Northern Michigan University...Michigan's ThinkPad University
 

Department Office

1001 New Science Facility

Phone: 906-227-2450

Fax: 906-227-2474

 

Web page

http://physics.nmu.edu/
Physics_Homepage/

 

Department Head

G. Jailan Zalmai

gzalmai@nmu.edu

 

Faculty

David W. Donovan

Duane K. Fowler

Mark W. Jacobs

David J. Lucas

Neil Russell

 

Student

Organizations

• Physics Club

• Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Club

• Student Michigan Education Association


 

 
 
 2003-2004
Undergraduate Bulletin

 
 
 

Physics

 

 

Physics at NMU

The Physics Department: (1) provides courses and training designed for the preparation of physics majors and minors; (2) offers courses that provide the background in physics required in other curricula; engineering, allied health sciences, biology, chemistry, and education; and (3) offers courses appropriate for students to meet the liberal studies foundations of natural sciences/mathematics requirement.

 

Physics Programs

The department offers programs leading to a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree in physics and secondary education physics and minors in physics and physics education. The department also participates in offering a secondary education general science major. See the "Interdisciplinary and Individually Created Programs" section of this bulletin.

 

Students seeking careers in engineering, mathematics, chemistry and other physical sciences should take PH 220 and PH 221 which provides a one-year calculus-based physics sequence with laboratory. Nonphysical science majors and other preprofessional students should plan on taking PH 201 and PH 202. This is a noncalculus-based sequence (including laboratory) suitable also for biology majors.

 

Department/Program Policies

Physics Breakage Fee

Students enrolled in a physics laboratory must pay the cost of replacement for any broken glassware, broken equipment or lost tools in excess of one dollar. Records are maintained in the Physics Department and students are notified of any amount due after the last laboratory meeting.

 

Prerequisite Work

Physics courses that indicate prerequisites may be taken only when the prerequisite work has been completed with a grade of "C" or higher.

 

GPA Requirements

A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all physics courses that apply to the non-teaching major or minor in physics.

 

Students majoring in secondary education physics or minoring in physics education must maintain a grade point average of 2.7 or greater with no grade below a "C" in the professional education sequence, the major and/or minor’s and required cognates combined.

 

 

Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Physics Major

Total Credits Required for Degree

124

Liberal Studies

30-40*

Health Promotion

2

Major

35

PH 220 Introductory Physics I

5

PH 221 Introductory Physics II

5

PH 322 Modern Physics

4

PH 375 Analytical Mechanics or

3

PH 380 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism

 

PH 480 Senior Physics Seminar

1

Physics Electives
PH 370, PH 375, PH 380, PH 393, and PH 410 are strongly recommended.

17

Other Required Courses

10

CH 111 General Chemistry I
Satisfies one of the foundations of natural sciences/mathematics requirements.

5

CH 111 General Chemistry II
Satisfies one of the foundations of natural sciences/mathematics requirements.

5

Minor
Mathematics minor recommended as follows:

21

MA 161 Calculus I (5 cr.)

 

MA 163 Calculus II (4 cr.)

 

MA 211 Introduction to Matrix Theory and Linear Algebra (3 cr.)

 

MA 265 Calculus III (3 cr.)

 

MA 361 Differential Equations (3 cr.)

 

Math Elective (3 cr.)

 

 

Secondary Education Physics Major

Total Credits Required for Degree

150-152

Liberal Studies

30-40*

Health Promotion

2

Major

32

PH 220 Introductory Physics I

5

PH 221 Introductory Physics II

5

PH 322 Modern Physics

4

Physics Electives

18

Teaching Minor, minimum
Mathematics education or chemistry education recommended.  If mathematics is not selected, appropriate mathematics courses must be taken as prerequisites for the required physics courses.

23-25

Other Required Courses

26

Choose two courses from the following:

8

AS 103 Observational and Solar System Astronomy or

 

GC 255 Physical Geology  or

 

GC 385 Weather and Climate

 

BI 111 Introductory Biology: Principles

4

BI 112 Introductory Biology: Diversity

4

CH 111 General Chemistry I
Satisfies one of the foundations of natural sciences/mathematics requirements.

5

CH 111 General Chemistry II
Satisfies one of the foundations of natural sciences/mathematics requirements.

5

Professional Education

37

ED 201 Introduction to Education

2

ED 231 Teaching and Learning in the Secondary Classroom

4

ED 301 Dimensions of American Education

2

ED 319 Teaching of Reading for Secondary Teachers

3

MSED 340 Fundamental Concepts of Science

4

ED 349 Teaching for Diversity, Equity and Social Justice in the Secondary School Community

2

MSED 350 Methods and Materials in Teaching Science Education

4

ED 361 Special Education and the General Classroom Teacher

2

ED 483 Educational Media and Technology

2

ED 430 Teaching in the Secondary School

11

ED 450 Seminar in Teaching

1

 

*Complete information on the liberal studies requirements and additional graduation requirements, including the health promotion requirement is in the “Liberal Studies Program and Graduation Requirements” section of this bulletin.

 

Minor Programs

Physics Minor

Total Credits Required for Minor

20

PH 220 Introductory Physics I

5

PH 221 Introductory Physics II

5

PH 322 Modern Physics

4

PH 375 Analytical Mechanics or

3

PH 380 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism

 

Physics Elective

3

 

Physics Education Minor

Total Credits Required for Minor

20-28

PH 220 Introductory Physics I

5

PH 221 Introductory Physics II

5

PH 322 Modern Physics

4

PH 375 Analytical Mechanics or

3

PH 380 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism

 

Physics Elective

3

MSED 340 Fundamental Concepts of Science*

4

MSED 350 Methods and Materials in Teaching Science Education*

4

 

*Not needed if major is biology education, chemistry education, earth science education or general science education.


Registrar's Office, 301 Cohodas Administration Building
1401 Presque Isle Ave | Marquette, MI 49855 | 1-800-682-9797
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©2003 by the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University
Page created by: Kimber Olli of Northern Michigan University
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Last Updated: Monday, July 14, 2003