• You can join a math, science, and engineering community residence hall at WSU Pullman—share classes with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s computer lab.
• Interact with other departments through our interdisciplinary research centers.
• Students can enroll in Honors Physics, an accelerated version of elementary physics.
• A computer-equipped study lounge is available solely for physics majors.
• Pursue attractive and varied research opportunities through externally funded programs.
• Graduates from the program have a strong record of employment.
• Our department's research programs are internationally recognized.
• Study under our experts in solid state and surface physics, astronomy and astrophysics, optics, theoretical physics, materials physics, and nanotechnology.

Bachelor of Science in Physics Degree
In addition to the classes listed below for the core and each option, students must complete general education, college, and department requirements as well as approved science and degree electives.

NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.

PHYSICS CORE COURSES
Math 171, 172 & 273—Calculus I & II & III
Phys 201 & 202—Physics for Scientists and Engineers I & II
     or 205 & 206—Honors Physics
Chem 105 & 106—Principles of Chemistry I & II
     or 115 & 116—Honors Chemistry
Math 220—Introductory Linear Algebra
Phys 303—Modern Physics I
Biological Science courses
Cpt S 121—Program Design and Development
Math 315—Differential Equations
Phys 330—Thermal Physics
Engl 402—Technical/Professional Writing

Note: See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

For the physics education option, the following courses must be taken in addition to the physics core courses listed above. Students must also complete general education, college, and department requirements as well as approved science and degree electives.

EdPsy 402-Classroom Assessment Secondary
Psych 105-Introductory Psychology
ComSt 102-Public Speaking: Theory, Models, and Practice
T & L 302-Secondary School Curriculum and Content Literacy Development
Math 303-Higher Geometry
Phys 304-Modern Physics II
Phys 320-Mechanics
Phys 341 & 342-Electricity and Magnetism I & II
Math 360-Probability and Statistics
Phys 415-Quantum Physics Laboratory
T & L 302-Secondary School Curriculum and Content Literacy Development
T & L 303-Secondary School Instruction & Content Literacy Methods
T & L 400-Advanced Field Experience
T & L 445-Methods of Educational Technology
T & L 478-Family, School, and Community Collaborations
Ph S 430-Methods of Teaching Physical Science
Phys 410-Electronics
Phys 450-Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Phys 490-Undergraduate Thesis
T & L 317-Secondary Practicum
T & L 328-Classroom Management Ed
Psy 402-Classroom Assessment, Secondary
Phys 463-Introduction to Solid State Physics
Phys 465-Introductory Nuclear Physics
Phys 499-Special Problems
T & L 404-Social Foundations of Curriculum
T & L 415-Directed Teaching - Fifth Year

While most physics degree programs are four-year degree programs, the Department of Physics has developed a specific four-year agreement that fits the guidelines of the University's guarantee plan.

The program below is appropriate for students who have had a good experience in calculus in high school. Even though the student may be placed in Math 171, if their high school grades for the year course were B or better, they can follow this schedule of study. Students who place in Math 172 can accelerate the math sequence.

With weaker backgrounds in mathematics, the student should defer Physics 201 to the spring semester or until they have completed Math 171. Deferring Phys 201 beyond the third semester violates the four year agreement.

Note that in the program that follows, a minor in mathematics is possible if the student applies to the Math department after 60 credits, but before graduation. A minor is not automatically issued. The student must earn a C or better grade in each of the Required Physics Courses. ´

PHYSICS-FOUR YEAR DEGREE AGREEMENT
Approved Math courses
Phys 304-Modern Physics II
Phys 320-Mechanics
Phys 341 & 342-Electricity and Magnetism I & II
Phys 410-Electronics
Phys 415-Quantum Physics Laboratory
Phys 450-Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Phys 490-Undergraduate Thesis
Phys 463-Introduction to Solid State Physics
Phys 465-Introductory Nuclear Physics
Phys 499-Special Problems ´

STANDARD PHYSICS OPTION
Approved Math courses
Phys 304-Modern Physics II
Phys 320-Mechanics
Phys 341 & 342-Electricity and Magnetism I & II
Phys 410-Electronics
Phys 412-Modern Optics Laboratory
Phys 415-Quantum Physics Laboratory
Phys 443-Optics
Phys 450-Intro to Quantum Mechanics
Phys 490-Undergraduate Thesis
Phys 412-Modern Optics Laboratory
Phys 463-Intro to Solid State Physics
Phys 465-Introductory Nuclear Physics
Phys 499-Special Problems

Physics scholarships include the Paul and Dian Bender Freshman Physics Scholarship, the Claire May Band Freshman Physics Scholarship (for women), the Physics Transfer Student Scholarship, the Paul Anderson Award for Excellence in Physics, the Edward E. Donaldson Surface Science Scholarship, the George Duvall Scholarship in Shock Compression Science, and the Physics Textbook Scholarship. (For information contact the physics department at 509-335-1698.) Physics majors also may qualify for a variety of federal, state, and University-sponsored loan and scholarship programs.

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs. Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

Students should complete the Washington State University general scholarship application and the FAFSA to ensure their eligibility for the widest range of scholarships and need-based financial aid.

For information or to apply for financial aid and scholarships from WSU, see the Scholarships and Finances section of the WSU website.

The extensive facilities of the WSU physics department include numerous lasers, spectrometers for measuring energy of particles and light waves, ultra high-vacuum equipment, mass spectrometers, computers, high-speed data acquisition instruments, and gas guns. The atomic-scale structures of solids and surfaces are studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and nuclear probe techniques. Nanometer studies of surfaces are carried out using atomic force microscopy. Other equipment includes mass spectrometers, Auger and Photoelectron Spectrometers, electron spin-resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, x-ray spectrometers, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, and a nuclear reactor elsewhere on campus. A computer laboratory with a wide variety of computers and terminals is open to all physics majors.

The Physics Club brings students together to watch films, visit laboratories, and do experiments.

• Good performance in high school physics course.
• High school mathematics through pre-calculus or trigonometry (one year of high school calculus is highly recommended).

As a foundation for other physical sciences and engineering, physics can lead to a career in any of the sciences or technology. About half of physics majors go to graduate school, but there are many good jobs available with a bachelor's degree. Current high demand areas include the electronics industry, optoelectronics, high density memory storage devices, and microchip growth and development. Research and development in medical technology areas such as diagnostic instrumentation (MRI, PET, CAT, and ultrasound), therapeutic equipment (radiation devices) and surgical tools (medical lasers) are also attractive fields. Other positions available to physics majors include acoustic physicist, aerospace physicist, astronomer, biophysicist, civil engineer, ceramic engineer, computer programmer, electrical engineer, environmental physicist, geodesist, geophysicist, health physicist, lab technician, laser physicist, lawyer, librarian, materials scientist, mechanical engineer, medical physicist, meteorologist, metallurgist, nuclear physicist, oceanographer, patent examiner, plasma scientist, radiation physicist, safety physicist, salesperson of scientific apparatus, systems analyst, teacher, and technical writer.