DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

1997-1998 Bulletin Information

For current bulletin information see www.southalabama.edu/bulletin

Chair: Sankoorikal L. Varghese (460-6224)
Professors: Helminger, Varghese, Weber
Associate
Professors: Clark, Jenkins

Assistant Professors: Sanders, Irby


The curriculum in the Department of Physics serves three groups of students: those preparing for careers in physics, those pursuing professional fields such as medicine and engineering, and those electing physics and astronomy as part of the natural-science requirement for Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degrees. The degree program in physics allows for flexibility to the extent that the serious student can select related courses in biology, chemistry, geology, computer science, and engineering to prepare for a career in such interdisciplinary areas as biophysics, geophysics, oceanography, and environmental science. A major program has been developed for those students pursuing medicine as a career. There is also an evening physics program. Through this program it is possible to earn a B.S. degree in Physics by attending classes only during the evenings. A typical program leading to the regular major in Physics follows. Students planning to pursue any of the other above programs in physics are invited to contact the Chair of the Department for sample programs.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PHYSICS

FIRST YEAR
Chemistry
Math (See Note)
Communication
Language
114-5
131-5
EH 101-4
-4
18
115-5
132-5
EH 102-4
-4
18
116-5
233-5
CA 110-4
-4
18

SECOND YEAR
Physics 215-5 216-5
Math 234-5 331-4
Humanities -4 -4 -4
Social Sci -4 -4 -4
PE or ROTC
215-5
234-45
-4
-4
-1
18
216-5
331-4
-4
-4
-1
18
217-5
332-4
-4
-4
-1
18

THIRD YEAR
Physics 331-3 332-3 333-3
Physics 363-3 364-3
Physics 381-2 382-2 383-2
Humanities -4
Social Sci -4 -4
Electives -4
Art -4
PE or ROTC
331-3
363-3
381-2
-4
-4


__
16
332-3
364-3
382-2

-4


__
12
333-3

383-2


-4
-4
-1
14

FOURTH YEAR
Physics
Physics
Humanities
Electives
Physics elect
Mathematics
Art
PE or ROTC
341-3
461-3

-4

316 or 318-4

-1
15
342-3

-4
-2


-4
-1
14

447-4

-7
-1


-1
13

TOTALS:
Physics, including electives
Mathematics
Chemistry
Humanities
Social Sciences
Fine and Performing Art
Communication

Languages
PE or ROTC
Free Electives

50
32

15

20

20

8

12

12
6

17

192

NOTE: Students without sufficient Mathematical preparation (as determined by the guidelines of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics), should take MA 120 and MA 121. Also, students expecting to pursue Social graduate studies in Physics should include as many non-required, upper-divisional Physics courses as scheduling will allow.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN PHYSICS
PH 215, 216, 217, 331, 332, 333, 341, 342, 363, 364, 381, 382, 383, 447, 461, and CH 114, 115 and 116.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN PHYSICS
A minimum of 30 quarter hours in Physics, including at least 12 hours at the 300 level or above.

GENERAL COMMENTS
PH 111, 112, 113, and PH 235 may be substituted for PH 215, 216, 217 only with the approval of the Department.

The sequences PH 111, 112, 113 and 215, 216, 217 may not both be taken for credit.

DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL PHYSICS (PH) COURSES BEGIN ON PAGE 302.

College of Arts and Sciences