Engineering Physics, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
department catalog page: Physics
department website: Department of Physics
department faculty: Physics Faculty
overview of college admissions & requirements: Engineering
college website: Engineering
email: undergrad-info@physics.illinois.edu
The Engineering Physics curriculum is a flexible program that combines a firm foundation in physics and mathematics with the freedom to choose from a diverse range of technical options. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of technical and professional careers, including graduate study in physics or a closely allied field.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
A technical grade point average requirement for graduation applies to students in this curriculum. This rule is summarized at the College of Engineering's Undergraduate Advising Website.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as shown below.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 100 | Engineering Orientation 1 | 0 |
| PHYS 110 | Physics Careers 1 | 0 |
| Total Hours | 0 | |
| 1 | External transfer students take ENG 300 instead. |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations 2 | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| PHYS 213 | Univ Physics: Thermal Physics | 2 |
| PHYS 214 | Univ Physics: Quantum Physics | 2 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
| 1 | MATH 220 may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. |
| 2 |
Engineering Physics Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of engineering physics.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 225 | Relativity & Math Applications | 2 |
| PHYS 325 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 435 | Electromagnetic Fields I | 3 |
| PHYS 486 | Quantum Physics I 1,2 | 4 |
| or PHYS 485 | Atomic Phys & Quantum Theory | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
| 1 | If PHYS 486 is chosen, take prerequisite MATH 415, which may be used to meet free elective requirements. |
| 2 | If PHYS 485 is taken, an additional free elective hour or a surplus flexible physics core course hour offsets the one-hour credit differential. |
Flexible Physics Core Electives
These courses complement the Engineering Physics Technical Core, extending the intellectual understanding of engineering physics.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible physics core electives. Choose three courses from a departmentally approved list below, with at least one being a lab course (PHYS 401, PHYS 402, PHYS 403, PHYS 404, or PHYS 406). The number of hours varies depending upon the courses chosen. | 9-15 | |
| PHYS 326 | Classical Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 401 | Classical Physics Lab | 3 |
| PHYS 402 | Light | 3 or 4 |
| PHYS 403 | Modern Experimental Physics | 4 or 5 |
| PHYS 404 | Electronic Circuits | 4 or 5 |
| PHYS 406 | Acoustical Physics of Music | 4 |
| PHYS 427 | Thermal & Statistical Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 436 | Electromagnetic Fields II | 3 |
| PHYS 460 | Condensed Matter Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 470 | Subatomic Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 475 | Introduction to Biophysics | 3 or 4 |
| PHYS 487 | Quantum Physics II | 4 |
Mathematics Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics elective, chosen from a departmentally approved list below: | 3 | |
| MATH 415 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 417 | Intro to Abstract Algebra | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 453 | Elementary Theory of Numbers | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 412 | Graph Theory | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 413 | Intro to Combinatorics | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 414 | Mathematical Logic | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 482 | Linear Programming | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 347 | Fundamental Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 348 | Fundamental Mathematics-ACP | 4 |
| MATH 424 | Honors Real Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 441 | Differential Equations | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 442 | Intro Partial Diff Equations | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 444 | Elementary Real Analysis | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 446 | Applied Complex Variables | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 447 | Real Variables | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 484 | Nonlinear Programming | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 489 | Dynamics & Differential Eqns | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 402 | Non Euclidean Geometry | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 403 | Euclidean Geometry | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 423 | Differential Geometry | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 432 | Set Theory and Topology | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 481 | Vector and Tensor Analysis | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 461 | Probability Theory | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 463 | Statistics and Probability I | 4 |
| MATH 450 | Numerical Analysis | 3 or 4 |
Technical/Professional Option Electives
Students may select from a list of pre-approved options or design a custom option, subject to departmental approval. The current pre-approved options, requiring 12-22 credit hours of course work, are:
-
Acoustical Physics
-
Astrophysics
-
Atmospheric Science
-
Biophysics
-
Business
-
Computational Physics
-
Computer Engineering
-
Energy/Sustainability
-
Materials Science
-
Nuclear Physics
-
Optical Physics
-
Law
-
Professional Physics
-
Solid State Electronics
-
Pre-Med
-
Pre-Law
The course work is selected in consultation with the student's advisor to address an intellectually coherent body of knowledge.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technical/professional option electives for the option selected, chosen from a departmentally approved list of Technical/Professional Option Electives (or a list designed for a departmentally approved custom option) below. The number of hours varies depending upon the option chosen. | 12-27 | |
Acoustical Physics | ||
| ECE 210 | Analog Signal Processing | 4 |
| ECE 473 | Fund of Engrg Acoustics | 3 or 4 |
| Choose 2 classes from the following: | ||
| ECE 310 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE 417 | Multimedia Signal Processing | 4 |
| ECE 473 | Fund of Engrg Acoustics | 3 |
| ECE 402 | Electronic Music Synthesis | 3 |
| PHYS 402 | Light | 3 or 4 |
Astrophysics | ||
| ASTR 210 | Introduction to Astrophysics | 3 |
| ASTR 404 | Stellar Astrophysics | 3 |
| ASTR 350 | The Big Bang, Black Holes, and the End of the Universe (OR ASTR 406: Galaxies and the Universe) | 3 |
| ASTR 405 | Planetary Systems | 3 |
| ASTR 414 | Astronomical Techniques | 4 |
Atmospheric Science | ||
| ATMS 201 | General Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| Choose 4 classes from the following: | ||
| ATMS 301 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ATMS 302 | Atmospheric Dynamics I | 3 |
| ATMS 304 | Radiative Transfer-Remote Sens | 3 |
| ATMS 305 | Computing and Data Analysis | 3 |
| ATMS 306 | Cloud Physics | 3 |
| ATMS 314 | Mesoscale Dynamics | 3 |
| ATMS 405 | Boundary Layer Processes | 4 |
BioPhysics | ||
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II (OR CHEM 204) | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry Lab II (OR CHEM 205) | 1 |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I (OR CHEM 236) | 3 or 4 |
| CHEM 233 | Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | 2 |
| Choose 2 classes from the following: | ||
| MCB 450 | Introductory Biochemistry (OR MCB 354: Biochemistry and Physical Basis of Life) | 3 |
| BIOP 401 | Introduction to Biophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 498 | Special Topics in Physics (Quantiative Biology) | 4 |
Business | ||
| TE 100 | Introduction to Innovation, Leadership and Engineering Entrepreneurship | 1 |
| TE 360 | Lectures in Engineering Entrepreneurship | 1 |
| SE 400 | Engineering Law | 3 or 4 |
| TE 333 | Creativity, Innovation, Vision | 4 |
| TE 461 | Technology Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| TE 450 | Startups: Inc, Fund, Contracts, IP | 3 |
| TE 466 | High-Tech Venture Marketing | 2 |
| ENG 471 | Seminar Energy & Sustain Engrg | 1 |
| IE 420 | Financial Engineering | 3 or 4 |
Computational Physics | ||
| CS 173 | Discrete Structures (OR MATH 213: Basic Discrete Structures) | 3 |
| CS 225 | Data Structures | 4 |
| Choose 3 classes from the following: | ||
| CS 357 | Numerical Methods I | 3 |
| CS 420 | Parallel Progrmg: Sci & Engrg | 3 or 4 |
| CS 418 | Interactive Computer Graphics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 450 | Numerical Analysis | 3 or 4 |
| PHYS 298 | Freshmen/Sophomore Special Topics in Physics (Computational Physics) | 2 |
| PHYS 498 | Special Topics in Physics (Computation in Physics) | 3 |
Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| ECE 110 | Introduction to Electronics (OR ECE 205: Electrical and Electronic Circuits) | 1 to 3 |
| ECE 120 | Introduction to Computing | 4 |
| ECE 210 | Analog Signal Processing | 4 |
| Take 1 class from the following: | ||
| ECE 310 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| PHYS 404 | Electronic Circuits (or ECE 342: Electronic Circuits) | 4 or 5 |
| ECE 330 | Power Ckts & Electromechanics | 3 |
| ECE 385 | Digital Systems Laboratory | 3 |
Energy/Sustainability | ||
| ENG 471 | Seminar Energy & Sustain Engrg | 1 |
| ECE 205 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| ATMS 201 | General Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| NRES 210 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ATMS 302 | Atmospheric Dynamics I | 3 |
| Choose 1 class from the following: | ||
| NPRE 402 | Nuclear Power Engineering | 3 or 4 |
| NPRE 412 | Nuclear Power Econ & Fuel Mgmt | 3 or 4 |
| NPRE 470 | Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Sources | 3 |
| NPRE 475 | Wind Power Systems | 3 or 4 |
| ECE 333 | Green Electric Energy | 3 |
Materials Science | ||
| MSE 280 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| MSE 206 | Mechanics for MatSE | 4 |
| MSE 401 | Thermodynamics of Materials (OR PHYS 427: Thermal & Statistical Physics) | 3 |
| Choose 1 class from the following: | ||
| MSE 304 | Electronic Properties of Matls | 3 |
| MSE 402 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 403 | Synthesis of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 405 | Microstructure Determination | 3 |
| MSE 406 | Thermal-Mech Behavior of Matls | 3 |
Nuclear Physics | ||
| PHYS 470 | Subatomic Physics | 4 |
| NPRE 402 | Nuclear Power Engineering | 3 or 4 |
| Choose 2 classes from the following: | ||
| NPRE 446 | Radiation Interact w/Matter I | 3 |
| NPRE 435 | Radiological Imaging | 3 |
| NPRE 441 | Radiation Protection | 4 |
Optical Physics | ||
| ECE 455 | Optical Electronics | 3 or 4 |
| ECE 460 | Optical Imaging | 4 |
| ECE 465 | Optical Communications Systems | 3 |
| Choose 1 class from the following: | ||
| PHYS 404 | Electronic Circuits | 4 or 5 |
| PHYS 402 | Light | 3 or 4 |
| PHYS 436 | Electromagnetic Fields II | 3 |
Law | ||
| LAW 301 | Introduction to Law | 2 or 3 |
| JOUR 200 | Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| CMN 211 | Business Communication | 3 |
| Choose 2 classes from the following: | ||
| SE 400 | Engineering Law | 3 or 4 |
| PS 225 | Environmental Politics & Policy | 3 |
| PS 273 | Environment and Society | 3 |
| NPRE 480 | Energy and Security | 3 |
| ESE 320 | Water Planet, Water Crisis | 3 |
Professional Option | ||
| MATH 415 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 or 4 |
| PHYS 326 | Classical Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 436 | Electromagnetic Fields II | 3 |
| PHYS 427 | Thermal & Statistical Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 487 | Quantum Physics II | 4 |
| Choose 1 lab from the following (cannot count toward Flexible Physics Core): | ||
| PHYS 401 | Classical Physics Lab | 3 |
| PHYS 402 | Light | 3 or 4 |
| PHYS 403 | Modern Experimental Physics | 4 or 5 |
| PHYS 404 | Electronic Circuits | 4 or 5 |
Solid State Electronics | ||
| PHYS 404 | Electronic Circuits | 4 or 5 |
| PHYS 460 | Condensed Matter Physics | 4 |
| ECE 110 | Introduction to Electronics | 1 to 3 |
| ECE 444 | IC Device Theory & Fabrication | 4 |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives from the campus General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences list. | 6 | |
| Electives from the campus General Education Humanities and the Arts list. | 6 | |
| Electives either from a list approved by the college, or from the campus General Education lists for Social and Behavioral Sciences or Humanities and the Arts. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course, (ii) one non-western culture(s) course, and (iii) one U.S. Minority Culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western, non-western, and U.S. Minority lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RHET 105 | Writing and Research | 4 |
| Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing a course with the Advanced Composition designation in either the social sciences and humanities or the free elective categories. | ||
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering Advising Website, give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering Advising Website, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. The number of hours varies depending upon the total hours earned in both the Flexible Physics Core and the Technical/Professional Option and whether or not MATH 415 and PHYS 486 are taken in place of PHYS 485. | 13-37 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| ENG 100 | Engineering Orientation | 0 |
| MATH 2211,2 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHYS 110 | Physics Careers | 0 |
| RHET 105 (or Liberal education elective)3,4 | Writing and Research | 4-3 |
| Liberal education elective4 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15-14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg Sci | 3 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| PHYS 2112 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| RHET 105 (or Liberal education elective)3,4 | Writing and Research | 3-4 |
| Liberal education elective4 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16-17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec Mag | 4 |
| PHYS 225 | Relativity Math Applications | 2 |
| Liberal education electives4 | 6 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MATH 2855 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 213 | Univ Physics: Thermal Physics | 2 |
| PHYS 214 | Univ Physics: Quantum Physics | 2 |
| PHYS 325 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| Technical/professional option elective6 | 3 | |
| Liberal education elective4 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MATH 415 (if PHYS 486 will be taken) or Free elective | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 435 | Electromagnetic Fields I | 3 |
| Flexible physics core elective7,8 | 3 | |
| Mathematics elective9 | 3 | |
| Technical/professional option elective6 | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHYS 485 or 48610 | Atomic Phys Quantum Theory | 3-4 |
| Flexible physics core electives7,8 | 6 | |
| Technical/professional option electives6 | 6 | |
| Semester Hours | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Technical/professional option electives or Free electives6,11 | 10 | |
| Flexible physics core electives or Free electives7,8 | 6 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Free electives | 11-10 | |
| Technical/professional option electives or Free electives6,11 | 5 | |
| Semester Hours | 16-15 | |
| Total Hours: | 128 | |
| 1 | MATH 220 may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. |
| 2 | Students with proficiency or advanced placement (AP or IB) credit in MATH 221 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 231 and PHYS 211 for the first semester. |
| 3 | RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is a social sciences or humanities elective. |
| 4 | Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course, (ii) one non-western culture(s) course, and (iii) one U.S. Minority Culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western, non-western, and U.S. Minority lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | To be chosen from a departmentally approved list of Technical/Professional Option Electives, in consultation with the student’s advisor, for the option elected (or a list fashioned for a departmentally approved custom option). The number of credit hours varies 12-22 depending upon the option chosen. |
| 7 | The flexible physics core requirement consists of three courses chosen from a departmentally approved list of Flexible Physics Core Electives with at least one of them being a lab course, PHYS 401, PHYS 403, PHYS 404, or PHYS 406. The number of credit hours varies 9-15 depending upon the courses chosen. |
| 8 | For courses chosen with more than 3 hours credit, the surplus hours may be used to meet free elective requirements. |
| 9 | To be chosen from a departmentally approved list of Mathematics Electives. Any course satisfying the Mathematics Elective cannot be used to satisfy any other requirement. |
| 10 | If PHYS 485 is taken, an additional free elective hour or a surplus flexible physics core course hour offsets the one-hour credit differential. |
| 11 | Taken if needed to complete a technical/professional option requiring more than 12 hours of credit. |