Physics and Astronomy

Subject abbreviation: PHYS College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Umar Mohideen, Ph.D., Chair Department Office, 3047 Physics

• (951) 827-5331; physics.ucr.edu

Professors

Kenneth N. Barish, Ph.D. Mark Bockrath, Ph.D. E. Gabriela Canalizo, Ph.D. Robert B. Clare, Ph.D. John A. Ellison, Ph.D. J. William Gary, Ph.D. Gail G. Hanson, Ph.D. Chun Ning “Jeanie” Lau, Ph.D. Owen Long, Ph.D. Allen P. Mills, Ph.D. Bahram Mobasher, Ph.D. Umar Mohideen, Ph.D. Richard K. Seto, Ph.D. Jing Shi, Ph.D. Kirill Shtengel, Ph.D. Harry W.K. Tom, Ph.D. Chandra M. Varma, Ph.D. Gillian Wilson, Ph.D. Stephen J. Wimpenny, Ph.D. Jose Wudka, Ph.D. Jory A. Yarmoff, Ph.D. Roya Zandi, Ph.D. Professors Emeriti

Frederick W. Cummings, Ph.D Bipin R. Desai, Ph.D. Sun-Yiu Fung, Ph.D. Peter E. Kaus, Ph.D. Anne Kernan, Ph.D. Nai-Li H. Liu, Ph.D. Ernest S. Ma, Ph.D. Donald C. McCollum, Ph.D. John C. Nickel, Ph.D. Douglas E. MacLaughlin, Ph.D. Raymond L. Orbach, Ph.D. Michael Pollak, Ph.D. Eugen S. Simanek, Ph.D. R. Stephen White, Ph.D. Allen D. Zych, Ph.D. Associate Professors

Ward Beyermann, Ph.D. Leonid P. Pryadko, Ph.D. Shan-Wen Tsai, Ph.D. Assistant Professors

Vivek Aji, Ph.D. George Becker, Ph.D. Nathaniel Gabor, Ph.D. Naveen Reddy, Ph.D. Brian Siana, Ph.D. Hai-Bo Yu, Ph.D.

** Research Physicist

Roland Kawakami, Ph.D.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers two degrees: the B.A. and B.S. in Physics.

The B.S. program is designed for students with a strong interest in the sciences or engineering who wish to emphasize this aspect of their education and training. The B.S. degree provides a strong background for students who wish to continue on to graduate school.

The B.A. program follows the liberal arts tradition with a broader coverage of the humanities and social sciences. It is selected often by students who intend to obtain a teaching credential with a specialty in science or to pursue a career combining business management opportunities with a knowledge in science and technology.

The extensive course offerings and modern facilities within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, coupled with close, personal counseling by faculty advisors, provide students with a physics program that is characterized by its breadth and flexibility.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Physics generally begin their careers in government or industry. Professions include research and development, system modeling and analysis, and sales in a large variety of fields. A Physics degree provides one of the most flexible qualifications with direct applications to materials science, advanced electronics, lasers and microwave devices, computing and communications. The federal government and national laboratories employ many physicists as do industries in medical and scientific instruments, computers, audio and telecommunications equipment, financial analysis and investments, material science, and engineering.

The bachelor’s degree programs in the UCR Department of Physics and Astronomy are well suited for continued education in graduate school and for preparation in technical and professional careers. Colleges or universities, national laboratories, industry, and governmental agencies employ students with graduate training.

Students transferring to the Physics major must complete courses comparable to the following one-year sequences before they transfer:

• 1. General physics (calculus-based) equivalent

to PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C, each course completed with a grade of “C” or better

• 2. First-year calculus, equivalent to MATH 009A, MATH 009B, MATH 009C, each

course completed with a grade of “B-” or better

At least one of the following one-year sequences:

• 1. General chemistry, equivalent to CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC, each

course completed with a grade of “C” or better

• 2. Second-year calculus, equivalent to MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046, each course

completed with a grade of “C” or better

• 3. Organic chemistry (one-year lower-division),

each course completed with a grade of “B” or better

Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.70 in transferable college courses. UCR has articulation agreements with most of the California community colleges. These agreements list specific community college courses that have been designated as comparable to UCR courses (see the statewide articulation Web site at www. assist.org). Transfer students will usually find it advantageous to complete most or all sequences before starting at UCR. All prospective transfers should try to complete the sequences they begin rather than divide a sequence between two campuses.

See Undergraduate Studies section.

See College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.

Some of the following requirements for the major may also fulfill some of the college’s breadth requirements. Consult with a department advisor for course planning.

The major requirements consist of a core curriculum and additional requirements for various B.S. degrees. The core requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees in Physics are as follows:

• 1. Lower-division requirements (69 units)

• a) one of the following sequences: PHYS 041A, PHYS 041B, PHYS 041C, or PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C, PHYS 040D, PHYS 040E. The first sequence is

preferred for the B.S. in Physics.

• b) PHYS 39

• c) MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B,MATH 009C, MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046

• d) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C,

CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC

• e) CS 010 or CS 010V. A higher-level CS

course may satisfy the CS 010 requirement with approval.

• 2. Upper-division requirements (46 units)

• a) PHYS 130A, PHYS 130B, PHYS 132,

PHYS 135A, PHYS 135B, PHYS 156A, PHYS 156B

• b) PHYS 139L (5 units), PHYS 142L (5 units).

• c) 8 units of upper division Physics

electives. Upper division math, science of engineering may be substituted with approval. A student may take up to a maximum of 4 units of undergraduate research (PHYS 195A, PHYS 195B, PHYS 195C, and/or PHYS 195D). This may include a Physics internship at an approved government or industrial laboratory.

Physics : Standard Track (B.S. degree)

• 1. Additional upper-division requirements (21

units)

• a) PHYS 133, PHYS 136

• b) PHYS 142L (additional 5 units- 1 quarter).

Approved undergraduate research (PHYS 195A, PHYS 195B, PHYS 195C, PHYS 195D) in physics or an internship (PHYS 198-I) in physics at a government or industrial laboratory can be used in place of up to 5 units of PHYS 142L.

• c) 8 additional units of upper division

Physics electives. PHYS 156C is highly recommended for those planning to go to graduate school in physics.

Physics: Biophysics Track (B.S. degree)

• 1. Additional lower-division requirements (12

units)

• a) BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C, BIOL 05LA

• 2. Additional upper-division requirements (24

units)

• a) CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B which may be

used to satisfy the core requirement 2c.

• b) 16 additional upper division units taken

from CHEM 112C, BCH 110A, BCH 110B, BCH 110C or BIOL 107A (other upper division CHEM/BIOL/BCH may be substituted upon approval)

Physics Education Track (B.S. degree only)

• 1. Additional lower-division requirements (10

units)

• a) EDUC 003, EDUC 004

• b) LING 020 or LING 021

• 2. Additional upper-division requirements (16

units)

• a) EDUC 110, EDUC 177A, and either EDUC 172 or EDUC 174.

• 3. Upper division recommendations (4 units)

• a) EDUC 104/MATH 104

Physics: Applied Physics and Engineering Track (B.S degree)

• 1. Additional upper-division requirements (21

units)

• a) PHYS 142L (additional 5 units- 1 quarter).

Approved undergraduate research (PHYS 195A, PHYS 195B, PHYS 195C, PHYS 195D) in physics or an internship (PHYS 198-I) in physics at a government or industrial laboratory can be used in place of up to 5 units of PHYS 142L.

• b) 8 additional units of upper division

Physics electives.

• c) 8 units of upper division Engineering

electives.

Students seeking an emphasis in environmental physics or chemical physics should consult with an advisor. The physics electives may be selected on an individual basis to stress one of these concentrations.

Students continuing on to graduate school are encouraged to take additional upper-division courses in Mathematics, such as MATH 146A, MATH 146B, MATH 146C, MATH 165A, MATH 165B, and MATH 113.

Students may wish to earn a Minor in Mathematics which requires an additional 24 units of upper division math.

To graduate, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C) is necessary overall and in the upper- division courses taken for the major (courses listed under 2.).

Bachelor of Arts

For the B.A. degree, additional units are required in Humanities, Social Sciences, and foreign language to meet the breadth requirements.

The minor in Physics consists of 26 upper- division units in Physics. A minimum of 16 units must be unique to the minor and may not be used to satisfy major requirements.

• 1. First Tier (16 units)

• a) PHYS 130A

• b) PHYS 132

• c) PHYS 135A
• d) One Upper Division Physics elective from

PHYS 111, PHYS 150A, PHYS 151, PHYS 164, PHYS 165, PHYS 166, PHYS 177

• 2. Second Tier: at least 10 units from any

upper-division Physics courses not chosen in the First Tier. The combined units from the First and Second Tiers should add to at least 26.

• 3. No more than 4 units of 190-199 courses

may be used to fulfill the upper-division units for the minor.

See Minors under the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Colleges and Programs section of this catalog for additional information on minors.

The department provides special advisory services to aid community college transfer students in formulating their program and in remedying any deficiencies in required course work. Transfer students who have followed the prescribed program at the community college should be able to continue with the sample program at the junior level.