The B.S. in Physics is intended to prepare students for the study of physics or a closely related subject in graduate school. Physics majors can select from five distinct specializations to earn their physics degree, as described below in the Core Requirements, Advanced Level. While the various specializations share a common core of courses, they also enable students to prepare specifically for certain career paths. Students should consult their faculty advisors when deciding among these specializations.
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Grades below “C” (2.0) in any required physics or mathematics courses are not acceptable; they must be repeated with a higher grade.
- Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken that could meet major requirements.
- All attempts that could meet requirements are included in the major GPA calculation. All attempts of courses listed for the major taken beyond the minimum required are included in the GPA calculation (e.g., additional restricted electives).
- The Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 15 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF Department of Physics.
- Physics majors are discouraged from taking courses as a transient student at a Florida College System institution, except in situations where one semester of a two semester sequence has already been taken at the Florida College System institution.
- All prerequisites of courses taught within the College of Sciences will be enforced.
- Courses designated in 2 (Common Program Prerequisites) are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
- Upon reaching junior standing (60 hours), Physics majors are expected to have completed the following courses and associated chemistry laboratories. These classes are prerequisites for advanced science classes and students entering the major without these classes will be unable to register for most of the advanced courses.
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 2312 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
General Education Program (GEP) (38 Credit Hours)
- Note: Certain courses must be selected in the GEP for this major which brings the GEP hours above 36.
- At least one course completed in each Foundation area must be a designated State General Education Core Course.
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- Take both ENC courses.
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
Mathematical Foundations (7 Credit Hours)
- COP 3502C - Computer Science I Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
Science Foundations
Physical Science: (4 Credit Hours)
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
Life Sciences: (3 Credit Hours)
- Select from the Science Foundations, Area 2 list.
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (20 Credit Hours)
- See Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses for possible substitutes for the courses listed below.
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- MAC 2312 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III Credit Hours: 4
Select one of the following sequences of courses:
- CHM 2040 - Chemistry Fundamentals IA Credit Hours: 3
- and
- CHM 2041 - Chemistry Fundamentals IB Credit Hours: 3
- or
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4
Take all of the following:
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
Core Requirements: Basic Level (33 Credit Hours)
- Required of all specializations.
- In addition to those courses specified in the Common Program Prerequisites, students also must complete the following.
Core: Required (Satisfies the CPP)
- CHM 2040 - Chemistry Fundamentals IA Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
- and
- CHM 2041 - Chemistry Fundamentals IB Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
- or
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP/CPP)
- MAC 2312 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
- MAC 2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP/CPP)
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
Core: Additional Requirements
Complete all of the following:
- MAP 2302 - Ordinary Differential Equations I Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3101 - General Physics Using Calculus III Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3220 - Mechanics I Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3323 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3513 - Thermal and Statistical Physics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4324 - Electricity and Magnetism II Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4604 - Wave Mechanics I Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4605 - Wave Mechanics II Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4912 - Directed Independent Research Credit Hours: 3 (in area of specialization; fulfills degree’s capstone requirement)
- PHZ 3113 - Introduction to Theoretical Methods of Physics Credit Hours: 3
Laboratory Requirement (3 Credit Hours)
- PHY 3802L - Intermediate Physics Laboratory Credit Hours: 3
Core Requirements: Advanced Level
- Select one specialization
General Physics Specialization (21 Credit Hours)
Take two required courses, two restricted electives, and three directed electives.
Required Courses: (6 Credit Hours)
- PHY 4803L - Advanced Physics Laboratory Credit Hours: 3
- Select one:
- PHY 3722C - Physics Laboratory-Electronics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3752C - Physics of Scientific Instruments Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives: (6 Credit Hours)
- Select from upper division PHY, PHZ, or AST courses Credit Hours: 6
- Additional restricted electives can be taken as approved by an advisor.
Directed Electives: (9 Credit Hours)
- Select courses at a 3000 level or higher, approved by the Physics Department. Courses must be chosen in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering. Credit Hours: 9
Materials Physics Specialization (21 Credit Hours)
Take one required laboratory, four restricted electives, and two directed electives.
Required Laboratory: (3 Credit Hours)
Select one of the following laboratories.
- PHY 3722C - Physics Laboratory-Electronics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3752C - Physics of Scientific Instruments Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives: (12 Credit Hours)
Take four courses from the following:
- EEE 3350 - Semiconductor Devices Credit Hours: 3
- EGN 3365 - Structure and Properties of Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 3000 - Engineering Polymeric Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 3012C - Experimental Techniques in Materials I Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 3102 - Thermodynamics of Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 3124 - Design and Selection of Materials Credit Hours: 3
- PHZ 3151 - Computer Methods in Physics Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 4125 - Phase Transformations and Microstructural Development in Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 4013C - Experimental Techniques in Materials II Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 4115 - Transport Phenomena in Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 4223 - Fundamentals of Mechanical Behavior of Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 4307 - Kinetics of Materials Credit Hours: 3
- EMA 4413 - Fundamentals of Electronic Materials Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4803L - Advanced Physics Laboratory Credit Hours: 3
- PHZ 4404 - Solid State Physics Credit Hours: 3
Directed Electives: (6 Credit Hours)
- Select courses at a 3000 level or higher, approved by the Physics Department. Courses must be chosen in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering. Credit Hours: 6
- Additional directed electives can be taken as approved by an advisor.
Optics and Lasers Specialization (21 Credit Hours)
Take two required courses, two restricted electives, and three directed electives.
Required Courses: (6 Credit Hours)
Complete PHY4424 and one laboratory.
- PHY 4424 - Optics Credit Hours: 3
- Select one:
- PHY 3722C - Physics Laboratory-Electronics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3752C - Physics of Scientific Instruments Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives: (6 Credit Hours)
Select two from the following:
- EEL 4440C - Optical Engineering Credit Hours: 3
- OSE 3200 - Geometric Optics Credit Hours: 3
- OSE 4410 - Optoelectronics Credit Hours: 3
- OSE 4721 - Biophotonics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4445 - Lasers Credit Hours: 3
Directed Electives: (9 Credit Hours)
- Select courses at a 3000 level or higher, approved by the Physics Department. Courses must be chosen in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering. Credit Hours: 9
- Additional directed electives can be taken as approved by an advisor.
Computational Physics Specialization (21 Credit Hours)
Take five required courses and two directed electives.
Required Courses: (15 Credit Hours)
Complete four courses and one laboratory.
- COP 3502C - Computer Science I Credit Hours: 3
- COP 3503C - Computer Science II Credit Hours: 3
- COT 4500 - Numerical Calculus Credit Hours: 3
- PHZ 3151 - Computer Methods in Physics Credit Hours: 3
- Select one:
- PHY 3722C - Physics Laboratory-Electronics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3752C - Physics of Scientific Instruments Credit Hours: 3
Directed Electives: (6 Credit Hours)
- Select courses at a 3000 level or higher, approved by the Physics Department. Courses must be chosen in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering. Credit Hours: 6
- COP3223C is a prerequisite for COP3502C and COT4500 and will meet a Directed Elective.
- Additional directed electives can be taken as approved by an advisor.
Astronomy Specialization (21 Credit Hours)
Take five required courses and two directed electives.
Required Courses: (15 Credit Hours)
- AST 2002 - Astronomy Credit Hours: 3
- AST 4700 - Experimental Methods in Astronomy Credit Hours: 3
- Select one:
- AST 4762C - Astronomical Data Analysis Credit Hours: 3
- AST 5765C Advaced Astroomical Data Analysis Credits / Units: 3
- Select from upper division AST courses Credit Hours: 6
Directed Electives: (6 Credit Hours)
- Select courses at a 3000 level or higher, approved by the Physics Department. Courses must be chosen in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering. Credit Hours: 6
- Additional directed electives can be taken as approved by an advisor.
Capstone Requirement
- PHY 4912 Directed Independent Research (Preferred)
- or
- PHY 3905 Directed Independent Studies
Electives
- Select primarily from upper level courses after meeting with a departmental advisor. Courses may be outside the department.
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Two years high school, or one year college language (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.
Graduation
Additional Requirements
- While declared as a Physics BS major, students must complete the Professional Physics Mentoring Program annually. Exceptions will be granted on an annual basis for students who demonstrate participation on an independent and continuous physics professional mentoring plan with faculty in or affiliated to the department.
Required Minors
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Grades below “C” (2.0) in any required physics or mathematics courses are not acceptable; they must be repeated with a higher grade.
- Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken that could meet major requirements.
- All attempts that could meet requirements are included in the major GPA calculation. All attempts of courses listed for the major taken beyond the minimum required are included in the GPA calculation (e.g., additional restricted electives).
- Students will be required to take a nationally normed test in Physics during their last year.
- Students will have an exit interview in their last semester with a representative of the Physics Undergraduate Committee
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
- Application and admissions through The Burnett Honors College and department. More information about Honors in the Major can be found at honors.ucf.edu/research.
Related Programs
- Mathematics (B.S.) Engineering/Physics Track
- Electrical Engineering - Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate (B.S.E.E. / M.S.E.E.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
Certificates
Related Minors
- Mathematics Minor
- Physics Minor
- Astronomy Minor
Advising Notes
- Students should consult with a departmental advisor.
- Contact your college advisor in the College of Sciences Advising Services (COSAS) office (CSB 250) for more information about overall progress toward your degree, GEP and other university requirements, academic probation, special problems as well as general academic advising.
Transfer Notes
- Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
- Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.
- Submit your requests for course evaluations at https://sciences.ucf.edu/cosas/ and click on “COS Course Evaluation”.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
- The following substitutions for common program prerequisites are acceptable if taken prior to transferring to UCF:
- CHM 2045C: may use CHM 1040 plus CHM 1041 or CHM 2040C plus CHM 2041C
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $12.40 per term
- Full-Time Student: $24.80 per term
Plan of Study
- This is one of numerous possible plans of study. See program description for all requirements.
- Consult a departmental advisor for alternate, new or more appropriate selections.
- Use your Pegasus Path planning tool in your myUCF portal to plan your courses through to graduation.
- Prior to enrolling in Chemistry, take Chemistry Placement Test ~ https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/
- Prior to enrolling in Math, take Math Placement Test ~ https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/
- Although all classes are listed during the academic year, you may be required to complete 9 hours of them during the Summer. Consult with an advisor to determine if you are exempt.
Freshman Year - Fall (14 Credit Hours)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
Note: Lab may be taken later if seats are not available
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 2312 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Summer (7 Credits)
- MAC 2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III Credit Hours: 4
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
- MAP 2302 - Ordinary Differential Equations I Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 2
Sophomore Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- PHY 3101 - General Physics Using Calculus III Credit Hours: 3
- PHZ 3113 - Introduction to Theoretical Methods of Physics Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- PHY 3802L - Intermediate Physics Laboratory Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3513 - Thermal and Statistical Physics Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3323 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 3722C - Physics Laboratory-Electronics Credit Hours: 3
- or
- PHY 3752C - Physics of Scientific Instruments Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- PHY 3220 - Mechanics I Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4324 - Electricity and Magnetism II Credit Hours: 3
- Required Track Course Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- PHY 4912 - Directed Independent Research Credit Hours: 3
- PHY 4604 - Wave Mechanics I Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- PHY 4605 - Wave Mechanics II Credit Hours: 3
- PSC 3911 - FLC Physical Science Capstone R/I Credit Hours: 3
- Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Exit Interview
- Physics Test - Nationally Normed
