Professors: Charles Blatchley*, Chairperson; Robert J. Backes*,
Orville L. Brill*, T. Bruce Daniel*
Associate Professor: Larry L. Long*
Assistant Professors: David M. Kuehn*
Lecturer: Timothy F. Slater, Director, Science Education Center
* Graduate Faculty
BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
Pre-Engineering Programs
The Department of Physics offers pre-professional work in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, agricultural engineering, aeronautical engineering, general engineering, and industrial engineering. Details concerning these programs can be obtained from the Department of Physics.
Five Year (3,2) Cooperative Program
A 3, 2 program has been established with KSU whereby students can earn a B. S. degree in physics at Pittsburg State University and a second B. S. degree in nuclear engineering at KSU, see page 28.
Students majoring in physics may complete the last 34 hours of their degree at an accredited department of engineering provided a cooperative program leading to both a B. S. degree in physics and a B. S. degree in engineering has been established by both schools, see page 28.
Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Physics
| A. General Education Component* |
| Hours |
| Basic Skills** |
12 |
| Humanities |
9 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences |
9 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences** |
6 |
| Producing and Consuming |
6 |
| Lifetime Fitness |
1 |
| Total |
43 |
* See "General Education Degree Requirements" for details and a list of specific course requirements, page 41.
** Mathematics and chemistry courses required in the professional component may be used in partial fulfillment of these requirements.
B.1 Professional Studies Component
Professional Sequence for Students Preparing for Graduate Study
| Physics |
35-37 |
PHYS 104/130 Engineering Physics I
Elementary Physics Laboratory I |
5 |
PHYS 105/131 Engineering Physics II
Elementary Physics Laboratory II |
5 |
| PHYS 500 Mathematical Physics |
3 |
| PHYS 510 Analytical Mechanics |
3 |
| PHYS 512 Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
| PHYS 516 Modern Physics |
3 |
| PHYS 530 Intermediate Physics Laboratory |
3 |
| Four additional physics courses |
10-12 |
| Chemistry |
10 |
| CHEM 125/126 General Chemistry/Laboratory |
5 |
| CHEM 135/136 General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis/Laboratory |
5 |
| Mathematics |
16 |
| MATH 150,155,253 Calculus I, II, III |
13 |
| MATH 553 Differential Equations |
61-63 |
B.2 Professional Studies Component Applied Physics Sequence
| Physics |
19 |
| PHYS 104/130 Engineering Physics I/Elementary Physics Laboratory I |
5 |
| PHYS 105/131 Engineering Physics II/Elementary Physics Laboratory II |
5 |
| PHYS 512 Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
| PHYS 516 Modern Physics |
3 |
| PHYS 530 Intermediate Physics Laboratory |
3 |
| Chemistry |
10 |
| CHEM 125/126 General Chemistry/Laboratory |
5 |
| CHEM 135/136 General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis/Lab-oratory |
5 |
| Mathematics |
16 |
| MATH 150,155,253 Calculus I, II, III |
13 |
| MATH 553 Differential Equations |
3 |
| Other |
16-18 |
| Six additional courses selected with approval of the department from physics, chemistry, or technology as appropriate to student's career plans. |
61-63 |
C. Minor Requirements
A minor consists of 20 hours of course work in a field different from the major field of study. Physics students customarily minor in chemistry or mathematics, but may want to select other minors as a way to improve employment options.
Bachelor of Science in Education Degree with a
Major in Physics
A. General Education Component*
Hours
| Basic Skills ** |
15 |
| Humanities |
9 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences |
9 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences** |
7-8 |
| Producing and Consuming |
6 |
| Lifetime Fitness |
1 |
| Total |
47-48 |
* See "General Education Degree Requirements for Students Preparing to
Teach Secondary School," page 43, for details and a list of specific general
education courses. Also see scholastic achievement requirements on common core courses for admission to teacher education for secondary teaching majors, page 169.
** Mathematics and chemistry courses required in the professional component
B.2. may be used in partial fulfillment of these requirements.
B. Professional Studies Component
In addition to the professional education courses listed in (1) below, the student must complete the courses for the teaching specialty listed in (2).
1. Teaching and Learning Theory with Laboratory and Clinical Experience
| CURIN 305 Explorations in Education*** |
2 |
| CURIN 306 Pre-Professional Laboratory I*** |
1 |
| PSYCH 263 Developmental Psychology |
3 |
| PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology |
3 |
| PHYS 479 Techniques for Teaching Physics |
3 |
| SSAS 510 Overview of Education for Exceptional Students |
3 |
| CURIN 520 Middle and Secondary Reading |
3 |
| Professional Semester |
17 |
| CURIN 458 Methods and Curriculum |
3 |
| CURIN 462 Secondary Education |
2 |
| CURIN 464 Foundations of Measurement and Evaluation |
2 |
| CURIN 480 Supervised Teaching in the Secondary School |
3 |
| CURIN 482 Supervised Teaching in the Secondary School |
5 |
| PHYS 579 Supervised Student Teaching and Follow-Up of Teachers |
2 |
| Total |
35 |
*** Concurrent enrollment required in CURIN 305 and 306.
2. Content for the Teaching Specialty: Physics
| Physics |
29-31 |
| PHYS 104/130 Engineering Physics I/Elementary Physics Laboratory I |
5 |
| PHYS 105/131 Engineering Physics II/Elementary Physics Laboratory II |
5 |
| PHYS 516 Modern Physics |
3 |
| PHYS 530 Intermediate Physics Laboratory or |
| PHYS 532 Electronic Circuits |
3 |
| PHYS 575 Introductory Astrophysics |
3 |
| Four additional physics courses |
10-12 |
| Chemistry |
10 |
| CHEM 125/126 General Chemistry/Laboratory |
5 |
| CHEM 135/136 General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis/Laboratory |
5 |
| Mathematics |
18 |
| MATH 150, 155, 253 Calculus I, II, III |
13 |
| MATH 212 Matrix Algebra |
2 |
| MATH 553 Differential Equations |
3 |
| BIOL 111/112 General Biology/Laboratory |
5 |
| CSIS 121 Programming in BASIC or |
| CSIS 225 Computer Applications for Science and Technology |
3 |
Total 68-70 Students planning to teach should become familiar with the current regulations for certification of school personnel prepared by the State Board of Education. Information concerning these regulations may be obtained from the Director of Teacher Education, 115 Hughes Hall, Pittsburg State University.
Bachelor of Science in Education Degree with a
Major in Physical Science
| A. General Education Component* |
|
Hours |
| Basic Skills** |
15 |
| Humanities |
9 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences |
9 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences** |
7-8 |
| Producing and Consuming |
6 |
| Lifetime Fitness |
1 |
| Total |
47-48 |
* See "General Education Degree Requirements for Students Preparing to Teach Secondary School," page 43, for details and a list of specific general education courses.
Also see scholastic achievement requirements on common core courses for admission to teacher education for secondary teaching majors, page 169.
** Mathematics and chemistry courses required in the professional component
B.2. may be used in partial fulfillment of these requirements.
B. Professional Studies Component
In addition to the professional education courses listed in (1) below, the student must complete the courses for the teaching specialty listed in (2).
| 1. Teaching and Learning Theory with Laboratory and Clinical Experience |
| CURIN 305 Explorations in Education*** |
2 |
| CURIN 306 Pre-Professional Laboratory I*** |
1 |
| PSYCH 263 Developmental Psychology |
3 |
| PSYCH 357 Educational Psychology |
3 |
| PHYS 479 Techniques for Teaching Physics |
3 |
| SSAS 510 Overview of Education for Exceptional Students |
3 |
| CURIN 520 Middle and Secondary Reading |
3 |
| Professional Semester |
17 |
| CURIN 458 Methods and Curriculum |
3 |
| CURIN 462 Secondary Education |
2 |
| CURIN 464 Foundations of Measurement and Evaluation |
2 |
| CURIN 480 Supervised Teaching in the Secondary School |
3 |
| CURIN 482 Supervised Teaching in the Secondary School |
5 |
| PHYS 579 Supervised Student Teaching and Follow-Up of Teachers |
2 |
| Total |
35 |
*** Concurrent enrollment required in CURIN 305 and 306.
| 2. Content for the Teaching Specialty: Physical Science |
| Chemistry |
15 |
| CHEM 125/126 General Chemistry/Laboratory |
5 |
| CHEM 135/136 General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis/Laboratory |
5 |
| CHEM 165/166 Introductory Organic Chemistry/Laboratory |
5 |
| Physics |
22 |
| PHYS 100/130 College Physics I/Elementary Physics Laboratory I or |
| PHYS 104/130 Engineering Physics I/Elementary Physics Laboratory I |
5 |
| PHYS 101/131 College Physics II/Elementary Physics Laboratory II or |
| PHYS 105/131 Engineering Physics II/Elementary Physics Laboratory II |
5 |
| PHYS 460 Physical Geology |
3 |
| PHYS 516 Modern Physics and PHYS 530 Intermediate Physics Laboratory or PHYS 532 Electronic Circuits I |
6 |
| PHYS 575 Introductory Astrophysics or |
| PHYS 175 Descriptive Astronomy |
3 |
| Mathematics |
7 |
| MATH 150 Calculus |
5 |
| MATH 212 Matrix Algebra |
2 |
| CSIS 121 Programming in BASIC |
3 |
| Total |
47 |
(NOTE: The general education degree requirement in biological science for students wishing to certify for a second teaching option in physical science must be met with BIOL 111/112 General Biology/Laboratory.)
Students planning to teach should become familiar with the current regulations for certification of school personnel prepared by the State Board of Education. Information concerning these regulations may be obtained from the Certification Officer in the College of Education, 117 Hughes Hall.
(NOTE: No courses shall be counted toward science certification other than those offered in a science department, e.g., biology, botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, geology, etc.)
C. Minor Requirements
Students preparing to teach physics or physical science should select a minor.
Minor in Physics
| PHYS 104Engineering Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 130Elementary Physics Laboratory I |
1 |
| PHYS 105Engineering Physics II |
4 |
| PHYS 131Elementary Physics Laboratory II |
1 |
| PHYS 516Modern Physics |
3 |
| Electives in physics |
9 |
| Total |
22 |
This minor does not qualify students for certification to teach physics. Students interested in physics as a second teaching option should refer to section below, "Second Teaching Options."
Minor in Physical Science
Twenty hours selected from both physics and chemistry. PHYS 171/172 Physical Science/Physical Science Laboratory and PHYS 371 The Physical World cannot be applied toward the minor. Chemistry and physics majors may not use courses in their respective fields to count toward the 20 hours. This minor does not qualify students for certification to teach physical science. Students interested in physical science as a second teaching option should refer to section below, "Second Teaching Options."
Second Teaching Options
Those persons interested in physics, physical science, earth and space science, or principles of technology as a second teaching option should contact the chairperson of the Department of Physics or the Certification Officer in the College of Education, 117 Hughes Hall, for specific requirements.
GRADUATE DEGREES
Master of Science
The M. S. degree program in physics consists of a core of three courses, PHYS 810 Classical Mechanics, PHYS 812 Electromagnetic Theory, and PHYS 816 Quantum Mechanics, plus electives appropriate to the student's plans for employment in physics or related fields, further graduate study, or teaching physics or the physical sciences.
Elective courses, subject to approval of the department, are usually selected from physics, chemistry, mathematics, or biology. Qualifying examinations on undergraduate physics are required no later than the first semester of enrollment without deficiencies.
Option I
Professional Physics Emphasis
For students preparing for further graduate study or for physics or physics-related employment. Thirty semester hours, including 6 hours PHYS 890 Research and Thesis, are required. Concentration on a selected physics or interdisciplinary specialty is possible through a combination of listed courses and PHYS 890 Physics Topics, which may cover areas as diverse as solid state chemistry, materials science, surface physics, or radiation effects.
Option II
Applied Physics Emphasis
For students preparing for physics or physics-related employment. Thirty-two semester hours, including three to six hours PHYS 891 Research Problem, are required.
Teaching Emphasis
For students preparing to teach physics or physical science at high school or junior college level. Elective courses may include up to nine hours professional education. Thirty-two semester hours including three to six hours PHYS 891 Research Problem are required, which may substitute for one of the core courses, with department approval.
Physics Course Descriptions
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