Engineering Physics Undergraduate Program
The engineering physics program is designed for undergraduates with an interest in both science and engineering. The program is focused on those students who wish to work in areas of rapid technological change, where a good background in the underlying science is an important ingredient to a successful career. The curriculum includes classical and modern physics, mathematics, and their applications to one or more areas of engineering, thus allowing students to learn the physical science and engineering principles underlying modern technology. Four design concentrations are offered:
- Aerospace Systems: Aircraft track OR Spacecraft track
- Chemical Systems
- Digital Electronic Systems
- Electromechanical Control Systems
Each option incorporates a significant design component and provides a strong base in one or more engineering disciplines. The degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
For programs in physics, see Physics and Astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the online catalog.
Educational Objectives
The program educational objectives are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years after graduation. Engineering physics graduates will be capable of:
- Completing or successfully progressing toward completion of an advanced degree in graduate or professional school,
- Using their analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills to conduct research or contribute to technology development projects, individually or as a team member,
- Using their background knowledge in physics and engineering fundamentals as a foundation for developing new knowledge and experience in their chosen disciplines.
Careers
Professional Opportunities
The broad training and technical breadth of the engineering physics degree program provide students a unique flexibility in their future careers. They have the science background to pursue pure research opportunities, the engineering and design experience to solve practical problems in industry or a variety of other settings, and the understanding to act as a communication link between highly diversified divisions of an organization. Engineering physics graduates typically work in aerospace and avionic industries, electronics industries, research and development laboratories, telecommunications, design and consulting firms, and government agencies, such as defense contractors. The degree program also prepares students to attend graduate or professional school in physics, engineering or related disciplines.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics is a collaborative program between the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the School of Engineering. As such, there are no specific additional requirements for admission beyond those listed below for the entire School of Engineering.
Undergraduate Admission to the School of Engineering
Admission to the KU School of Engineering and its degree programs is selective. Students may be admitted to an engineering or computer science degree program as freshmen (first-year) students, but all admissions, for both in-state and out-of-state students, are selective. Applications are judged on several factors, such as high school record, scores on national tests, academic record at college or university level, and trend of grades and more. High school transcripts are required.
Freshman Admission Standards to the School of Engineering
To be considered for admission to the School of Engineering, beginning freshmen (first-year) students must meet or exceed the following minimum standards:
- Must be admissible to the University of Kansas by assured admissions or individual review, AND
- Have a 3.0+ high school GPA, AND
- Demonstrate mathematics preparedness by:
- Obtaining a mathematics ACT score of 22+ (or math SAT score of 540+), OR
- Achieving a B or better in college algebra or a more advanced mathematics course, OR
- Achieving a C or better in a high school calculus course; OR
- Earning credit via IB or AP credit for the above-mentioned courses in accordance with KU placement credit requirements; OR
- Achieving at minimum a qualifying score for MATH 104 on the ALEKS mathematics placement exam.
Pre-Engineering
Students not admitted directly to the School of Engineering and their department but who are admissible to the university may be admitted to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as an pre-engineering student. They can later re-apply to the School of Engineering during the semester they are completing the admission requirements for transfer students.
Transfer Student Admission Standards to the School of Engineering
Applications from all transfer students, whether from other institutions or from other academic schools at the University of Kansas, are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Transfer students must:
- Be admissible to KU, AND
- Earn a cumulative college transferable grade-point average of 2.5+, AND
- Earn a grade of C or better in MATH 125 (Calculus I, or its direct equivalent), AND
- Earn grades of C or better in math, science, and engineering courses applicable to the engineering degree.
Students must also complete their last 30 hours of credit at KU.
Current Student Admission Standards to the School of Engineering
Students who are currently enrolled at KU, need to meet the following:
- Earn a 2.5+ KU GPA, AND
- Earn a grade of C or better in MATH 125 or its direct equivalent, AND
- Earn a grade of C or better in all math, science, and engineering courses.
Current KU Students admitted to other academic units may apply to the School of Engineering by completing a Change of School form. Contact the engineering recruitment team if you have any questions. Per University Registrar deadlines for processing, Change of School applications for the fall semester will be accepted until the last Friday in October of each school year; Change of School applications for the spring semester will be accepted until the last Friday in March of each school year.
Already Applied to KU, But Not Engineering?
Don't worry. It's not too late to change your mind if you’ve already applied to KU and selected a major outside the School of Engineering. If you think one of the 12 engineering or computer science majors is a better fit for your talents, you can still change your requested major — preferably before May 1 — and be considered for admission to the School of Engineering and all the benefits that go with it.
To update your application, visit Undergraduate Admissions and click on “Change application term, major, mailing address, and/or email address.”
Please contact a member of our recruitment team, 785-864-3881, if you have any difficulty.
Application Deadlines For New Freshman and Transfer Applicants
Graduate Admission Deadlines Semester | Applicants | Deadline |
November 1 | Priority scholarship deadline for incoming freshmen. | |
December 1 | Deadline to apply for the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program for incoming freshmen. | |
May 1 | Enrollment Deposit due. | |
Last Friday in October | Deadline to submit Change of School applications for fall semester admission. | |
Last Friday in March | Deadline to submit Change of School applications for spring semester admission. | |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics Degree Requirements
Each student takes a common core of courses and selects 1 of 4 design concentrations.
Common Core
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PHSX 150 | Seminar in Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Physics | 0.5 |
EPHX 210 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I for Engineers and General Physics I Laboratory (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)) 040 | 3 |
or PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory |
PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 | General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | 4 |
or PHSX 214 | General Physics II Honors |
PHSX 313 | General Physics III | 3 |
PHSX 316 | Intermediate Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
EPHX 521 | Mechanics I | 3 |
or PHSX 521 | Mechanics I |
EPHX 531 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
or PHSX 531 | Electricity and Magnetism |
EPHX 611 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
or PHSX 611 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics |
EPHX 601 | Design of Physical and Electronic Systems | 4 |
or PHSX 601 | Design of Physical and Electronic Systems |
MATH 125 | Calculus I (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)) 030 | 4 |
or MATH 145 | Calculus I, Honors |
MATH 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
or MATH 146 | Calculus II, Honors |
MATH 127 | Calculus III | 4 |
or MATH 147 | Calculus III, Honors |
MATH 290 | Elementary Linear Algebra | 2 |
or MATH 291 | Elementary Linear Algebra, Honors |
MATH 220 | Applied Differential Equations | 3 |
or MATH 221 | Applied Differential Equations, Honors |
or MATH 320 | Elementary Differential Equations |
Total Hours | 41.5 |
Design Concentrations
Aerospace Systems Concentration
The total number of hours required for the Engineering Physics with a concentration in Aerospace Systems degree is 126.5 credit hours.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
CHEM 130 & CHEM 149 | General Chemistry I and Chemistry for Engineers Supplement | 5 |
or CHEM 150 | Chemistry for Engineers |
or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors |
AE 211 | Computing for Engineers | 3 |
or EECS 138 | Introduction to Computing: _____ |
AE 245 | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | 3 |
AE 345 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
or C&PE 511 | Momentum Transfer |
or ME 510 | Fluid Mechanics |
AE 421 | Aerospace Computer Graphics | 3 |
or ME 228 | Computer Graphics |
AE 445 | Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance | 3 |
AE 507 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
or AE 506 | Aerospace Structures I, Honors |
AE 545 | Fundamentals of Aerodynamics | 3 |
or AE 546 | Aerodynamics, Honors |
AE 550 | Dynamics of Flight I | 3 |
AE 551 | Dynamics of Flight II | 3 |
or AE 552 | Honors Dynamics of Flight II |
AE 572 | Fundamentals of Jet Propulsion | 3 |
or AE 573 | Honors Propulsion |
C&PE 221 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
or ME 212 | Basic Engineering Thermodynamics |
CE 260 | Statics and Dynamics | 5 |
CE 310 | Strength of Materials | 3 |
or CE 312 | Strength of Materials, Honors |
EPHX 536 | Electronic Circuit Measurement and Design | 4 |
or PHSX 536 | Electronic Circuit Measurement and Design |
or EPHX 616 | Physical Measurements |
or EECS 316 & EECS 318 | Circuits, Electronics and Instrumentation and Circuits and Electronics Lab |
| Space Systems Design I | |
| Aerospace Systems Design I |
| Aerospace Structures II | |
| Honors Aerospace Structures II |
| Space Systems Design II |
Total Hours | 50 |
Chemical Systems Concentration
The total number of hours required for the Engineering Physics with a concentration in Chemical Systems degree is 126.5 credit hours.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
CHEM 170 | Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences I | 5 |
or CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I |
or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors |
CHEM 175 | Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences II | 5 |
or CHEM 135 | General Chemistry II |
or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196 | Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors |
CHEM 330 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
or CHEM 380 | Organic Chemistry I, Honors |
CHEM 525 | Physical Chemistry for Engineers | 4 |
or CHEM 530 | Physical Chemistry I |
C&PE 211 | Material and Energy Balances | 3 |
C&PE 221 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
or ME 212 | Basic Engineering Thermodynamics |
C&PE 325 | Numerical Methods and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
C&PE 511 | Momentum Transfer | 3 |
or AE 345 | Fluid Mechanics |
or ME 510 | Fluid Mechanics |
C&PE 512 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II | 3 |
C&PE 524 | Chemical Engineering Kinetics and Reactor Design | 3 |
C&PE 525 | Heat and Mass Transfer | 4 |
C&PE 611 | Design of Unit Operations | 3 |
C&PE 613 | Chemical Engineering Design I | 4 |
C&PE 615 | Introduction to Process Dynamics and Control | 3 |
C&PE 616 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory I | 3 |
C&PE 626 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory II | 3 |
Total Hours | 55 |
Digital Electronic Systems Concentration
The total number of hours required for the Engineering Physics with a concentration in Digital Electronic Systems degree is 125.5 credit hours.
Electromechanical Control Systems Concentration
The total number of hours required for the Engineering Physics with a concentration in Electromechanical Control Systems degree is 124.5 to 127.5 credit hours.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
EECS 140 | Introduction to Digital Logic Design | 4 |
or EECS 141 | Introduction to Digital Logic: Honors |
EECS 168 | Programming I | 4 |
or EECS 169 | Programming I: Honors |
EECS 268 | Programming II | 4 |
EECS 202 | Circuits I | 4 |
EECS 212 | Circuits II | 4 |
EECS 312 | Electronic Circuits I | 3 |
EECS 361 | Signal and System Analysis | 3 |
EECS 444 | Control Systems | 3 |
or ME 682 | System Dynamics and Control Systems |
EPHX 616 | Physical Measurements | 4 |
or PHSX 616 | Physical Measurements |
or ME 455 | Mechanical Engineering Measurements and Experimentation |
ME 210 | Introduction to Mechanics | 1 |
ME 228 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
ME 311 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
or CE 310 & ME 309 | Strength of Materials and Introduction to Mechanical Design |
ME 212 | Basic Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
ME 501 | Mechanical Engineering Design Process | 2 |
ME 628 | Mechanical Design | 3 |
ME 640 | Design Project | 2-3 |
or ME 627 | Automotive Design |
| Design Project Option A | |
| Design Project Option B | |
| Design Project Option C | |
| 3 |
Total Hours | 55-57 |
Sample 4-year plans for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics with the following concentrations can be found here: concentration in Aerospace Systems, concentration in Chemical Systems, concentration in Digital Electronic Systems, concentration in Electromechanical Control Systems, or by using the left-side navigation.
Departmental Honors
Engineering physics undergraduates may graduate with departmental honors by achieving a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in major courses taken in residence and at other institutions, by completing at least 1 credit hour of undergraduate research with a grade of B or better in EPHX 501 or EPHX 503, and the results presented in a manner specified by the Department. Please see your advisor for details.