Physics

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Faculty

Don H. Olive, Chair, Professor; Director of Christenberry Planetarium
Eric H. Remington, Assistant Professor
Stephen L. Strickland, Assistant Professor

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Engineering Physics Major (B.S.) 
Physics Major (B.A.) 
Physics Major (B.S.)  

Minor
Physics Minor 
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The Department of Physics offers two majors: physics (leading to a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree) and engineering physics (leading to a bachelor of science degree).

Students interested in pursuing an engineering career and taking basic courses in the fields of mathematics, physics, computer science, and chemistry are well prepared to transfer to any engineering school. At Samford, students can complete half the curriculum required in any of the following fields of engineering: mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, highway, and aeronautical. Interested students are advised to check with several engineering schools to determine which Samford courses would transfer directly.

To obtain a major in physics or engineering physics, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 in mathematics and physics courses. Additionally, to receive a bachelor of science degree in physics, students must complete a senior thesis. See the department chair for details.

The department also offers a minor in physics.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

See General Education Overview  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

For a major or minor in physics or a major in engineering physics, the general education mathematics requirement is satisfied by MATH 240 (Calculus I) . For a major in physics or engineering physics, the general education natural and computational sciences requirement is satisfied by CHEM 205 (Foundations of Chemistry I)  and its associated laboratory CHEM 206 . Physics and engineering physics majors cannot use COSC 107 (Introduction to Computer Science)  to fulfill this requirement.

Programs

• Engineering Physics Major (B.S.)
• Physics Major (B.A.)
• Physics Major (B.S.)

• Physics Minor

Courses

Of related interest: IDSC 201 - Scientific Methods (4) .

Note on Special Problems courses: A maximum of five credits total for PHYS 461 , PHYS 471 , and/or PHYS 481  may count toward graduation requirements.

• PHYS 100 - Physics for Society (4)
• PHYS 101 - General Physics I (4)
• PHYS 102 - General Physics II (4)
• PHYS 150 - Introduction to Astronomy (4)
• PHYS 203 - Physics I (5)
• PHYS 204 - Physics II (5)
• PHYS 206 - Sound and Music (4)
• PHYS 310 - Mechanics I (3)
• PHYS 311 - Mechanics I Laboratory (1)
• PHYS 330 - Electricity and Magnetism I (3)
• PHYS 331 - Electricity and Magnetism I Laboratory (1)
• PHYS 334 - Electronics (4)
• PHYS 340 - Optics (3)
• PHYS 341 - Optics Laboratory (1)
• PHYS 350 - Modern Physics I (3)
• PHYS 351 - Modern Physics I Laboratory (1)
• PHYS 360 - Modern Physics II (3)
• PHYS 380 - Theoretical Methods in Physics and Engineering (3)
• PHYS 390 - Computational Methods (3)
• PHYS 410 - Mechanics II (3)
• PHYS 420 - Thermal Physics (4)
• PHYS 422 - Advanced Laboratory 1 (2)
• PHYS 430 - Electricity and Magnetism II (3)
• PHYS 432 - Advanced Laboratory 2 (2)
• PHYS 440 - Nuclear Physics Concepts and Applications (3)
• PHYS 454 - Quantum Mechanics (3)
• PHYS 461 - Special Problems (1)
• PHYS 471 - Special Problems (2)
• PHYS 481 - Special Problems (3)
• PHYS 491 - Seminar (1)
• PHYS 499 - Senior Thesis (4)

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