UA Catalog 2002-04: Department of Physics and Astronomy

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY (PH) (AY)

Professor Stanley T. Jones, Chairperson
Office: 206 Gallalee Hall

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers major and minor programs in physics and a minor in astronomy.

Requirements for the physics major. The major in physics (PH) requires 36 hours in physics including either of the introductory sequences PH 105, PH 106 or PH 101, PH 102; and PH 253, PH 255, PH 301, PH 331, PH 332, PH 441, PH 442, PH 471, and PH 491. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. Mathematics requirements include MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 227, and MATH 238.

Requirements for the physics minor. The minor in physics requires 18 hours of physics including 6 hours of physics courses numbered 300 or above. A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

Requirements for the astronomy minor. The minor in astronomy (AY) requires 18 hours including AY 203, AY 204, AY 206, PH 253, PH 255, and 6 hours in astronomy courses numbered above 300. A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Physics Major

FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Hours	Course	Hours
MATH 125	4	PH 105	4
EN 101	3	MATH 126	4
General education courses¹	9	EN 102	3
	___	General education courses¹	4-6
	16		___
15-17

SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Hours	Course	Hours
PH 106	4	PH 253	3
MATH 227	4	PH 255	1
General education courses¹	9	MATH 238	3
	___	General education courses¹	9
	17		___
16

JUNIOR YEAR²
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Hours	Course	Hours
PH 301	3	PH 332	3
PH 331	3	PH 471	3
Minor	3	Minor	3
General education courses¹	3	General education courses¹	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
	___		___
	15		15

SENIOR YEAR²
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Hours	Course	Hours
PH 441	3	PH 442	3
PH 491	3	Minor	6
Minor	6	Electives	6
Elective	3		___
	___		15
	15
Total: At least 120

¹See College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements on p. 64. To satisfy the purpose of general education, a maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to the humanities, literature, and fine arts (HU, L, FA) and history and social and behavioral sciences (HI, SB) requirements.
²Six hours in courses designated W must be included in the junior or senior year. A minimum of 36 hours in 300- and 400-level courses, including 12 hours in the major and 6 hours in the minor, must be completed on this campus.

Graduate programs. The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers programs leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. The requirements for these degrees are stated in the University of Alabama graduate catalog. A student beginning graduate work leading to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree should have the equivalent of an undergraduate major in physics and an undergraduate minor in mathematics, including one intermediate course in each of the main fields of physics. Intermediate courses not included in the undergraduate program should be taken at the earliest possible time. A comprehensive background in general physics is considered as important as mastery of a specialized field.