The Major
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics (45 hours)
The requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics are as follows:
I. Departmental requirements:
- The major: 30 credit hours in Physics, including the following or equivalent courses: PHYS 1111, 1112, 1311 (or 1309), 1312 (or 1310), 2231, 3322, 3323, 4221 or 4231, and at least four of the following courses: 3321, 3324, 3325, 3333, 3335, 3412, 4350, 4395 (at least one must be either 3333 or 3335).
- Math requirements:
- Math 1311, 1312, 2321
- Either MATH 3316 or both MATH 3336 and 3323.
- Computer Science Requirements: Either CSCI 1312 or CSCI 1320.
- Seminar Requirement: Four semesters of PHYS 2094. Students double majoring in either MATH or CSCI may substitute up to 2 semesters of MATH 2094 or CSCI 2094.
- Completion of Wagner Senior Assessment Exam in fall of the senior year.
II. University requirements: completion of all other required elements of the Pathways curriculum and at least 124 credit hours.
The above are minimal requirements allowing students to supplement their programs with those courses best suited to fulfill their particular needs and to further their professional growth.
Bachelor of Science with a major in Physics (56 hours)
The requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Physics are as follows:
I. Departmental requirements:
- At least 38 credit hours in Physics, including the following or equivalent courses: PHYS 1111, 1112, 1311 (or 1309), 1312 (or 1310), 2231, 3321, 3322, 3323, 3324, 3325, 3333, 3335, 4221, 4231, 4395. (Honors students will take 3398, 4398, 4399 in place of 4395.)
- At least one course from the following: PHYS 3336, 4343, 4346, or 4350.
- Math requirements:
- Math 1311, 1312, 2321
- Either MATH 3316 or both MATH 3336 and 3323.
- Computer Science Requirements: Either CSCI 1312 or CSCI 1320.
- Seminar Requirement: Four semesters of PHYS 2094. Students double majoring in either MATH or CSCI may substitute up to 2 semesters of MATH 2094 or CSCI 2094.
- Completion of Wagner Senior Assessment Exam in fall of the senior year.
II. University requirements: completion of all other required elements of the Pathways curriculum and at least 120 credit hours.
The Bachelor of Science Program is designed to prepare students for graduate work in Physics. The above are minimal requirements allowing students to supplement their programs with those courses best suited to fulfill their particular needs and to further their professional growth.
Teacher Certification in Physics
Students completing either the B.A. or B.S. physics major have two options to receive certification to teach physics in grades 8-12 in Texas through Trinity’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Students can pursue (1) the Grades 8-12 Physics/Mathematics certification, which would enable a graduate to teach physics and mathematics or (2) the Grades 8-12 Physical Science certification, which would enable a graduate to teach physics as well as chemistry and 8th grade general science (this would require coursework in chemistry and geosciences in addition to the physics major). Both options require undergraduate education coursework as preparation for entry into the MAT program and to fulfill state requirements. Students who complete Trinity’s 5 year Teacher Education Program will earn both a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Master of Arts in Teaching as well as teacher certification. For more information and specific requirements, including middle school and elementary science teaching opportunities as well, see the Education Department’s program description in the course catalog.
Guidelines for Acceptance of Majors
Full acceptance in the major is granted if the following requirements are met at the time of application:
- Completion of PHYS 1111, 1112, 1311 (or 1309), 1312 (or 1310), 3323 with grades of C or better;
- Completion of MATH 1311, 1312 with grades of C or better; and
- A grade point average of at least 2.0 on all university work.
Provisional acceptance in the major is granted if it is apparent that the applicant can meet the requirements for full acceptance by the end of the semester in which the application is made.
Transfer students will be accepted provisionally pending completion at Trinity of at least one upper division course with a grade of C or better.
Honors in Physics
A student in Physics may work toward Honors in Physics under the Bachelor of Science Degree program. The requirement for Honors in Physics is the successful completion of the Bachelor of Science program except that an honors student will take PHYS 3398, 4398, 4399 in place of 4395 and will be required to take a total of 44 hours of physics. During the junior year, a student who is eligible for honors will, after consultation with the chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department, enroll in 3398; part of the requirement of this course will be to prepare a thesis proposal. In the second semester of the junior year, an honors student will present a thesis proposal and credentials to the department faculty. Upon approval of the proposal, a student may enroll in PHYS 4398, 4399 during the senior year. By the end of the senior year, the thesis must be presented and defended before the Physics and Astronomy Department faculty.
The Minor in Physics
A minor in Physics will consist of 18 credit hours of Physics. At least 9 credit hours must be at the upper division level. The minor will normally include the following or equivalent courses: PHYS 1111, 1112, 1311 (or 1309), 1312 (or 1310), 2094 (1 semester), 3323, plus seven additional hours of physics, six of which must be upper division.
The Minor in Astronomy
The minor in astronomy will consist of 19 credit hours. Of those, 10 hours will include:
PHYS 1103 |
Observatory Astronomy |
PHYS 1304 |
Solar System Astronomy |
PHYS 1305
|
Stars and Galaxies
|
PHYS 1310 or 1312 |
General Physics II or Introduction to Electricity, Magnetism |
Three hours will include:
PHYS 3350 |
Intermediate Astronomy |
PHYS 4350 |
Astrophysics |
The remaining 6 upper-division hours are chosen from the following:
GEOS 3307 |
Planetary Geology |
PHYS/GEOS 3412 |
Applied Geophysics |
PHYS 3321 |
Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics |
PHYS 3322 |
Classical Mechanics and Nonlinear Dynamics |
PHYS 3323 |
Introduction to Modern Physics |
PHYS 3324 |
Math Methods in Physics |
PHYS 3325 |
Waves and Optics |
PHYS 3348 |
Atmospheric Physics |
PHYS 3128 |
Summer Research II |
PHYS 4128 |
Summer Research III |
PHYS 3-90 |
Directed Studies – Junior Level |
PHYS 4-90 |
Directed Studies – Senior Level |
Students may also choose one relevant 3-hour-upper-division course approved by the department chair. |
The combined total of hours for 3128, 4128, 3-90, or 4-90 may not exceed 3 hours for the minor. The chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy must approve the selected content of 3128, 4128, 3-90, or 4-90 as relevant to the minor in astronomy.