B.S. in Physics

College of the Sciences and Mathematics
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement6-7
Mathematics requirement3-4
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Ethics requirement3
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement6-8
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
Humanities requirement6
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement9
Degree Requirements
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Major Courses 1,2
PHY 170Physics I4
PHY 175
PHY 180Physics II4
PHY 240Introduction to Modern Physics3
PHY 300Mechanics 13
PHY 310Intermediate Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication 13
PHY 350Heat and Thermodynamics 13
PHY 370Mathematical Physics 13
PHY 420Quantum Mechanics I 13
PHY 430Electricity and Magnetism I 13
MAT 161Calculus I4
MAT 162Calculus II4
MAT 261Calculus III4
MAT 311Linear Algebra3
MAT 343Differential Equations3
CHE 103General Chemistry I3
CHE 104General Chemistry II3
CRL 103General Chemistry I Lab1
CRL 104General Chemistry II Lab1
Select an additional 9 credits in physics from available electives at the 300 level or above 3,49
Capstone Requirement
PHY 455Advanced Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication3
Free Electives14
Select 17 credits of free electives17
Total Minimum Credits Required120
1

Physics courses at the 300-level or higher must be completed with a grade of C or better. 

2

Some of these courses may also fulfill general education requirements.

3

We recommend strongly that students on the applied track take PHY 330 and PHY 410 as electives.

4

We recommend strongly that students on the graduate school track take PHY 425 and PHY 435.

5

This course fulfills the Capstone requirement.

Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater in their physics courses. Transfer students must take 15 or more physics credits at West Chester at the 300 level and above for graduation.

To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.

The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
MAT 161 Calculus I 4
WRT 120
Effective Writing I
or Effective Writing with Supplemental Writing Workshop
3-4
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
General Education / Free Elective 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits17-18
Semester Two
PHY 170 Physics I 4
MAT 162 Calculus II 4
WRT 2XX200-Level WRT Course 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits14
Year Two
Semester Three
PHY 180 Physics II 4
MAT 261 Calculus III 4
MAT 321 Combinatorics and Graph Theory 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits14
Semester Four
PHY 275 Computational Physics 3
PHY 240 Introduction to Modern Physics 3
MAT 343 Differential Equations 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
PHY 300 Mechanics 3
PHY 370 Mathematical Physics 3
PHY 420 Quantum Mechanics I 3
CHE 103 General Chemistry I 3
CRL 103 General Chemistry I Lab 1
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Six
PHY 350 Heat and Thermodynamics 3
PHY XXXPhysics Elective 1 3
CHE 104 General Chemistry II 3
CRL 104 General Chemistry II Lab 1
General Education / Free Elective 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits16
Year Four
Semester Seven
PHY 310 Intermediate Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication 3
PHY 430 Electricity and Magnetism I 3
PHY XXXPhysics Elective 1 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
PHY 455 Advanced Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication 3
PHY XXXPhysics Elective 1 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
General Education / Free Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits122-123
1

Recommended PHY electives for students in the graduate school track are PHY 425 and PHY 435.  Recommended PHY electives for students in the applied track are PHY 330 and PHY 410.

  1. Majors shall not be permitted more than one repeat of a Physics course.
  2. Upper level courses (numbered 300 or above) must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
  3. All Physics electives must be at the 300 level or above