B.S. in Physics

Programs

B.S. in Physics

We offer four options

  1. Traditional Physics Option: This option is designed for students intending graduate studies in physics or planning to obtain an industrial position with a traditional physics degree.
  2. Solid State Physics Option: This option is designed for students presently employed by or intending employment in the semiconductor industry. It will provide theoretical foundations and practical experience in solid state physics.
  3. Energy Science Option: This option will prepare graduates for energy-related careers in industry and government and will provide the student with a strong background in the technical, economic, and instrumentation aspects of all energy resources. Please check with the Department about the availability of classes to complete this option.
  4. Secondary Education Option: This option allows students to get a B.S. in Physics and secondary science teacher certification in collaboration with the UCCSTeach program.

To obtain a degree, the students must complete the core courses and the required courses for each option.

We also offer a Minor in Physics.

General requirements
  • 33 credit hours in Physics Core requirements
  • 37 credit hours in Other Core areas
  • 18 credit hours in Physics Option area
  • a maximum of 54 credits in PES will apply toward the degree
  • a minimum grade of C in every physics course that is applied toward the major
  • students must meet the 12 hour LAS general education area requirements from both humanities and social science

Entry requirements?

Core courses

Required courses

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 1110 General Physics I - Calculus Based 4 Credits
PES 1120 General Physics II 4 Credits
PES 1160 Advanced Physics Laboratory I 1 Credit
PES 2130 General Physics III 3 Credits
PES 2160 Advanced Physics Laboratory II 1 Credit
PES 3130 Modern Physics 3 Credits
PES 3170 Instrumentation Laboratory I 2 Credits
PES 3180 Instrumentation Laboratory II 2 Credits
PES 3210 Classical Mechanics I 3 Credits
PES 3310 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 3 Credits
PES 3410 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 Credits
PES 4170 Optics Laboratory 2 Credits
PES 4810 Senior Physics Seminar 2 Credits

Other required core areas

Please note: Only one Computer Science (CS) listed below is required for the degree program. (Please see the Course Catalog with any questions)

Course Level

Course

Credits
MATH 1360 Calculus II 4 Credits
MATH 2350 Calculus III 4 Credits
MATH 3400 Introduction to Differential Equations 3 Credits
CHEM 1030 General Chemistry I 5 Credits
CHEM 1060 General Chemistry II 5 Credits
Computer Science Requirement CS 1090, CS 1150, MAE 1090, OR PES 3140: Intro to Computational Physics 3 Credits
ENGL 1310 Rhetoric and Writing l: Academic Reading and Analytical Writing 3 Credits
ENGL 1410 Rhetoric and Writing ll: Argument and Research 3 Credits
ENGL 2090 Technical Writing and Presentation  3 Credits
Required courses: traditional physics

Required

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 3250 Mathematical Methods of Physics and Engineering 3 Credits
PES 3320 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism II 3 Credits
PES 4250 Quantum Mechanics 3 Credits
PES 4510 Optics 3 Credits

Note: Also, the traditional physics option requires a minimum of 3 upper-division hours of mathematics in addition to MATH 3400.

Elective courses

A minimum of 3 credit hours from the following PES courses must be taken:

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 3060 Astrophysics 3 Credits
PES 3650 Nuclear Physics and Energy Technology 3 Credits
PES 3950 Special Topics * 1-3 Credits
PES 3970/td> Special Topics * 1-3 Credits
PES 4150 Solid State Laboratory 2 Credits
PES 4260 Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credits
PES 4300 Celestial Mechanics I 3 Credits
PES 4460 Solid State Physics 3 Credits
PES 4490 Physics of Thin Films 3(4) Credits
PES 4600 Special and General Relativity 3 Credits
PES 4720 Stellar Structure and Evolution 3 Credits
PES 4850 Senior Project * 3 Credits

Variable credit courses with a maximum of 6 hours allowed to count toward degree.

Note: Other elective courses may be substituted with the written approval of the department chair.

Required courses: solid state physics

Required

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 3250 Mathematical Methods of Physics and Engineering 3 Credits
PES 3320 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism II 3 Credits
PES 4150 Solid State Laboratory 2 Credits
PES 4250 Quantum Mechanics 3 Credits
PES 4660 Solid State Physics 3 Credits

Elective courses

This option also requires the completion of a minimum of 6 hours from the following technical electives:

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 4260 Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credits
PES 4480 Surface and Interface Physics 3 Credits
PES 4490 Physics of Thin Films 3(4) Credits
CHEM 3010 Materials Science 1-3 Credits
CHEM 4510 Physical Chemistry I 3 Credits
CHEM 4520 Physical Chemistry II 3 Credits
ECE 2210 Circuit Analysis I 3 Credits
ECE 3020 Semiconductor Devices I 3 Credits
ECE 4020 Semiconductor Devices II 3 Credits
MATH 3810 Introduction to Probability and Statistics 3 Credits
MATH 4450 Complex Variables 3 Credits
MATH 4470 Methods of Applied Mathematics 3 Credits
CS 3160 Concepts of Programming Languages 3 Credits
CS 4600 Numerical Computing 3 Credits
CS 4720 Design and Analysis of Algorithms 3 Credits

Note: Other elective courses may be substituted with the written approval of the department chair.

Required courses: energy science

Required

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 2500 Sustainable Energy Fundamentals 3 Credits
ECON 1010 Introduction to Microeconomics 3 Credits
GEOL 1010 Physical Geology 4 Credits

Elective courses

Students in this option are required to complete 9 hours from the following technical electives:

Course Level
Course
Credits
PES 3320 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism II 3 Credits
PES 3650 Nuclear Physics and Energy Technology 3 Credits
PES 3670 Wind Energy 3 Credits
ENSC 3610 Solar Energy Design 3 Credits
ENSC 4600 Advanced Solar Energy 3 Credits
GEOL 3700 Environmental Geology 4 Credits
GES 3200 Practical Meteorology 4 Credits
GES 4060 Introduction to Remote Sensing 4 Credits
GES 4090 Image Processing 4 Credits
GES 4100 Global Positioning System with GIS 3 Credits

Note: Other elective courses may be substituted with the written approval of the department chair.

Secondary education

Elementary (K-6) or Special Education

This program includes both the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences requirements for graduation plus Colorado requirements for Elementary or Special Education teachers. To obtain teaching certification, students need to apply to the College of Education as rising juniors. Students can continue to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology without the education option.

Secondary Education (UCCS Teach Program)

Inspired by the UTeach program at the University of Texas at Austin, UCCS Teach is a collaborative program between the College of Education and the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. UCCS Teach offers Biology students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology AND receive full teaching certification in four years, without adding time and cost to their degrees. For more details, refer to the UCCS Teach website.

Information on this page is subject to change and is not official. Consult the UCCS Academic Catalog for official information.