Physics (PHY)
PHY 211 Physics I 4 Units
This introductory course will emphasize classical mechanics, wave motion, and thermodynamics. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: Consent of division chair.
PHY 212 Physics II 4 Units
As a continuation of PHY 211, this course will emphasize electricity, magnetism, light, optics, and modern physics. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 211.
PHY 221 Calculus-based Physics I 4 Units
This course will study Newtonian mechanics: vectors and scalars, kinematics and dynamics of translational and rotational motion, Newton's laws, speed, velocity, acceleration, force, torque, work, energy, linear and angular momentum, wave and harmonic motion, gravitation, friction, conservation of energy and momentum, thermodynamics. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: MTH 271 (concurrent enrollment allowed) or consent of instructor.
PHY 222 Calculus-based Physics II 4 Units
As a continuation of PHY 221, this course will cover thermodynamics, Maxwell's equations of electricity and magnetism, current, voltage, resistance, inductance, reactance, power, optics and optical systems, interference, diffraction, polarization, dispersion, and coherence. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisites: C- or better in PHY 221 and MTH 272 (concurrent enrollment allowed) or consent of instructor.
PHY 231 Astronomy I 4 Units
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to planetary astronomy with a brief exposure to stellar astronomy including the solar system, sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, meteors, meteorites, stars, galaxies, origins of the universe, telescopes, spectra, and space exploration.
PHY 232 Astronomy II 4 Units
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to stellar astronomy and cosmology including star and galaxy formation, origins of the universe, black holes, dark matter, and dark energy. Lab time is included in the schedule.
PHY 311 Modern Physics 4 Units
This course will provide a rigorous introduction to the relationship between relativity, quantum mechanics, molecular, atomic, and nuclear physics, and cosmology. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 221 or consent of instructor.
PHY 315 Electronics I: Analog Electronics 3 Units
This hands-on course will focus on the design, fabrication, and testing of analog electronic circuits, circuit components, and devices with special emphasis on the use of electronic test equipment. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 221 or consent of instructor.
PHY 316 Electronics II: Digital Electronics 3 Units
This hands-on course will focus on the design, fabrication, and testing of digital electronic circuits, circuit components, and devices with special emphasis on programming and computer control of digital circuits and devices. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisites: C- or better in PHY 221 and PHY 315 or consent of instructor.
PHY 325 Scientific Equipment Design and Fabrication 3 Units
This hands-on course will focus on the design of scientific equipment, the use of scientific glassblowing, and machine shop tools, particularly the lathe and the knee-type mill, to fabricate, repair, and modify scientific equipment; also included will be a comprehensive introduction to vacuum technology. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 221 or consent of instructor.
PHY 340 Optics 4 Units
This course will cover classical and quantum descriptions of electromagnetic radiation, lenses, mirrors, polarizers, dispersion, refraction, diffraction, scattering, image formation, optical systems, aberrations, optical sources and detectors, spectroscopy, and matrix and Fourier transform methods in optics. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 221 or consent of instructor.
PHY 350 Mechanics 3 Units
This course will cover advanced formulations of Newton's laws of motion, conservation laws, Hamilton's and Lagrange's equations, least action principle, conservative and dissipative systems, domain of applicability, and limitations of classical mechanics. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 311 or consent of instructor.
PHY 405 Math and Computational Physics 4 Units
This course will provide a rigorous introduction to the mathematical and computational methods that underlie physics including multivariable calculus, differential equations, matrix methods, expansions in complete sets of orthonormal functions, complex variables, eigenvalue/eigenvector problems, and variational methods. Lab time is included in the schedule. $50 lab fee is required. Prerequisites: C- or better in CHE 431 and CHE 432 (concurrent enrollment allowed) or consent of instructor.
PHY 410 Electrodynamics 3 Units
This course will focus on electrical charge, Coulomb's law, electric fields associated with stationary charge distributions, moving charges, currents, magnetic fields, Lorentz force law, Faraday's law of induction, Maxwell's equations, generation, propagation, polarization, and detection of electromagnetic radiation, and basic antenna theory. Prerequisites: C- or better in PHY 405 and MTH 373 or consent of instructor.
PHY 420 Quantum Mechanics 4 Units
This course will address key concepts and methods in quantum physics with special emphasis on setting up, solving, and approximating solutions of the Schrodinger equation by perturbational or variational methods, and describing spectroscopy in terms of transitions between quantum states. Lab time is included in the schedule. $50 lab fee is required. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: C- or better in PHY 425 or consent of instructor.
PHY 425 Thermodynamics 4 Units
This course will address key concepts in thermodynamics including the 0th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd laws, Maxwell’s equations of thermodynamics, heat capacities, state functions, heat, work, heat engines, thermodynamic cycles, and an introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Lab time is included in the schedule. $50 lab fee is required. Offered alternate years. Prerequisites: C- or better in CHE 222 and MTH 272 and MTH 373 (concurrent enrollment allowed) and (PHY 211 or PHY 221) or consent of instructor.
PHY 435 Solid State Physics and Chemistry 3 Units
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts of the structure, bonding, and chemical/physical properties of solid systems: metals, semiconductors, superconductors, insulators, and glasses. Prerequisites: C- or better in CHE 222 and PHY 311 or consent of the instructor.
PHY 445 Advanced Topics in Physics 3 Units
This course will provide an in-depth exposure to an advanced physics topic or set of related physics topics in an upper-division class setting in areas not covered by the regular curricular offerings in physics. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing in physics and consent of instructor.
PHY 455 Relativity and Cosmology 3 Units
This course will provide a rigorous introduction to special and general relativity and the applications of relativity in both its special and general forms to problems in cosmology. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing in physics and consent of instructor.
PHY 465 Advanced Astronomy 4 Units
This course will focus on cutting-edge problems in stellar, galactic, and extra-galactic astronomy with an emphasis on techniques for experimental measurements in astronomical photometry and spectroscopy. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Prerequisites: C- or better in PHY 221 and (PHY 231 or PHY 232) or consent of instructor.
PHY 496 Research in Physics 0.5-2 Units
As a hands-on introduction to physics research, this course will emphasize research process, skills, and methods including laboratory and library research, peer-reviewed physics abstracts and journals, electronic chemical databases, professional journal manuscript style guides, and statistical analysis used in writing research manuscripts and making research presentations. Lab time is included in the schedule. A lab fee is required. Course may be taken for a range of units (0.5-2 units per semester). Prerequisite: SCI 495.