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The Major
The Department of Physics has the faculty and facilities to provide unusually strong programs for students wishing to major in physics. The department offers a variety of courses and tracks; many options are available at the introductory level, in the core upper-division courses, and in the advanced electives. The three available tracks, Professional, Applied, and General, enable students to tailor the major to suit their goals. Whether the student plans to continue physics in graduate school, seek employment immediately after the B.S. degree, study other fields, or pursue other alternatives, an appropriate set of courses is available. Courses for majors generally have low enrollments and so students are treated as individuals. Courses for majors are taught by faculty, sometimes in combination with teaching assistants but not solely by teaching assistants. It is easy for a student to interact directly with the faculty and get extra help and advice. Most faculty members are engaged in basic experimental or theoretical research in one of the following areas: atomic physics, bio-physics, solid state or quantum-matter physics, and soft-matter physics, elementary-particle physics, low-temperature physics, medical physics, nano-science, nuclear physics, and polymer physics. Excellent facilities have been supplied by the university and are supported by several million dollars annually in federal research funds. This activity makes it possible to bring the frontiers of physics to the classroom and enables undergraduates to participate in original research activities. These opportunities can be found through independent study, the departmental honors program, or student employment during the summer or academic year. The department has an active chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS), which allows the student to interact socially with student colleagues and faculty as well as to carry out interesting extracurricular physics activities. For example, there is a Five College Undergraduate Physics Colloquium that brings several nationally known speakers to the area each year. PHYSICS 181-182, 287-289 and 284-286 are the recommended introductory courses and labs for students considering a major in physics. (Under certain circumstances, and with approval of an adviser, PHYSICS 151-152 may be substituted for PHYSICS 181-182.) In the second year, there are two additional 200-level courses that are intended to develop basic skills (PHYSICS 281, 282). Students intending to go on to graduate school in physics or closely related fields, intending to take jobs immediately after the B.S. degree, or simply desiring a complete set of courses in physics should follow the Professional Track. Those having a particular interest in a topic of science or engineering that is not within the standard physics curriculum can choose the Applied track (B.S.). Pre-medical or pre-dental students may fall into this category. Students who have strong interests in areas other than research, or who are interested in teaching at the K-12 level can choose the General Track (B.A.). The latter two tracks include fewer Physics courses, but require that the student take a coherent program of courses (a concentration) from other departments together with our own. The details of the concentration must be worked out with an adviser from the department. The Applied Track is for majors interested in other technical subjects, for example, computing or engineering, while the General Track allows a concentration in non-technical areas, for example, finance, teaching, and science writing. Core Courses (required for all tracks): MATH 131 Calculus I Professional Track (B.S.): Applied Track (B.S.): Two of 421, 422, 423 and 424 General Track (B.A.): Physics 282 is strongly recommended, as it prepares students for the upper-level classes. One of 421, 422, 423, 424, 531, 553 or 590M Recommended courses for all degree tracks: A more detailed description of the programs and courses for majors in physics is contained in the Handbook for Current and Prospective Physics Majors available online at www.physics.umass.edu and from the Undergraduate Program Director. |
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