Physics

Women's College

Overview
Major
Minor
Four-Year Plan
Course Descriptions

Brian Christy, Ph.D.

The mathematics/physics/computer science department of the School of Arts and Sciences offers a major and minor in physics to students in the Women's College.  Recognizing the role our fields plays in other disciplines, we offer courses for department majors and non-majors that serve the students of NDMU in the Catholic Liberal Arts tradition.  As an integral part of the liberal arts, we provide the students at NDMU with an understanding of the physical world, quantitative and technologically based knowledge, and enable our students to become leaders in their future professions.

Physics represents humanity's most profound attempt to understand the universe in which we live by studying the events and interactions that occur in nature and by trying to comprehend the truths or laws that govern these physical processes. As the most fundamental and all-inclusive of the sciences, physics naturally forms an educational base from which students may enter many diverse occupations and careers. Graduates are employed at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center the U.S. Department of Energy, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, and the Peace Corps. Among the institutions where graduates have pursued advanced studies are Rochester University, Princeton University, Drexel University, George Washington University, University of Delaware, and Boston College.

Physics majors may add an additional major in a discipline such as mathematics, computer studies or chemistry, or minor in one of several different fields.

A student may fulfill the general education requirement in natural science by taking PHY-101, 102, 111 (College of Adult Undergraduate Studies), 132 (CAUS), 151 or 155. The cooperative program with neighboring colleges provides concentrators with a wide choice of upper-level courses and a variety of faculty viewpoints.

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Programs of Study

Required Courses for a Major in Physics

PHY-101 and 102 General Physics I, II (8)
PHY-201 Modern Physics (3)
PHY-316L Classical Mechanics (3)
PHY-415L Quantum Mechanics (3)
PHY-417L Electricity and Magnetism (3)
Two other physics courses (at 300 level or higher) (6)
CHM-110 and 111 General Chemistry I and II (8)
CST-171 Programming Concepts or CST-295 C++ Programming (3)
MAT-211, 212, 213 Calculus I, II, III (11)
MAT-214 Calculus of Vector Fields (1)
MAT-243 Linear Algebra (3)
MAT-315 Differential Equations (3)

Physics majors are expected to complete at least one of the following:

• Internship
• Teaching Apprenticeship
• Research Experience

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Required Courses for a Minor in Physics 

MAT-211 and 212 Calculus I, II (8)
PHY-101 and 102 General Physics I, II (8)
PHY-201 Modern Physics (3)
Plus one other course in mathematics, physics or computer science at the 200-level or higher (3)

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Four-Year Plan

Sample program of study for the physics major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

Notes:
# offered alternative years
+ need to take at least two physics courses at level 300 or higher
*Courses with a designation of "L" are taught at Loyola. Notre Dame students take the courses through the cooperative program. For more information, contact the program chair.

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