USP Codes are listed in brackets by the 1991 USP code followed by the 2003 USP code (i.e. [M2<>QB]).

1050. Concepts of Physics. 4. [S2<>SP] Introduces the physical world. For students whose background in math and science is minimal; recommended for students in paramedical sciences and medical technology. Three lecture hours per week are supplemented by two hours per week of laboratory work. Prerequisite: MATH 1000 or passing the Mathematics Placement Examination at Level 3. (Normally offered both semesters)

1090. The Fundamentals of the Physical Universe. 4. [S2<>SP] Applies fundamental principles of chemistry and physics to real life situations. Primarily for elementary education majors. Prerequisites: Math level 3 or MATH 1000 and major in elementary education. (Normally offered fall, spring and summer)

1110. General Physics I. 4. [S2<>SP] First course of two-semester sequence. Introduces elementary college physics without calculus. Primarily for premedical, predental, preoptometry, prephysical therapy and other students requiring insight into workings of the physical world. Includes classical mechanics, gravitation and heat. Laboratory sessions will illustrate principles studied. Students receiving credit for PHYS 1110 cannot receive credit for PHYS 1050, 1210 or 1310. Prerequisite: MATH 1450, 1405 or equivalent. (Normally offered fall semester)

1120. General Physics II. 4. [M3<>SP] Follows PHYS 1110 and completes introduction to physics without calculus. Includes electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics. Laboratory sessions illustrate principles studied. Students receiving credit in PHYS 1120 cannot receive credit in PHYS 1050, 1220 or 1320. Prerequisite: PHYS 1110. (Normally offered spring semester)

1210. Engineering Physics I. 4. [S2<>SP] First course of a two-semester sequence. Provides introduction to physics with calculus for engineering students. Includes classical mechanics, gravitation and mechanical waves. Laboratory sessions illustrate principles studied. Students receiving credit for PHYS 1210 cannot receive credit for PHYS 1050, 1110, or 1310. Prerequisites: a grade of C or higher in MATH 2200 and concurrent enrollment in MATH 2205.

1220. Engineering Physics II. 4. [M3<>SP] Follows PHYS 1210 and continues introduction to physics with calculus for engineering students. Includes electricity, magnetism and heat. Laboratories illustrate principles studied. Students receiving credit for PHYS 1220 cannot receive credit for PHYS 1050, 1120, or 1320. Prerequisites: grades of C or higher in MATH 2200, 2205 and concurrent enrollment in MATH 2210.

1310. College Physics I. 4. [S2<>SP] First course of two semester sequence. Provides thorough introduction to physics with calculus. Primarily for majors in physics, astronomy, and other areas in science, mathematics and technology requiring the highest levels of sophistication. Includes classical mechanics, gravitation and mechanical waves. Laboratory sessions illustrate principles studied and meaning of physical measurement. Students receiving credit for PHYS 1310 cannot receive credit for PHYS 1050, 1110, or 1210. Prerequisites: MATH 2200 and concurrent enrollment in MATH 2205. (Normally offered fall semester)

1320. College Physics II. 4. [M3<>SP] Follows PHYS 1310 and continues introduction to physics with calculus. Includes electricity, magnetism and thermodynamics. Laboratory sessions illustrate principles studied and meaning of physical measurement. Students receiving credit for PHYS 1320 cannot receive credit for PHYS 1050, 1120 or 1220. Prerequisites: MATH 2200, 2205 and concurrent enrollment in MATH 2210.  (Normally offered spring semester)

2150. The Physical Principles of Contemporary Social Problems. 3. [C2, G1<>(none)] Introduces technical basis of several important social problems including pollution, transportation, radiation, nuclear weapons and medical technology. Prerequisite: PHYS 1110 or consent of the instructor. (Normally offered every spring)

2310. Physics III: Waves and Optics. 4. Third-semester course primarily for majors in physics, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and other sciences. Includes Gaussian Optics and matrix calculations, wave equations, interference, superposition principle, elementary Fourier Analysis, Fraunhofer and Fresnel Diffraction, application to optical instruments. Prerequisites: PHYS 1220 or 1320 or equivalent. (Normally offered fall semester)

2320. Physics IV: Modern Physics. 3. Fourth semester course primarily for majors in physics, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and other physical sciences. Topics include introductory quantum mechanics, nuclear and particle physics, lasers, Planck's Blackbody Radiation, photoelectric effect, electron diffraction, wave-particle duality, deBroglie Wavelength, Bohr Atom, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, Schrodinger Equation, and Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. Prerequisites: PHYS 1220 or 1320 or equivalent. (Normally offered spring semester)

2330. Modern Physics Laboratory. 1. Provides experimental background needed by physics majors taking lecture course PHYS 2310. Students perform experiments crucial in birth of modern atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics and solid-state physics. Prerequisites: PHYS 1320, MATH 2210, PHYS 2310 concurrently and physics or astronomy major. (Normally offered spring semester)

2870. Special Topics in ____. 1-4 (Max. 4). Presents various subjects not available in regularly scheduled courses. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

3100. Application of Physics in the Modern World. 4. Presents a broad overview of physics concepts and their application to selected topics of current interest such as atmospheric pollution, nuclear radiation and medicine, and nuclear weapons. Prerequisites: 12 hours university-level biological, physical and/or earth sciences.

3333. Fission, Fusion and Psychosis. 3. [C1<>(none)] Multidisciplinary examination of the atomic bombings of Japan. World War II developments will place the atom in the multiple perspectives of military strategy, technology, humanistic values, hegemony and post-war developments. Non-science majors are particularly encouraged to enroll. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Normally offered fall semester)

3650. OPTICS/ELECTRONICS LAB I 4.0 [W3<>(none)] Presents fundamentals of applied optics and electronics in a project oriented interactive undergraduate laboratory. Students will participate in group projects, building and using laboratory instrumentation in a realistic research laboratory environment. The first course of a two laboratory sequence. Prerequisites: PHYS 1220 or 1320, PHYS 2310 or consent of instructor.

4000. Applied Laser Science. 3. Covers basic operational principles of lasers and their many applications in science and industry. Prerequisites: PHYS 2310 or equivalent; PHYS 4310 and 4480 desirable. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4050. The Physical Principles of Pollution. 2. Serves educators and other interested persons, covering technical basis of several forms of pollution: radiation, atmospheric, noise and water. Requires mathematics at the level of exponential manipulations, simple trigonometry and geometry. Prerequisite: college physics course or consent of instructor. (Offered base on sufficient demand and resources)

4140. Practical Modern Electronics. 2. Laboratory in practical electronics for non-physics majors. Initial sessions familiarize students with multimeters, oscilloscopes and basic electrical components. Remaining sessions build practical devices using modern integrated circuits. Does not count toward physics major. Prerequisite: PHYS 1050, 1120 or consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4150. Energy in a Technical Society. 3. [C2, G1<>(none)] Introduces students to technical basis of energy production and consumption. Focuses on meeting world's energy needs in year 2100. Prerequisite: PHYS 1210 or consent of instructor. (Normally offered spring semester every other year)

4160. Energy Issues for Educators. 2. Serves educators and other interested persons. Covers history, technologies, resources and future needs of energy with reference to the world’s energy needs in the year 2100. Requires mathematics at the level of exponential manipulations, simple trigonometry and geometry. Introduces concepts of elementary probability theory. Prerequisite: college physics course or consent of instructor. (Offered base on sufficient demand and resources)

4210. Classical Mechanics I. 3. First semester of a two-course sequence Presents classical mechanics at intermediate level. Begins with elementary Newtonian mechanics and builds step by step into analytic mechanics. Includes simple harmonic motion of particles in one, two or three dimensions, gravitation; introduction to rigid-body motion; and introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 2310 or equivalent, MATH 2210 or equivalent. (Normally offered spring semester)

4220. Classical Mechanics II. 4. Follows PHYS 4210. Presents classical mechanics at an intermediate to advanced level. Includes detailed treatment of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics, rigid-body motion, small oscillations and introduction to relativity. Course dual listed with PHYS 5220. Prerequisite: PHYS 4210. (Normally offered fall semester)

4310. Quantum Mechanics. 3. Studies fundamental concepts of quantum theory. Prerequisite: PHYS 4210. (Normally offered fall semester)

4340. Semiconductor Materials and Devices. 3. Physical properties of semiconductor materials and devices, including crystal lattices and energy bands, carrier generation, transport, and recombination. PN, metal-semiconductor, and heterojunction operation. Field Effect Transistors, including Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOSFET), Junction (JFET), MEtal Semiconductor (MESFET), and High Electron Mobility (HEMT) transistors. Bipolar Junction (BJT) and Heterojunction (HBT) Transistor operation. Cross listed with EE 4340. Prerequisite: PHYS 1220 or 1320.

4350. Advanced Quantum Mechanics. 3. Covers advanced topics in quantum mechanics, including angular momentum, quantum states in three dimension, hydrogen atomic structure, electron spin, Pauli matrices, time-dependent and independent perturbation methods, Born approximation, formal scattering theory, etc.. Prerequisites: PHYS 4210, PHYS 4310, PHYS 4420 and MATH 4440. (Normally offered spring semester)

4410. Electricity and Magnetism I. 3. First semester of a two-course sequence. Presents electricity and magnetism on intermediate level, emphasizing fields. Begins with review of vector algebra and calculus and proceeds to discussion of electrostatics, potential theory and steady currents. Prerequisites: PHYS 2310 or equivalent and MATH 2210. (Normally offered fall semester)

4420. Electricity and Magnetism II. 3. Follows PHYS 4410 and continues intermediate discussion of electricity and magnetism. Covers magnetstatics, magnetoquasistatics, alternating currents, electromagnetic waves, transmission lines and antennae. Prerequisite: PHYS 4410. (Normally offered spring semester)

4510. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. 3. Presents fundamental principles of thermodynamics, emphasizing mathematical development. Prerequisites: PHYS 4310. (Normally offered spring semester)

4690. Science: Fact, Fiction and Future. 3. [W3, C1<>(none)]. Examines a number of concepts related to the scientific method. How science "works" is investigated within six topic areas: What is Science?, The Nature of the Scientific Method, Science Fact?, Science Fiction, Science of the Future and Case Studies of the Application of the Scientific Method. Prerequisites: Completion of at least one lower-division science course and successful completion of a W2<>WB course or permission of instructor.

4710. Solid-State Physics. 3. Surveys theory and application of solid state physics using quantum theory. Emphasizes relation between theory and experiment. Discusses areas of present research activity. Prerequisites: PHYS 4310 and 4510. (Normally offered spring semester)

4830. Mathematical and Computational Physics I. 3. First semester of a two-semester sequence. Provides a comprehensive overview of mathematical physics and numerous analytical mathematical techniques applied to physics problems. Topics include: numerical computations and visualizations, differential and integral vector analysis, linear algebra, infinite series, complex variables, partial differential equations, ordinary differential equations, integral transforms and equations, and calculus of variations. Prerequisites: PHYS 2310 or PHYS 2320 and MATH 2210.

4840. Mathematical and Computational Physics II. 3. Second semester of a two-semester course. Provides a comprehensive overview of computational physics and provides numerous numerical techniques applied to physics problems. Topics include: numerical computations and visualizations, numerical solutions of ordinary differential equations, linear systems, curve fitting, discrete Fourier transforms, partial differential equations, integration, and Monte Carlo simulations of general stochastic systems. Prerequisite: PHYS 4830.

4860. Independent Study in _____. 1-6 (Max. 12). Encompasses independent study to advanced problems which may involve either library and/or laboratory research. Prerequisite: PHYS 2310 or consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4870. Special Topics in _____. 1-6 (Max. 12). Presents various subjects not available in regularly scheduled courses. Prerequisites: PHYS 2310 and consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4970. Senior Research/Internship. 1-3 (Max. 4). Requires a practical research experience or internship from the student up to 4 credits under the advisement of a faculty member. This requirement for graduation should lead to a professional publication or document written by the student. The credit requirements may be spread over several semesters. Prerequisite: PHYS 3000.

top of page

Please send comments or questions to registrar@uwyo.edu

Last Change: 04/23/09