Physics, B.S.: Astrophysics Concentration

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About the Physics: Astrophysics Concentration Bachelor’s Program

The astrophysics concentration is a variation of the professional concentration as is intended for students who have a particular interest in astronomy and astrophysics. In addition to preparing students for possible employment paths associated with the professional concentration, the astrophysics concentrations will prepare students to pursue graduate study in astronomy or astrophysics. This concentration has the same mathematics requirements as the professional option and very similar physics course requirements, but it also includes 20 hours of ASTR courses in addition to either PHYS 4312 or PHYS 4350 . Majors in this concentration are strongly encouraged to minor in mathematics and devote time to undergraduate research.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Communication Literacy courses for the Physics major (all concentrations) are: PHYS 2305 , PHYS 3304 , PHYS 3401 , and PHYS 4306 .

Recommended Curriculum

First Year

Fall

Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 Semester Credit Hours *
MATH 1451 - Calculus I with Applications 4 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1301 - Essentials of College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour
COMS 2300 - Public Speaking 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 14

Spring

PHYS 1408 - Principles of Physics I 4 Semester Credit Hours
MATH 1452 - Calculus II with Applications 4 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1302 - Advanced College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 17

Second Year

Fall

PHYS 2302 - Principles of Physics III: Intermediate Classical Mechanics 3 Semester Credit Hours ^‡
PHYS 2401 - Principles of Physics II 4 Semester Credit Hours
MATH 2450 - Calculus III with Applications 4 Semester Credit Hours
POLS 1301 - American Government 3 Semester Credit Hours
Language, Philosophy, and Culture 3 Semester Credit Hours *

Total: 17

Spring

PHYS 3201 - Modern Physics Lab and Data Analysis 2 Semester Credit Hours ^‡
PHYS 3301 - Principles of Physics IV: Introduction to Quantum Physics 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 4325 - Mathematical Methods in Physical Sciences I 3 Semester Credit Hours
(MATH 3350 and MATH 3351 may substitute for PHYS 4325 and PHYS 4326 .)
POLS 2306 - Texas Politics and Topics 3 Semester Credit Hours
ASTR 1401 - Stellar Astronomy 4 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Third Year

Fall

PHYS 2305 - Computation for the Physical Sciences 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 3305 - Electricity and Magnetism 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 4326 - Mathematical Methods in Physical Sciences II 3 Semester Credit Hours
(MATH 3350 and MATH 3351 may substitute for PHYS 4325 and PHYS 4326 .)
ASTR 2401 - Observational Astronomy 4 Semester Credit Hours
Multicultural 3 Semester Credit Hours^†

Total: 16

Spring

PHYS 3000 - Undergraduate Research V1-6 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours)
PHYS 3306 - Electricity and Magnetism 3 Semester Credit Hours
(PHYS 3401 can be taken in place of PHYS 3306 .)
PHYS 4302 - Statistical and Thermal Physics 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 4304 - Mechanics 3 Semester Credit Hours
HIST 2300 - History of the United States to 1877 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Fourth Year

Fall

ASTR 4301 - Astrophysics I 3 Semester Credit Hours
ASTR 4305 - Radiative Processes in Astrophysics 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 4307 - Quantum Mechanics I 3 Semester Credit Hours
HIST 2301 - History of the United States since 1877 3 Semester Credit Hours
Elective 2 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 14

Spring

ASTR 4302 - Astrophysics II 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 3304 - Intermediate Physics Laboratory 3 Semester Credit Hours
PHYS 4312 - Nuclear and Particle Physics 3 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 2000 Level 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 12

Total Hours: 120

Astrophysics concentration students are strongly encouraged to minor in mathematics, as assumed in the curriculum above.

* Choose from the university’s core curriculum .
^† Choose from the university’s Multicultural Requirement list.

^‡ Students who entered the College of Arts & Sciences prior to Fall 2017 will take PHYS 3101 instead of PHYS 3201 , and are not required to take PHYS 2302 .

Foreign Language

A student must complete 3 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is proficiency at the freshman level. This proficiency can be determined through credit or by examination. The score attained on the exam will determine whether the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or in some cases the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts & Sciences General Degree Requirements for further explanation.