Department of Physics and Physical Science

Course Descriptions


Physics: Lower Division


PHYS 1500 Energy and Matter

(3 units). Survey of the basic concepts and principles of physics. Topics will range from classical Newtonian mechanics to modern theories of the atom and the nucleus. (Lecture, 3 hours) (Fall, Spring)

PHYS 1502 Energy and Matter Laboratory

(1 unit). Optional laboratory to accompany PHYS 1500. Prerequisite: PHYS 1500 or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 1500. (Fall, Spring)

PHYS 2100 Basic Physics I

(5 units). General physics without using calculus, Newtonian mechanics, wave motion, heat, and thermodynamics. Designed for general students and for students preparing for biology or medicine. (Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour; laboratory, 3 hours) (Formerly 1100). Prerequisites: Algebra and trigonometry, or consent of instructor. (Fall)

PHYS 2110 Basic Physics II

(5 units). Continuation of PHYS 2100. Electricity and magnetism, light, optics, atoms, and nuclei. (Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour; laboratory, 3 hours) (Formerly 1110). Prerequisite: PHYS 2100. (Spring)

PHYS 2250 General Physics I

(4 units). Calculus-based general physics course for science and mathematics majors. It covers basic mechanics, including motion in a plane, conservation of energy and momentum, rotational motion and angular momentum, harmonic motion and gravitation. Prerequisite: MATH 1410 or consent of instructor. (Fall)

PHYS 2252 General Physics Laboratory I

(1 unit). Laboratory to accompany PHYS 2250. Prerequisite: PHYS 2250 or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2250. (Formerly 2350) (Fall)

PHYS 2260 General Physics II

(4 units). Continuation of PHYS 2250. Covers electricity and magnetism, including electrostatics, basic circuits, magnetostatics, Faraday's Law and Induction, and electromagnetic oscillations. Prerequisite: PHYS 2250 and MATH 1420 or concurrent enrollment in MATH 1420. (Spring)

PHYS 2262 General Physics Laboratory II

(1 unit). Laboratory to accompany PHYS 2260. Prerequisite: PHYS 2260 or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2260. (Formerly 2360) (Spring)

PHYS 2270 General Physics III

(4 units). Continuation of PHYS 2260, covering thermodynamics, waves, optics, and introductory quantum mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 2260 and MATH 1420

PHYS 2272 General Physics Laboratory III

(1 unit). Continuation of PHYS 2262, covering thermodynamics, waves and optics, and modern physics. (Formerly 2370) Prerequisites: PHYS 2260 and MATH 1420.


Physics: Upper Division


PHYS 3010 Introduction to Mathematical Physics I

(3 units). Matrix algebra, tensors, formulations of the partial differential equations of classical and quantum physics, and the mathematical methods required for their solutions; integral transformations, theory of residues and conformed mapping, special functions. Examples are given from all fields of physics. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2260. (Fall)

PHYS 3020 Introduction to Mathematical Physics II

(3 units). Continuation of PHYS 3010. Prerequisite: PHYS 3010. (Spring)

PHYS 3100 Classical Mechanics

(4 units). Dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, gravitation. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, theory of oscillations, and the wave equation. (Lecture, 4 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2260. (Fall)

PHYS 3320 Electricity and Magnetism I

(3 units). Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric current, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiative reaction, electric and magnetic properties of materials, properties of wave guides. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2260. (Fall)

PHYS 3330 Electricity and Magnetism II

(3 units). Continuation of PHYS 3320. Prerequisite: PHYS 3320. (Spring)

PHYS 3520 Modern Physics and Quantum Mechanics

(3 units). Special relativity, origin of quantum theory, the nuclear atom and Bohr theory, elements of quantum mechanics and applications, atomic and nuclear physics, some properties of solids, and elementary particles. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2260 or consent of instructor. (Spring)

PHYS 3800 Fundamentals of Nuclear Energy

(3 units). An introduction to the concepts, principles, systems and applications of nuclear processes; structure of atoms and nuclei; radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, fusion, nuclear systems, radioactive waste disposal, biological effects of radiation, and applications of nuclear radiation to biology, agriculture, art, and archeology. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: A lower-division science course. (Fall, Spring)

PHYS 4000 Modern Astrophysics

(3 units). Application of modern physics to the study of stellar structure and stellar evolution; white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes; x-ray, gamma-ray, and gravitational radiation; quasars, formation of galaxy, and basic cosmological models. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2110 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4102 Advanced Physics Laboratory

(1 unit). Project type experiments in mechanics, heat, electricity, and magnetism, optics, atomic physics, nuclear physics, etc. (Laboratory, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 3520 or consent of instructor. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.

PHYS 4250 Analog and Digital Electronics

(4 units). This course is an introduction to analog and digital electronics. Topics will be chosen from the following: AC and DC circuit analysis, diodes, transistors and operational amplifiers, feedback, active filters, transducers, Boolean logic, basic gates, sequential logic, flip-flops, counters, and an introduction to microprocessors. (Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours) (Formerly 4210 and 4220). Prerequisite: PHYS 2260. (Fall)

PHYS 4300 Microprocessor Electronics

(3 units). Basic concepts and principles of microcomputer designs; microprocessor programming and operation; input and output; interfacing with other circuits, including analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2000 or 2260. (Spring)

PHYS 4302 Microprocessor Laboratory

(1 unit). Laboratory to accompany PHYS 4300. Prerequisite: PHYS 4300 or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 4300. (Spring)

PHYS 4370 Relativity and Cosmology

(3 units). Introduction to the physical basis and mathematical formulation of general relativity, experimental tests of general relativity, gravitational waves, gravitational collapse, cosmological implications of recent developments in general relativity. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 3520 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4400 Computer Simulation Methods in Physics

(3 units). An introduction to computer simulation methods, with applications to physical systems. The course is organized with two weekly lectures in which the programming methods are presented. The lab is project-oriented and allows students the freedom to work at their own pace, and to pursue problems consistent with their own interests and background. (Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 3 hours). Prerequisite: PHYS 2270.

PHYS 4450 Nuclear and Particle Physics

(3 units). Elements of nuclear structure; nuclear transformation; nuclear models; electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions; properties of Leptons and Hadrons; symmetries and conservation laws; resonance particles, quarks and subhadronic particles; tools of nuclear and particle physics research. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2260 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4510 Quantum Mechanics I

(3 units). Development of Schrodinger's equation and its interpretations. Mathematical techniques for solution of problems in one and three dimensions. Perturbation and scattering theory. Solution of the hydrogen atom problem. Application to atomic phenomena. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 3520 or consent of instructor. (Fall)

PHYS 4520 Quantum Mechanics II

(3 units). Continuation of PHYS 4510. Prerequisite: PHYS 4510. (Spring)

PHYS 4530 Thermal and Statistical Physics

(4 units). Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. A unified approach following Gibbs, based on a microscopic description using quantum states. Fermi, Bose, and "Classical" systems are discussed with applications to standard and current topics. (Lecture, 4 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 3520 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4560 Solid State Physics

(3 units). Crystal structure, metal crystals, molecular crystals. Thermal, electrical, magnetic properties of crystals. Free electron model of metals, band theory of solids. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 3520 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4900 Modern Optics and Lasers

(3 units). Principles of geometrical optics, reflection, refraction, polarization, coherence and interference, Kirchhoff's diffraction theory, Fourier methods in optics, optics of solids, lasers and holography. (Lecture, 3 hours) Prerequisite: PHYS 2260 or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4930 Lasers and Holography

(4 units). Interference and coherent light, holographic recording and image reconstruction, properties of holograms and a geometric interpretation, semi-classical radiation fields, coherence theory, induced and spontaneous emission, theories and properties of lasers. (Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours) Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4950 Selected Topics in Physics

(Topics to be specified in Class Schedule) (1-5 units). Development of a selected branch of physics. Topics may vary each term. Different topics may be taken for credit. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

PHYS 4980 Individual Study

(1-4 units). For students capable of independent work and in need of advanced and specialized study. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Prerequisites: Upper-division standing and consent of instructor.

PHYS 4990 Undergraduate Thesis

(1-2 units). Undergraduate thesis research. May be repeated for a total of 3 units. Prerequisites: Senior status with a major in physics, and GPA of 3.25 in all physics major courses completed at CSU Stanislaus.