Physics Department

Faculty | Minor | Physics Course Descriptions | Astronomy Course Descriptions
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Department Head:  Rembiesa

Professors:  Berlinghieri, Hurren, Adelman, Rembiesa

Associate Professors:  Briggs, Hilleke

Physics is the fundamental physical science, the foundation upon which all other physical sciences are constructed. It is a vast and comprehensive discipline which studies the entire realm of nature from the most minute particles, distances, and times imaginable to the most massive stars, the outer limits of the universe, and the eons of duration. It is particularly concerned with those aspects of nature which can be formulated in terms of principles and laws reduced to their essence and expressed in an elegant and concise mathematical form.

The Department of Physics at The Citadel provides a comprehensive curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics as well as undergraduate education in basic physics through calculus-based and non-calculus based introductory sequences. In addition, some specialized graduate courses are available to support those pursuing advanced degrees in education.

The department sponsors a section of the Society of Physics Students and the physics honor society Sigma Pi Sigma to provide fellowship for physics majors and other students of similar interests and to make available extracurricular activities which illustrate that physics in practice is a vital and active discipline.

I.  Bachelor of Science degree in Physics.
This degree is designed to offer students a thorough education in physics at the undergraduate level and to prepare them to pursue graduate study in physics as appropriate to their career aspirations. Professional physicists have traditionally experienced careers in education, industry and government, but a sound knowledge of basic physics has become increasingly important to other areas of endeavor as well. For example, a strong undergraduate background in physics is considered essential to a career as a commissioned officer in one of the high-technology branches of the Armed Forces. The curriculum for the B.S. degree in physics is comprehensive and includes 54 semester hours of physics, beginning with a one-semester introduction to physics course followed by a three-semester basic course in physics for engineers and physical scientists, a calculus-based sequence which emphasizes fundamental principles and problem solving, and which also includes a weekly two-hour laboratory each semester. The junior and senior years include upper-division courses in analytical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, mathematical physics, electronics, thermodynamics, optics, modern physics, and quantum mechanics. Research planning and senior research project in the senior year give students an opportunity to apply physics to a theoretical or experimental project or to the design and construction of apparatus.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics also include five semesters of mathematics, four semesters each of English and foreign language, two semesters each of chemistry and history, and one semester of social science, as well as physical education and ROTC.

The program for physics majors retains flexibility in that a student who does not intend a profession in physics may, at the discretion of the department head, replace up to six credit hours of physics courses numbered above 300 with courses numbered above 300 in other science fields.

II.  Physics courses for majors in other fields.
As a service to other departments, and to meet the expectations of the college core curriculum, three separate basic physics sequences are individually designed to meet the requirements of specific groups of disciplines. All basic physics sequences have concomitant laboratories.

For the non-science majors and the biology majors who do not intend to continue their education on the graduate level or to pursue careers in medicine; PHYS 203/253 and PHYS 204/254 (College Physics) constitute a survey sequence which emphasizes basic principles, as well as some exciting developments of modern technology.

For the students majoring in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, and those preparing to be secondary school teachers in general science or physical science, PHYS 221/271 and PHYS 222/272 (Physics with Calculus) cover the fundamental principles of physics using more advanced mathematical tools. Additional, related topics are covered in two accompanying courses, PHYS 231 and PHYS 232 (Applications of Physics with Calculus).

PHYS 313/323/363 is a continuation of this sequence covering modern physics. Descriptive courses in elementary astronomy, ASTR 201 and ASTR 202 are provided as electives.

A student may not use both PHYS 203/204 and PHYS 221/222 in meeting degree requirements, nor can a student take the 203/204 sequence after completing PHYS 221/222. However, should a student whose major does not require PHYS 221/222 complete PHYS 203/204 and then decide, for whatever reason, to complete the calculus-based sequence, PHYS 221 and 222 may satisfy General Elective requirements.