- TH 307 Linear Algebra
- MTH 325 and 326 Probability and Statistics I, II
- MTH 403 Complex Variables
- MTH 420 Introduction to Analysis
- MTH 421 Advanced Calculus
- MTH 501 Topics in Applied Mathematics I
- MTH 502 Topics in Applied Mathematics II
- MTH 514 Partial Differential Equations
SUGGESTED PROGRAM LAS PHYSICS MAJOR
The schedule of courses shown below lists only the physics courses required by all LAS physics majors. Elective courses are chosen to fulfill the requirements for the particular variation chosen by the student.
Freshman Year
| First Semester | S.H |
| Gen. Ed. Western Civilization | 3 |
| PHY 199 Physics Seminar | 1 |
| CHM 161 General Chemistry I | 4 |
| ENG 101 Composition | 3 |
| MTH 121 Calculus I | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 110 University Physics I | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Fine Arts | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Social Forces | 3 |
| COM 103 Oral Communication Process | 3 |
| MTH 122 Calculus II | 4 |
| Total | 17 |
Sophomore Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 201 University Physics II | 4 |
| CS 106 Introduction to Programming and Computer Science | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Social Forces (Economics) | 3 |
| MTH 223 Calculus III | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Human Values (Philosophy) | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 202 Applied Quantum Mechanics or Elective | 3 |
| PHY 350 Applied Quantum Physics Lab | 1 |
| Gen. Ed. Non-Western Civilization | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| MTH 224 Elementary Differential Equations | 4 |
| MTH 207 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
Junior Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 305 Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHY 301 Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| English: 300-level Junior Composition | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Human Values (Literature) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 303 Quantum Physics or Elective | 3 |
| PHY 350 Applied Quantum Physics Lab | 1 |
| PHY Elective | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 16 |
Senior Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 501 Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHY 463 Special Problems in Physics | 1 |
| PHY 467 Statistical and Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PHY Elective | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 16 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY Electives | 6 |
| PHY 563 Special Problems in Physics | 1 |
| Electives 9 | |
| Total | 16 |
| Total Hours | 129 |
PHYSICS TEACHING MAJOR
Secondary Education
Students preparing to teach physics at the high school level must complete the requirements for a secondary teaching certificate to be certified in the state of Illinois. This consists of a minimum of 34 semester hours in professional education courses. The courses used to fulfill the General Education requirement must also be chosen to fulfill certification requirements. Secondary Education-Physics Teaching majors are also required to take courses that will qualify them to be certified in a second teaching area which will require that from 6 to 15 semester hours be completed in the area chosen. Students must consult with advisors from both the Physics Department and College of Education and Health Sciences. In addition to the courses required of all physics majors the students selecting this variation in the physics major must complete two courses from the following: PHY 306, 320, 345, 361, 501 and 568; AST 300.
Suggested Program for Secondary Education
A student preparing to teach physics at the high school level should follow the sequence shown below. Students who plan to teach in states other than Illinois should be aware that some of the education courses in this sequence might not apply toward certification in those states.A second teaching field is required. The student must consult an advisor for specific requirements for the second teaching field.
Freshman Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 110 University Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 199 Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| MTH 121 Unified Calculus | 4 |
| ENG 101 English Composition | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. (SF) | 3 |
| CHM 160 General Chemistry I or CHM 300 Chemistry and Civilization |
3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 201 University Physics II | 4 |
| MTH 122 Unified Calculus | 4 |
| COM 103 Oral Communication Process | 3 |
| ETE 115 Schools and Schooling in American Society | 3 |
| ETE 116 Field Experience for ETE 115 | 1 |
| Gen. Ed. (HL) | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
Sophomore Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 202 Applied Quantum Physics | 3 |
| PHY 350 Applied Quantum Physics Laboratory | 1 |
| MTH 223 Calculus III | 4 |
| CS 106 Intro. to Programming and Computer Science | 3 |
| ETE 100 Technology Applications | 1 |
| ETE 280 Exploring Diversity | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Western Civilization | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 320 Optics | 3 |
| PHY 350 Optics laboratory | 1 |
| MTH 224 Elementary Differential Equations | 4 |
| ETE 225 Human Development | 4 |
| BIO 121 Life Science I or BIO 300 Population, Resources and Environment |
3 |
| FCS 203 or NUR 163, 220, 221, 263, or 376 | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
Junior Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 305 Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| Second Teaching Area | 3 |
| English: 300-level Junior Composition | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Human Values (HP) | 3 |
| ETE 370 General Secondary Methods I | 3 |
| ETE 360 Content Reading | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 301 Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 306 Electromagnetic Waves | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Fine Arts | 3 |
| Second Teaching Area | 3 |
| ETE 371 General Secondary Methods II | 3 |
| ETE 374 Methods of Teaching Secondary Science | 2 |
| ETE 379 Novice Teaching in Secondary School | 2 |
| Total | 19 |
| Summer | |
| Gen. Ed. Non Western Civilization | 3 |
Senior Year
| First Semester | |
| PHY 501 Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHY 467 Statistical and Thermal Physics | 3 |
| Second Teaching Area | 2 |
| AST 300 Astronomy | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. (Humanities Phil.) | 3 |
| ETE 342 Guiding Learners and Developing Classroom Communities | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| Second Semester | |
| PHY 361 Electronics | 3 |
| PHY 563 Special Problems in Physics | 2 |
| ETE 490 Portfolio Development | 1 |
| ETE 499 Student Teaching Secondary Schools | 10 or 13 |
| 16 or 19 | |
| Total Hours | 145-148 |
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE - PHYSICS
Bradley offers a major in environmental science sponsored jointly by the departments of biology, chemistry, geological sciences and physics. Students may choose the physics concentration, ENSP, and be advised by a faculty member in the Physics Department. Students in this program must complete the core courses and additional department requirements.