Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Department of Physics and Engineering Physics


For more information about degree programs offered by the faculty of physics and engineering physics, visit the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics webpage.

Accreditation

The B.S. degree program in engineering physics is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Undergraduate Academic Programs

The faculty of physics and engineering physics offer courses leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.)  and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  degrees in physics, and to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics (B.S.E.P.) degree. All programs provide a critical core understanding of physics and culminate in a two-semester senior thesis/research design project.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  degree in physics prescribes a thorough undergraduate physics curriculum while retaining flexibility to engage in a breadth of courses in the arts and sciences. This degree option is particularly well suited as part of an education or pre-medical program.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.)  degree in physics provides a strong foundation in physics and mathematics in preparation for a technical or scientific career. Students pursuing the B.S. degree enroll in a more rigorous set of technical classes than for the B.A. degree. The B.S. degree requires two advanced special topics courses in physics. These courses have been incorporated to allow students flexibility in their junior and senior years to focus on specific fields of physics. The B.S. degree in physics provides a broad based technical major and is very adaptable for students in pre-professional programs (medical, law, etc.) and for education majors.

Students majoring in physics and engineering physics with an interest in a foreign language may choose to earn dual degrees through the International Engineering/Science and Language Program .

Program Goals

The goal of the engineering physics program is to provide the training in physics and engineering to prepare our students for careers in technical fields in industry, higher education, and for lifelong learning. Consistent with this goal, the educational objectives for the engineering physics program are to provide graduates with:

  • The knowledge to successfully enter and complete programs of graduate study in one of several engineering fields as well as in physics;
  • The skills to be able to function as productive engineering professionals in areas where traditional science and engineering disciplines overlap; and
  • An awareness of the importance of continued professional self-development.

Program Learning Objectives

For a Bachelor of Science or Arts in Physics, students will show:

     1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex problems in the fundamental and applied sciences;

     2. An ability to apply scientific knowledge to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental,           and economic factors;

     3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences both technical and non-technical;

     4. An ability to recognize ethical responsibilities in scientific situations and make informed and defensible judgments to advance scientific knowledge;

     5. An ability to function effectively on a team;

     6. Conduct scientific research; and

     7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

For a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, students will show:

     1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex scientific and engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

     2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental,             and economic factors.

     3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences both technical and non-technical.

     4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering and scientific situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering and scientific solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

     5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

     6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment and scientific principles to draw conclusions.

     7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Teacher Education Program

Students seeking secondary teacher certification in physics must declare education as a second major. This double major leads to teacher certification in Oklahoma (and preparation for certification in other states). In order to qualify, students must complete all the tasks listed on the Department of Education  page in this Bulletin, including acceptance into the Teacher Education Program and to the Student Teaching Semester.

Physics education majors are assigned two faculty advisors, one in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics and one in the Department of Education .

Faculty

Chair
Scott A. Holmstrom

Professors
Parameswar Hari
Scott A. Holmstrom
Sanwu Wang

Associate Professor
Alexei Grigoriev

Assistant Professor
Hongyang Zhu

Applied Professor
Jerome D. McCoy

Programs

    MajorMinor

    Courses

      Physics