Department of Physical Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Physics

The nuclear physics curriculum is designed to provide a baccalaureate degree program for persons employed or those interested in employment in the nuclear power industry. The program provides a combination of courses which form a firm theoretical foundation for those presently employed as nuclear power plant operators.

Students without nuclear power industry experience or training will, in addition to the theoretical education provided through the program, receive sufficient training to enter nuclear power plant specific training. Graduates will also be prepared to enter a graduate school in nuclear physics or nuclear engineering.

Curriculum

The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.

•  Freshman

  Fall		Spring
  ENGL 1013 Composition I1	3	ENGL 1023 Composition II1	3
  Social Sciences/Fine Arts/Humanities/Communication1	3	MCEG 2023 Engineering Materials	3
  MATH 2914 Calculus I	4	MATH 2924 Calculus II	4
  PHSC 1001 Orientation to Physical Science	1	PHSC 1011 Orientation to Physical Science II	1
  CHEM 2124 General Chemistry I	4	CHEM 2134 General Chemistry II	4
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	15

•  Sophomore

  Fall		Spring
  Social Sciences1	6	U.S. History/Government1	3
  COMS 2803 Programming in C	3	Biological Science1	4
  MATH 2934 Calculus III	4	MATH 3243 Differential Equations I	3
  PHYS 2114 Calculus-Based Physics I	4	PHYS 2124 Calculus-Based Physics II	4
  Total Hours	17	Total Hours	14

•  Junior

  Fall		Spring
  ELEG 2103 Electric Circuits I	3	Fine Arts & Humanities1	3
  MCEG 3313 Thermodynamics I	3	ELEG 2111 Electric Circuits Laboratory and ELEG 2113 Electric Circuits II	4
  MCEG 3503 Basic Nuclear Engineering	3	MCEG 3523 Radiation Health Physics or PHYS 3033 Radiation Health Physics	3
  PHYS 3213 Modern Physics or PHYS elective (3000-4000)2	3	MCEG 4403 Mechanics of Fluids and Hydraulics	3
  PHYS 4113 Advanced Physics Laboratory or PHYS elective (3000-4000)2	3
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	13

•  Senior

  Fall		Spring
  MCEG 4323 Power Plant Systems	3	Fine Arts & Humanities1	3
  PHYS 3143 Electronics or ELEG 3103 Electronics I	3	MCEG 4443 Heat Transfer	3
  PHYS 3213 Modern Physics or PHYS elective (3000-4000)2	3	PHYS 4951-4 Undergraduate Research in Physics or PHYS 4991-4 Special Problems in Physics and Astronomy	1-4
  PHYS 4113 Advanced Physics Laboratory or PHYS elective (3000-4000)2	3	Engineering Elective	3
  Elective	3	PHYS Elective (3000-4000 level)	6-3
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	16

¹See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements". A specific general education core course does not have to be taken in the semester listed, any other part of the general education core at any time is acceptable as well.
²Must complete both the PHYS class and one PHYS upper division elective (PHYS course offered in alternating years). (upper division = 3000-4000 level courses).