The Physics Major at Berry College
Aims of the physics and astronomy program at Berry are to
- prepare physics majors for graduate schools or jobs in government laboratories or industry,
- guide dual-degree engineering student through their three years of education at Berry,
- provide courses in physics and astronomy as a service to other departments,
- help in preparing secondary-school teachers of science, and
- provide scientific training for individuals who enjoy physics and astronomy but want to work in other fields.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PHYSICS MAJOR
More detailed information can be found in the Berry College Undergraduate Catalog.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in PHY 211 and PHY 212 to declare a major in physics.
CONCENTRATION I (for students aiming for careers in physics).
Concentration I requires a minimum of 35 semester hours of physics, with a minimum of 19 of those hours on the 300 and 400 levels. The following courses are required:
- PHY 211: General Physics I with Calculus (3-2-4)
- PHY 212: General Physics II with Calculus (3-2-4)
- PHY 310: Measuring the Fundamental Constants (1-2-2)
OR - PHY 311: Experimental Methods in Physics (1-2-2)
- PHY 302: Classical Mechanics I (3-0-3)
- PHY 303: Electricity and Magnetism (3-0-3)
- PHY 307WI: Modern Physics (3-0-3)
- PHY 410: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3-0-3)
- PHY 430WI: Quantum Mechanics (3-0-3)
- CHM 108: General Chemistry I (3-3-4)
- MAT 202: Calculus II (4-0-4)
- MAT 304: Differential Equations (3-0-3)
Students will select additional hours of physics and astronomy courses to complete the 35-hour requirement. Students who plan to attend graduate school should take additional courses in physics and mathematics, including MAT 303: Linear Algebra.
CONCENTRATION II (for all other students who desire a major in physics, such as those interested in engineering, meteorology, or careers not specifically scientific or technical).
Concentration II requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of physics and astronomy, of which at least 15 must be in the 300 and 400 levels from lecture courses not cross-listed. In the case that a student transfers to an engineering school (as in the dual-degree engineering program), a number of the physics hours may be transferred back, subject to the approval of Berry's physics department. Required courses are:
- PHY 211: General Physics I with Calculus (3-2-4)
- PHY 212: General Physics II with Calculus (3-2-4)
- PHY 302: Classical Mechanics I (3-0-3)
- PHY 303: Electricity and Magnetism (3-0-3)
- PHY 307WI: Modern Physics (3-2-4)
- PHY 310: Measuring the Fundamental Constants (1-2-2)
OR - PHY 311: Experimental Methods in Physics (1-2-2)
- MAT 202: Calculus II (4-0-4)
- MAT 304: Differential Equations (3-0-3)
- CHM 108: General Chemistry I (3-3-4)
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PHYSICS MINOR
Students minoring in physics take 18 hours of physics with at least 9 hours on the 300 and 400 levels from courses not cross-listed.
REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION
Students planning to become certified to teach physics in the Georgia public secondary schools must major in physics and minor in secondary education. To increase employability and to prepare for the broad-based Praxis II Subject Assessments required for certification, students should take BIO 111, 112, and another course in biology on the 200 level, as well as CHM 108 and 109. Students must be assigned an advisor in education as well as in physics.