The below comes straight from our University Bulletin (2022-2023). For information about the specific courses, you can check out the bulletin website directly.

Physics

Programs offered:

B.A. in Physics and Liberal Studies (TU)

B.S. in Physics-Astrophysics Track (TU)

B.S. in Physics-Computational Physics Track (TU)

B.S. in Physics-Engineering Track (TU)

B.S. in Physics-General Physics Track (TU)

Minor in Physics (TU)

Oglethorpe offers undergraduate Physics programs for a variety of interests and goals.  The B.S. degree in Physics (which requires that every student concurrently follows a track through one of four areas: Astrophysics, Computational Physics, Engineering or General Physics) provides preparation for employment or further study in physics and related fields. The B.A. degree in Physics and Liberal Studies is suitable for students who wish to obtain a broad liberal education with a concentration in physical science.  This program will prepare students to apply their knowledge of the physical sciences to non-technical careers in fields like business and entrepreneurship, museum curatorship, and K-12 education.

While Oglethorpe does not offer a degree in Engineering, there are at least three pathways for Oglethorpe physical science students to achieve an engineering degree while also obtaining a valuable liberal education.

1. Graduate from Oglethorpe with a regular baccalaureate degree (often, although not necessarily, a B.S. in Physics) and then enter a graduate program leading to an advanced degree in the engineering field of interest. There are many engineering graduate schools which provide for this option.
2. Take appropriate science and math classes (as well as the Core and various electives, such as humanities, arts, etc.) at Oglethorpe for 2-3 years, and then simply transfer to an engineering school for the final two years of baccalaureate study. Ultimately, such students receive a degree from the engineering school to which they transfer; such students are not eligible for an Oglethorpe degree.
3. The remaining option is for a student to pursue the Engineering Track leading to the B.S. in Physics. This program enables students to obtain two bachelor’s degrees, the aforementioned B.S. from Oglethorpe and a specialized engineering baccalaureate degree from one of our partner engineering schools (currently limited exclusively to Georgia Institute of Technology and Kennesaw State University) in a highly structured program. The programs require a student to complete semester hours equal to three-quarters of a regular Oglethorpe baccalaureate degree in residence and the remaining technical requirements of the engineering program at one of these engineering schools.  The dual-degree program provides students an opportunity to find success in a difficult field, by starting at Oglethorpe where the faculty’s primary concern is effective teaching and working closely with students. Small class sizes and access to sophisticated equipment at Oglethorpe give students a strong foundation to find success in advanced engineering courses at the partner engineering institutions. Once the student graduates from the engineering partner, he/she/they sends her final transcript back to Oglethorpe, which will then confer the B.S. degree in Physics.

B.S. in Physics (all Tracks except Engineering)

1. Regardless of whether a student is working toward the Astrophysics Track, the
   Computational Physics Track, or the General Physics Track, completion of all the following courses:

CSC 201               Introduction to Computer Programming

MAT 131             Calculus I

MAT 132             Calculus II

MAT 233             Calculus III

PHY 201              College Physics I (and laboratory, PHY 101L)

PHY 202              College Physics II (and laboratory, PHY 102L)

PHY 203              Modern Physics (and laboratory, PHY 203L)

PHY 331              Electricity and Magnetism I

PHY 333              Thermal and Statistical Physics

PHY 334              Quantum Mechanics.

2. Regardless of whether a student is working toward the Astrophysics Track, the Computational Physics Track, or the General Physics Track, completion of all the courses listed in one of the three options below:

Option 1: 

PHY 204     Mathematical Physics

Option 2 (highly recommended for those wishing to pursue graduate studies in physics):

MAT 236    Differential Equations

MAT 241    Proof and Logic

MAT 372    Linear Algebra

Option 3:

MAT 236    Differential Equations

MAT 238    Linear Algebra for Engineering and Economics

 

3. For students pursuing a B.S. in Physics-Astrophysics Track only:

• Completion of PHY 100 Introduction to Descriptive Astronomy
• Completion of PHY 420 Advanced Physics Lab
• Completion of one additional course chosen from the following:

PHY 335     Modern Optics (and laboratory, PHY 335L)

PHY 490     Advanced Special Topics in Theoretical Physics

PHY 491     Advanced Special Topics in Experimental Physics

 

4. For students pursuing a B.S. in Physics-Computational Physics Track only, completion of all of the following courses:

CSC 202      Data Structures

PHY 206     Computational Physics

PHY 211     Classical Mechanics I (and laboratory, PHY 211L).

5. For students pursuing the B.S. in Physics-General Physics Track only, completion of all of the following courses:

PHY 211              Classical Mechanics I (and laboratory, PHY 211L)

PHY 420              Advanced Physics Lab

One additional Physics course indexed higher than PHY 211.

6. Additional requirements and things to note:

• A grade of “C-” or better is required for each of the following courses (and for each of their associated lab courses): PHY 201, PHY 202, and PHY 203.
• A cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher is required for all courses contributing to the major.
• PHY 490 and PHY 491 may each be taken more than once providing that different topics are covered each time.
• Students pursuing the Astrophysics Track should enroll in PHY 490 and/or PHY 491 courses with an astronomy or cosmology focus.  Prior consultation with Physics faculty is required in order to guarantee that a particular topic covered in PHY 490 and/or PHY 491 is appropriate and will satisfy the requirements for the Astrophysics Track.
• Evaluation by, and consultation with, Physics faculty (and especially the Physics program coordinator) is generally required in order to permit transfer or transient work to count for any of the courses required for the major.

B.S. in Physics–Engineering Track

1. Completion of all the following courses:

CHM 101            General Chemistry I (and laboratory, CHM 101L)

CHM 102            General Chemistry II (and laboratory, CHM 102L)

MAT 131             Calculus I

MAT 132             Calculus II

MAT 233             Calculus III

MAT 236             Differential Equations

PHY 201              College Physics I (and laboratory, PHY 101L)

PHY 202              College Physics II (and laboratory, PHY 102L)

2. Completion of all the courses listed in one of the following two options:

Option 1:

MAT 241             Proof and Logic

MAT 372             Linear Algebra

Option 2 (highly recommended for those wishing to pursue the Engineering Track):

MAT 238             Linear Algebra for Engineering and Economics

3. Completion of one of the following courses:

CSC 201               Introduction to Computer Programming

PHY 203              Modern Physics (and laboratory, PHY 203L)

PHY 211              Classical Mechanics I (and laboratory, PHY 211L)

PHY 331              Electricity and Magnetism I

PHY 333              Thermal and Statistical Physics

PHY 334              Quantum Mechanics

4. Completion of other courses as necessary, based on the desired engineering partner school’s particular requirements and also based upon the student’s desired area of engineering expertise. Close cooperation is required between every student, the Engineering program coordinator and the student’s academic advisor.
5. Satisfactory completion of the entire TU General Education program (see 7.1.) and a minimum of 96 earned semester hours at Oglethorpe are needed before students can transition to an engineering partner institution. Other requirements may apply. Students must confer regularly with the Engineering program coordinator and their academic advisor.
6. Additional requirements and things to note:
7. It is strongly recommended, but not required, that Engineering students complete CSC 201 Introduction to Computer Programming.
8. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher is required for all courses contributing to the major.
9. Evaluation by, and consultation with, Physics faculty (and especially the Engineering program coordinator) is generally required in order to permit transfer work to count for any of the courses required for the major.
10. Engineering students will not receive any Oglethorpe University financial aid once such students transfer to the appropriate engineering partner school.
11. Students are cautioned that in order to receive the B.S. in Physics-Engineering Track the student must satisfactorily complete all work specified above at Oglethorpe, then apply to, and be accepted at, one of the engineering partner schools (limited to Georgia Institute of Technologyand Kennesaw State University), and then successfully achieve degree conferral at the engineering partner school in an appropriate engineering field. Only after the engineering partner awards the student an engineering degree will Oglethorpe, in turn, award the B.S. in Physics–Engineering Track degree. Students who have no intention or likely ability to successfully transfer to an engineering partner school should not pursue this major. Instead, such students should select one of the other majors available at Oglethorpe.

B.A. in Physics and Liberal Studies (see Sec. 8.5.1. for a complete list of B.A. graduation requirements)

1. Completion of all the following courses:

MAT 131             Calculus I

MAT 132             Calculus II

MAT 233             Calculus III

PHY 201              College Physics I (and laboratory, PHY 101L)

PHY 202              College Physics II (and laboratory, PHY 102L)

PHY 203              Modern Physics (and laboratory, PHY 203L)

2. Completion of four additional Physics courses, excluding PHY 101, PHY 102, and any 1-credit laboratory courses.
3. Completion of: PHY 402/Physics & Liberal Studies Capstone.
4. Completion of four 4- or 5-hour courses (all above the introductory level) in a secondary discipline. Students should work with their academic advisor and the Physics program coordinator to select both the discipline and the particular courses.
5. Additional requirements and things to note:
6. A grade of “C-” or better is required for each of the following courses (and for each of their associated lab courses): PHY 201, PHY 202, and PHY 203.
7. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher is required for all courses contributing to the major.
8. PHY 490 and PHY 491 may each be taken more than once providing that different topics are covered each time.
9. Evaluation by, and consultation with, Physics faculty (and especially the Physics program coordinator) is generally required in order to permit transfer work to count for any of the courses required for the major.
10. The B.A. degree requires completion of one semester of a foreign language at the 102 level or higher. See 8.5.1. for a complete list of graduation requirements for the B.A. degree.

Minor in Physics (TU)

1. Completion of all the following courses:

PHY 201              College Physics I (and laboratory, PHY 101L)

PHY 202              College Physics II (and laboratory, PHY 102L)

PHY 203              Modern Physics (and laboratory, PHY 203L)

2. Completion of two additional four credit hour Physics courses (with the corresponding labs if appropriate), excluding PHY 101, PHY 102, and PHY 204.