Below are listings for lower and upper division courses offered through the Physics Program. The authoritative sources for course information are the Marshall University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs, with the course listing for Physical Science (PS) and Physics (PHY) courses.
Jump to Physical Science (PS) Courses
100 Level Physical Science Courses
200 Level Physical Science Courses
300 Level Physical Science Courses
400/500 Level Physical Science Courses
600 Level Physical Science Courses
Jump to Physics (PHY) Courses
100 Level Physical Science Courses
- PS 101 – Introductory Astronomy (CT) – 4 Credit hours
- A survey of the past, present, and future of the Universe, from our solar system, to the nearby stars, our Milky Way galaxy and far beyond.
Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 109 – General Physical Science – 3 Credit hours
- The course covers the basic principles and concepts of the universe including energy, and its various forms. Force, motion, electricity,magnetism, the wave theory of light and sound and astronomy are also studied.
Pre-req: MTH 121 or MTH 123 or MTH 127 or MTH 130 or MTH 130E or MTH 229 or MTH 229H or MTH 203 or MTH 121B or MTH 130H
Co-req: PS 109L
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 109L – General Physical Science Lab – 1 Credit hour
- Selected experiments relating to measurement, force, work, energy,astronomy, light and electricity.
Co-req: PS 109
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 110 – General Physical Science – 3 Credit hours
- The course covers the basic principles and concepts of chemistry, geology, and meteorology. The crust of the earth, minerals, rocks, chemical reactions are studied.
Pre-req: MTH 121 or MTH 121H or MTH 123 or MTH 123E or MTH 127or MTH 130 or MTH 130H or MTH 130E or MTH 140 or MTH 203 or MTH 220 or MTH 225 or MTH 229 or MTH 229H or MTH 121B
Co-req: PS 110L
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 110L – General Physical Science Lab – 1 Credit hour
- Selected experiments relating to chemistry, geology, and meteorology
Co-req: PS 110
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 111 – Life in the Universe – 4 Credit hours
- An investigation of the prospects for the existence of life elsewhere in our solar system, galaxy, and the wider Universe. Includes an integrated 2 hour lab.
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 120 – Physical Science for Teachers: Planets – 3 Credit hours
- A conceptual study of the Earth’s relation to the other members of the solar system and its place in the Universe. (Part of a 3 course sequence for K-9 education majors).
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 121 – Physical Science for Teachers: Chemistry – 3 Credit hours
- PS 121 is a part of a 3 course sequence of Physical Science for K-9 Education majors. Includes 2-hr, 1 credit lab.
Pre-req: MTH 127 or MTH 130 or MTH 132 or MTH 140 or MTH 229.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 122 – Physical Science for Teachers: Chemistry – 3 Credit hours
- PS 122 is part of a 3 course sequence of Physical Science for K-9 Education majors. Includes 2-hr, 1 credit lab.
Pre-req: MTH 127 or MTH 130 or MTH 132 or MTH 140 or MTH 229.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
200 Level Physical Science Courses
- PS 280 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 281 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 282 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 283 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
300 Level Physical Science Courses
- PS 325 – Dev Scientific Thought – 4 Credit hours
- An introduction to the history and nature of science emphasizing the logic of scientific reasoning and progress with social and historical influences. Includes lab.
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
400/500 Level Physical Science Courses
- PS 400/500 – Astronomy – 3 Credit hours
- A study of the stars, planets, and galaxies, planetary motion,cosmology, cosmography. Designed to assist teachers and others to develop an interest in astronomy.
Pre-req: PS 109 or PHY 201 or PHY 211
Co-req: PS 400L
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 400L/500L – Astronomy Laboratory – 1 Credit hour
- A computational and observational laboratory. Fundamental observations in astronomy and their interpretation through physical laws. Quantitative discussion of orbital motion, time, telescopes, solar system, stars, and galaxies.
Co-req: PS 400/500
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 410/510 – Remote Sensing w Application – 4 Credit hour
- A study of the physical systems for collecting remotely sensed data.Statistical/spatial analysis and modeling using image processing/geographic information/spatial analysis computer software systems with earth resource applications. (PR: PHY 203 and PHY 204)
Pre-req: PHY 203 and PHY 204
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 411/511 – Image Processing/Modeling – 4 Credit hour
- A study of image processing/geographic information and spatial analysis hardware/software systems, concurrent and parallel image processing modeling scenarios utilizing geobiophysical data for computer simulation modeling and practicum. (PR: PS 410)
Pre-req: PS 410/510
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 470/570 – Practicum – 4 Credit hour
- Problem solving, geobiophysical modeling, and proposal development techniques in the physical sciences. (PR: PS 411)
Pre-req: PS 411/511
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 480/580 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 481/581 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 482/582 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 483/583 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 485/585 – Independent Study – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 486/586 – Independent Study – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 487/587 – Independent Study – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 488/588 – Independent Study – 1-4 Credit hours
- Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 646 – Sem Rec Develop Phys Sci – 3 Credit hours
- Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 648 – Mod Physics for Teachers – 3-5 Credit hours
- A course designed to provide additional background material in atomic and nuclear physics for teachers. Lecture and laboratory.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 649 – Electronics for Teachers – 3-5 Credit hours
- A course in basic theory of electronics for teachers. Lecture and
laboratory.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 650 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Advanced special topics to provide additional group research
and classroom/laboratory opportunities.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 651 – Special Topics – 1-4 Credit hours
- Advanced special topics to provide additional group research
and classroom/laboratory opportunities.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 660 – Independent Studies – 1-4 Credit hours
- Advanced independent study topics to provide additional individual
research and classroom/laboratory opportunities.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 661 – Independent Studies – 1-4 Credit hours
- Advanced independent study topics to provide additional individual
research and classroom/laboratory opportunities.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 670 – Advanced Practicum – 1-4 Credit hours
- Advanced problem solving, geobiophysical modeling, and project
development techniques in the physical sciences.
Pre-req: PS 510 and PS 511.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 681 – Thesis Research – 1-6 Credit hours
- Credit earned by pursuing directed original research in a physical
science area. A grade of PR may be reported at the close of each
semester.
Attributes: Thesis.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PS 682 – Thesis Research – 1-6 Credit hours
- Credit earned by pursuing directed original research in a physical
science area. A grade of PR may be reported at the close of each
semester.
Attributes: Thesis.
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
100 Level Physics Courses
- PHY 101 – Conceptual Physics – 3 Credit hours
- Introduces non-science majors to applications of physics in life. Emphasizes conceptual understanding of basic principles in classical and modern physics. Recommended for science students with no high school physics.
Pre-req: (MTH 121 or MTH 127 or MTH 130 or MTH 130E or MTH 229or MTH 229H or MTH 203 or MTH 121B) or MTH 130H
Co-req: PHY 101L
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PHY 101L – Conceptual Physics Lab – 1 Credit hours
- Conceptual Physics Laboratory. A laboratory course designed to include the principles and applications of physics that are introduced in Physics 101.
Co-req: PHY 101
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PHY 190 – Overview of Physics (Critical Thinking) – 3 Credit hours
- An algebra-based overview of well-established topics studied as part of a major in physics, including classical physics, special relativity, quantum mechanics, particle physics, and cosmology.
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
200 Level Physics Courses
- PHY 201 – College Physics I – 3 Credit hours
- First half of an introduction to physics for life-science students, using algebra and vectors by triangles: force, energy, particle dynamics, rotation, fluids, waves, thermal phenomena.
Pre-req: (MTH 127 and MTH 122) or (MTH 130 and MTH 122) or MTH 132 or (MTH 140 and MTH 122) or MTH 229 or MTH 229H or MTH 140H
Co-req:PHY 202
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PHY 202 – General Physics I Laboratory – 1 Credit hour
- Laboratory to accompany PHY 201 or PHY 211, focusing on mechanics, concepts and applications.
Co-req:PHY 201 or PHY 211
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PHY 203 – College Physics II – 3 Credit hours
- Second half of an introduction to physics for students natural (life) sciences, using algebra and vectors by triangles; E&M fields, circuits; ray optics; interference; atoms; nuclei. (a “C” or better is required in both PHY 201 and PHY 202 to proceed into PHY 203; CR: PHY 204).
Pre-req:PHY 201 and PHY 202
Co-req:PHY 204
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
- PHY 204 – General Physics 2 Laboratory – 1 Credit hour
- Laboratory to accompany PHY 203 or PHY 213, focusing on classical E&M, circuits, and optics.
Co-req:PHY 203 or PHY 213
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
1 Credit Hours
- PHY 211 – University Physics I
- First half of an introduction to physics for students of physical science or engineering, using calculus and vectors by components: force, energy, particle dynamics, rotation, fluids, waves, thermodynamics. 4 hrs. lecture. (CR: MTH 229 and PHY 202)
4 Credit Hours
- PHY 213 – University Physics II
- Second half of an introduction to physics for students of physical science or engineering, using calculus and vectors by components: E&M fields, circuits, ray optics, interference, atoms, nuclei. 4 hrs. lecture. (PR: PR: MTH 229 and PHY 211 and a C or better is required in both PHY 211 and PHY 202 to proceed into PHY 213; CR: MTH 230 and PHY 204).
4 Credit Hours
- PHY 222 – Investigating the Universe
- A creative laboratory course designed to give students an opportunity to work with modern research equipment, with ample time to conduct experiments and/or investigate phenomena of their choosing. (PR: MTH 122, and MTH 127 or MTH 130; or MTH 132)
2 Credit Hours
- PHY 281 – Special Topics
- 1-4 Credit hours
-
300 Level Physics Courses
- PHY 300 – Electricity and Magnetism I
- A course including the study of electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic induction, introduction to Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and MTH 231)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 302 – Electricity and Magnetism II
- A study of Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves, radiation theory, optical phenomena, and electrodynamics. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 300)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 304 – Optics
- An intermediate course in geometrical and physical optics. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213; CR: PHY 405 or 505) See 405.
3 Credit Hours - PHY 308 – Thermal Physics
- A study of thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, and an introduction to statistical mechanics 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and MTH 231)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 314 – Electronic Physics
- A study of transistors, integrated circuits and their associated circuits. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and 204) See PHY 415.
3 Credit Hours - PHY 320 – Intro Modern Physics
- An introductory study of atomic and molecular theories, relativity, quantum theory, and nuclear physics. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and MTH 140 or MTH 230) See 421
3 Credit Hours - PHY 330 – Mechanics
- An intermediate study of the fundamental principles of statics of particles and rigid bodies, momentum and energy, dynamics of particles, harmonic oscillations, and wave motion. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and MTH 231)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 340 – Scientific Computing
- Introduction to some of the most important tools and techniques in scientific computing, including object-oriented design, version control, and MPI for high-performance computing. (PR: MTH 229 or 229H)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 350 – Biological Physics
- Physical principles underlying the mechanisms by which living organisms survive, adapt, and grow. Will enhance writing skills and strategies. 2 lecture – 2 lab. (PR: PHY 203 or 213, and PHY 204)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 360 – Medical Physics
- Physics principles applied to devise methods for diagnostic and treatment of the human body. Will enhance writing skills and strategies. 2 lecture-2 lab. (PR: PHY 203 or 213, and PHY 204)
- 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 405/505 – Optics Laboratory
- A course in optical experiments encompassing geometrical and physical optics. This course is to be taken with Physics 304.
2 Credit Hours - PHY 415/515 – Electronics Laboratory
- A course in laboratory measurements encompassing transistors, integrated circuits, and their associated circuits. This course is to be taken with Physics 314.
2 Credit Hours - PHY 420/515 – Astrophysics
- A detailed study of core problems in Astrophysics such as orbital dynamics, radiation processes, stellar structure and evolution, galactic dynamics, and cosmology. Pre-req are PHY 213 and MTH 231.
- 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 421/521 – Modern Physics Lab
- Laboratory exercises on modern physics topics encompassing both experiments of historic significance and current applications. To be taken with Physics 320, or equivalent.
2 Credit Hours - PHY 425/525 – Solid State Physics
- The course provides a broad introduction to the structure and physical properties of solids. It also serves as a basis for advanced courses in solid state and condensed matter physics. (CR/PR: PHY 320 or 442 or CHM 442)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 435/535 – Computational Physics
- A course on using numerical methods and computer programming languages for solving complex physics problems and for the simulation of various physical processes. 2 lecture-2 lab. (CR/PR: PHY 330 and 445 or 446 and MTH 231)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 442/542 – Quantum Mechanics I
- A study of waves and particles, the Schrödinger and Heisenberg formulations, particles in potential fields, scattering and perturbation theories, and applications to atomic and nuclear structure. 3 lecture. (PR: MTH 231 and PHY 330)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 443/543 – Quantum Mechanics II
- This is a second part of a two-semester introduction to quantum mechanics. Emphasis is on applications of quantum theory, including approximation techniques and the study of more realistic quantum systems. (CR/PR: PHY 442 or CHM 442)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 444/544 – Advanced Laboratory
- Quantum Mechanics experiments using single & entangled photons and Solid State experiments involving the study of superconductivity, forms of magnetism, the Hall effect, & Young’s modulus. (CR/PR: PHY 425 and 442)
2 Credit Hours - PHY 445/545 – Mathematical Methods of Physics I
- An introduction to theory of orthogonal functions, curvilinear coordinate systems, vector and tensor fields, and their applications in physics. Problems are drawn from different areas of physics. 3 lecture. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and MTH 231 or permission)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 446/546 – Mathematical Methods of Physics II
- A second semester of a full-year course on methods of solving problems in physics: calculus of variations, ordinary and partial differential equations, and special functions with real physics problems. (PR: PHY 445)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 447/547 – Mechanics for Teachers
- An in depth study of mechanics for education majors specializing in Physics with emphasis on problem solving techniques, demonstrations, experiments and computer applications. (PR: PHY 203 or 213 and MTH 122 and 140)
4 Credit Hours - PHY 480/580 to 488/588 – Special Topics
- 1 to 4 Credit Hours
- PHY 491 or 492 – Capstone
- To give a capstone experience to physics majors in their junior or senior years by applying the principles of physics to the solution of real life problems.
1 to 2 Credit Hours - PHY 600 – Electricity and Magnetism
- A study of electrostatics and associated boundary-value problems, electric multipoles and macroscopic media, dielectrics, magnetostatics, time varying fields, Maxwell equations and conservation laws, plane electromagnetic waves and wave propagation.
4 Credit Hours - PHY 608 – Statistical Mechanics
- The course introduces thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to graduate students of physics and other science and engineering disciplines as two complementary approaches to study physical properties of systems in equilibrium. (PR: Permission of instructor)
4 Credit Hours - PHY 610 – Special and General Relativity
- General relativity, the classical theory of one of the four fundamental forces, is not a standard course offering. This course of Special and General Relativity intends to fill this gap by introducing the key concepts that lead to a revolution in our understanding of space and time. The students will learn about space time curvature, metrics, geodesics, black holes, gravitational waves and cosmology. (PR: Permission of instructor)
4 Credit Hours - PHY 620 – Modern Astrophysics I
- Modern astrophysics is firmly grounded in the fundamental principles of physics and will offer students the opportunity to use the physics they have learned in understanding the nature of the universe. This course provides a graduate-level introduction to astrophysics, focusing on stellar structure and evolution. (PR: Permission of instructor)
3 Credit Hours - PHY 625 – Condensed Matter Physics
- This course studies complex phenomena that occur in solids and quantum liquids, and exposes the students to some theoretical tools used to describe the basic interactions behind these phenomena. (PR: Permission of instructor)
4 Credit Hours - PHY 630 – Classical Mechanics
- Study of variational principles and Lagrange’s equations, the two-body central force problem, the kinematics and dynamics of rigid-body motion, Hamilton’s equations of motion, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, and small oscillations.
4 Credit Hours - PHY 631/632 – Seminar
- 1 Credit Hour
- PHY 640 – Fundamentals of Physics
- A course in fundamental concepts of physics. Subject content varies. Designed primarily to strengthen conceptual understanding of teachers.
4 Credit Hours - PHY 642 – Advanced Quantum Mechanics
- This course covers advanced topics of quantum mechanics at the graduate level. Topics include fundamental issues, approximation methods and applications.
4 Credit Hours - PHY 645 – Methods of Mathematical Physics
- This course will review and develop theories of real and complex analysis, group theory, tensors, special functions, differential and integral transforms, emphasizing their application to electrodynamics, quantum, statistical mechanics, etc.
4 Credit Hours - PHY 661-662 – Special Topics
- 1 to 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 682 – Thesis Research
- (PR: Graduate status and approval of advisor)
1 to 6 Credit Hours - PHY 685-686 – Independent Study in Physics
- Advanced independent study in physics. (PR: specific to course)
1 to 4 Credit Hours
400/500 Level Physics Courses
600 Level Physics Courses