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Department of Physics
Dr. C. Steven Whisnant, Head
Phone: (540) 568-6109
E-mail: physics@jmu.edu
Web site: www.jmu.edu/physics
Professors
K. Giovanetti, W. Ingham, J. Rudmin, J. Staib, S. Whisnant
Associate Professors
C. Hughes, D. Peterson
Assistant Professors
W. Alexander, D. Chodrow, G. Niculescu, I. Niculescu, S. Paulson, S.
Scully, B. Utter
Mission Statement
The Department of Physics is committed to excellence in undergraduate instruction for students representing all segments of the university. For physics majors the department offers a program of study based on courses in the broad areas of physics and student participation in research. The multi-track degree program of study allows students flexibility to select courses that support their career plans. The department offers courses that are required by other disciplines and shares in the university-wide General Education program. The Physics Department is committed to providing a supportive environment within which students can achieve their full potential and faculty and staff can make their maximum contribution while enjoying the rewards of professional development.
Goals
To help students
- Appreciate the role of science in society and the historical development of physics in the ongoing quest to discover the structure of the universe.
- Gain an understanding of the basic principles and the experimental basis of the various fields of physics and the logical relationships of the various fields.
- Become capable problem solvers using techniques that require mathematical skills, conceptual and mathematical models, order-of-magnitude estimates and an understanding of limiting cases.
- Develop competence in designing, constructing and using laboratory instruments and to draw valid conclusions from experimental data.
- Develop competence in using computers for computation, data acquisition, numerical control, device development and information acquisition and processing.
- Improve written and oral technical communication skills.
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
- Society of Physics Students
Degree and Major Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Physics
Degree Requirements
Required courses |
Credit Hours |
General Education1 |
41 |
Quantitative requirement (In addition to General Education) |
3 |
Scientific Literacy requirement (In addition to General Education) |
3-4 |
University electives |
2-8 |
Major core requirements (listed below) |
40 |
Major program concentration requirements |
25-31 |
120 |
|
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
Major Requirements
|
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following: |
6 |
|
|
PHYS 247. Data Acquisition and Analysis Techniques in Physics |
2 |
PHYS 260. University Physics III |
4 |
PHYS 270. Modern Physics |
4 |
Cognate Disciplines |
|
CHEM 131 - 132. General Chemistry I - II |
6 |
40 |
|
Program Concentrations
Each student, in consultation with their faculty adviser, will choose one of the following program concentrations:
- Applied Physics
- Physics/Engineering Combined Program
- Fundamental Studies
- Individual Option
Applied Physics Concentration
The Applied Physics concentration is designed to prepare students for
careers in a wide variety of scientific areas including laboratory and
industrial settings. It is separated into three tracks: computational
physics, materials physics, and electronics and instrumentation.
All students in the Applied Physics concentration must complete the
following courses:
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
PHYS 360. Analog Electronics |
4 |
PHYS 347. Advanced Physics Laboratory |
3 |
PHYS 391 - 392. Seminar |
1 |
PHYS 491- 492. Assessment and Seminar |
1 |
PHYS 498R. Applied Physics Research |
2 |
Additional physics courses approved by the physics adviser |
3 |
In addition to the required courses, students must complete one of the following tracks: |
|
Electronics and Instrumentation |
Credit Hours |
PHYS 350. Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
PHYS 371. Digital Electronics |
2 |
PHYS/CS 372. Microcontrollers and Applications |
2 |
PHYS 380. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics |
3 |
Additional physics courses approved by the physics adviser |
2-3 |
Materials Physics |
Credit Hours |
PHYS 340. Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 350. Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
PHYS/MATS 275. An Introduction to Materials Science |
3 |
PHYS/MATS 381. Material Characterization with Lab |
3 |
Computational Physics |
Credit Hours |
PHYS 340. Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 380. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics |
3 |
Choose one of the following pairs of courses: |
6 |
|
|
Students in this track must minor in Mathematics. See the note below.
Physics and Engineering Combined Program Concentration
This dual degree program makes it possible for the student to earn a B.S. degree in physics from JMU and a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Virginia. The engineering areas available under this program include biomedical, environmental, transportation, materials science, systems engineering and engineering physics.
During the first three years at JMU, the student must complete 96 credit hours including all JMU general education requirements, the physics core requirements, differential equations and at least 12 additional credit hours in physics courses designated by the JMU physics department with at least a B+ average. In general these 12 additional hours will be chosen from those recommended for the applied physics track, but substitutions may be approved by the department head. During the fourth year of study (when the student will be in residence at the University of Virginia), the student will take further courses approved by the JMU physics department for credit toward the Bachelor of Science degree in physics. A total of 37 credit hours of physics or other physics-related courses taken at either school will be required for the JMU Bachelor of Science degree in physics. For further information, consult the head of the Department of Physics.
Fundamental Studies Concentration
The fundamental studies concentration is designed to prepare students for immediate post-baccalaureate employment or for entrance to advanced study in physics or related areas.
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations |
4 |
|
PHYS 340. Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 350. Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
|
PHYS 347. Advanced Physics Laboratory |
3 |
PHYS 360. Analog Electronics |
4 |
|
PHYS 380. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 391- 392. Seminar |
1 |
|
PHYS 460. Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 491 - 492. Assessment and Seminar |
1 |
Choose one of the following: |
2-6 |
|
|
27-31 |
|
Individual Option Concentration
The individual option is a course of studies chosen specifically to match
the interest and career plans of the student. This option will allow
custom-designed interdisciplinary majors such as biophysics, geophysics
and chemical physics, as well as majors designed for prospective secondary
school teachers, technical writers and entrepreneurs.
A student electing the individual option must complete the core requirements
for the physics major, and will select a program consisting of a coherent
collection of a minimum of 25 additional credits of physics courses
numbered above 260 and courses in related fields. This individualized
program must be selected in consultation with a faculty adviser in the
physics department, and must be approved by that adviser, the department
head and one other faculty member in the department.
The individualized program, as approved by the physics department and
accepted by the student, becomes the major requirements for that student.
Students are expected to review progress toward completion of the selected
program of study with their faculty adviser.
Computational Sciences Track
Computational Sciences is a track within the applied physics concentration.
The Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Physics offer a coordinated
sequence of courses that prepares students for careers in the rapidly
expanding field of computer modeling of complex systems. This program
is structured so that students can earn a major in one department and
a minor in the other.
Students need not decide on a major field until their junior year. The
computational sciences track will prepare students to design and use
computer models in any of those areas in which applied mathematics is
used to understand complex systems (meteorology, astronomy, geology/geophysics,
oceanography, physics, etc.). The preparation is appropriate for both
those students who plan to enter the work force after graduation and
those who plan to enter graduate school in applied mathematics, physics
or one of the other fields mentioned above.
Students in this track should complete the following courses during
the first two years of the program:
MATH 235 - 237. Calculus I - III
MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations
MATH 248. Computer Methods in Engineering and Science
PHYS 140L - 150L. General Physics Laboratory I - II
PHYS 240 - 260. University Physics I - III
PHYS 265. Introduction to Fluid Mechanics or PHYS 266. Introduction
to Solid Mechanics
During their junior and senior years, students will normally complete the necessary course work for their major and minor. Mathematics majors will take PHYS 340. Mechanics and MATH/PHYS 365. Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics, or MATH/PHYS 366. Introduction to Computational Solid Mechanics counted as a physics course to complete their physics minor. Physics majors will take PHYS/MATH 365 or PHYS/MATH 366, counted as a mathematics course and either MATH 337. Applied Calculus, or MATH 387. Fourier Analysis and Partial Differential Equations, to complete their mathematics minor. Seniors in either major must complete at least one topics or independent-study/research course that involves computer modeling.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
First Year |
Credit Hours |
CHEM 131 - 132. General Chemistry I - II |
6 |
CHEM 131L - 132L. General Chemistry Laboratory |
2 |
Skills for the 21st Century (General Education, Cluster One) |
9-12 |
MATH 235 - 236. Calculus I - II |
8 |
PHYS 247. Data Acquisition and Analysis Techniques in Physics |
2 |
Choose one of the following: |
6 |
|
|
33-36 |
|
Second Year |
Credit Hours |
MATH/CS 248. Computer Methods in Engineering and Science |
4 |
MATH 237. Calculus III |
4 |
|
MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations |
4 |
PHYS 260. University Physics III |
4 |
PHYS 270. Modern Physics |
4 |
General Education courses |
11 |
|
31 |
Third and Fourth Years
During their junior and senior years, students will select courses to complete the specific program track which they are following. These course selections will be made with the assistance of a faculty adviser.
Minor Requirements
Astronomy Minor
The minimum requirement for a minor in astronomy is 20 credit hours selected as follows:
|
Credit Hours |
| Choose one of the following: |
6 |
|
|
Choose one of the following |
2 |
|
|
|
PHYS 220 - 221. General Astronomy I - II |
6 |
PHYS 320. Astronomical Techniques |
3 |
| One course selected from the following: |
3 |
|
|
20 |
|
Physics Minor
The minimum requirement for a minor in physics is 22 credit hours selected as follows:
|
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following: |
6 |
|
|
Choose one of the following |
2 |
|
|
PHYS 260. University Physics III |
4 |
|
Physics courses numbered above 260 |
10 |
22 |
|
Teaching Licensure
In addition to the general education and academic major requirements, physics majors desiring secondary teacher licensure must complete pre- professional education requirements and the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Physics majors need courses in biology and geology as well as inorganic and organic chemistry. It is necessary to be admitted to the teacher education program prior to enrolling in professional education courses. See the information beginning on Page XXX for teacher education admission and retention polices and procedures. Students seeking licensure are encouraged to consult regularly with an education adviser. For a full description of the program in secondary education, refer to the College of Education.
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