Why study physics and astronomy?
Our goal is to understand the physical universe. The questions addressed by our department’s research and education missions range from the applied, such as an improved understanding of the materials that can be used for solar cell energy production, to foundational questions about the nature of mass and space, how the Universe was formed and subsequently evolved, and how astrophysical phenomena affected the Earth and its evolution. We study the properties of systems ranging in size from smaller than an atom to larger than a galaxy on timescales ranging from billionths of a second to the age of the universe. Our courses and laboratory/research experiences help students hone their problem solving and analytical skills and thereby become broadly trained critical thinkers. While about half of our majors move on to graduate studies in STEM, many find employment in the private sector in diverse careers ranging from financial analysts to physicians. Graduates of all our degree programs can be found in key positions regionally, nationally, and internationally. In this way, our department is at the forefront of telling the academic story of the University of Kansas to people around the state and around the world.
Undergraduate programs in physics and astronomy
We welcome all students curious about the universe around them. This includes not only students planning on graduate study in STEM, but also students from other disciplines where a background in foundational physical science and critical thinking can be useful – examples include teaching and medicine – and anyone seeking to include astronomy and physics as part of their general education. The department offers BA degrees in astronomy and physics and BS degrees in astronomy, physics, and engineering physics. Degrees in astronomy and physics are granted through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences whereas engineering physics degrees are granted through the School of Engineering. The primary degree offered is a BS in Physics. In addition to this standard BS in Physics, there are also interdisciplinary and pre-medicine versions (specializations) of the BS in Physics degree. The interdisciplinary track allows students to take elective courses in other STEM disciplines and the pre-medicine emphasis is for students interested in health professions. We also offer minors in astronomy and physics and a certificate in astrophysics of origins. We involve our undergraduate majors in cutting-edge research practically from the day they join the department; research is a requirement of both the BS Astronomy and BS Physics degrees. The breadth of our research program affords our students exposure to a number of different fields and we are justifiably proud of our undergraduate researchers who routinely publish papers, attend conferences, and/or conduct research abroad (in locales such as Antarctica, Chile, and CERN).
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
Requirements for the B.A. Major in Physics
All students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Physics must complete the KU Core requirements and the College BA specific requirements, listed in the KU Core and College sections of the catalog.
Bachelor of Arts in Physics Major Course Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| 0 |
PHSX 150 | Seminar in Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Physics | 0.5 |
| 0 |
PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | 5 |
PHSX 213 | General Physics I Honors | 5 |
| 0 |
PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 | General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | 4 |
PHSX 214 | General Physics II Honors | 4 |
| |
MATH 125 | Calculus I | 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 |
| Applied Differential Equations | |
| Applied Differential Equations, Honors |
| Elementary Differential Equations (recommended) | |
| |
| |
PHSX 313 | General Physics III | 3 |
| |
PHSX 316 | Intermediate Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| |
PHSX 611 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| |
PHSX 521 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| |
PHSX 531 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| |
PHSX 536 | Electronic Circuit Measurement and Design | 4 |
or PHSX 616 | Physical Measurements |
| 3 |
Physics Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses (above), majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 30 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Concentration in Computational Physics
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| |
EECS 168 | Programming I | 4 |
or EECS 169 | Programming I: Honors |
| |
EECS 268 | Programming II | 4 |
| |
MATH 290 | Elementary Linear Algebra | 2 |
or MATH 291 | Elementary Linear Algebra, Honors |
or MATH 590 | Linear Algebra |
| |
MATH 220 | Applied Differential Equations | 3 |
or MATH 221 | Applied Differential Equations, Honors |
or MATH 320 | Elementary Differential Equations |
| |
CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
or CHEM 150 | Chemistry for Engineers |
or CHEM 170 | Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences I |
or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors |
| |
BIOL 100 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| |
PHIL 310 | Introduction to Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| |
ECON 142 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
or ECON 143 | Principles of Microeconomics, Honors |
or ECON 144 | Principles of Macroeconomics |
or ECON 145 | Principles of Macroeconomics, Honors |
| |
| |
| Seminar in Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Physics | |
| 5 |
| General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | |
| General Physics I Honors | |
| |
| General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | |
| General Physics II Honors | |
| |
PHSX 313 & PHSX 316 | General Physics III and Intermediate Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
| |
PHSX 521 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| |
PHSX 531 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| |
PHSX 536 | Electronic Circuit Measurement and Design | 4 |
or PHSX 516 | Physical Measurements |
| |
PHSX 500 | Special Problems | 5 |
| |
PHSX 615 | Numerical and Computational Methods in Physics | 3 |
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Physics. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.
This degree plan assumes students will have the equivalent of MATH 101 or MATH 104 prior to freshman year, fall semester.
Freshman |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 101 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing I)1 | 3 | ENGL 102 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing II) | 3 |
MATH 125 (Goal 1.2 Quantitative Literacy, Major Pre-requisite) | 4 | MATH 126 (BA Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Major Pre-requisite) | 4 |
CHEM 130 (Goal 3 Natural Science, BA Laboratory/Field Experience (LFE)) | 5 | PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 (Goal 1.1 Critical Thinking, Major Requirement), or | 5 |
Goal 3 Social Science | 3 | | |
PHSX 150 (Major Requirement) | 0.5 | Goal 2.2 Communication | 3 |
| 15.5 | | 15 |
Sophomore |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 (Major Requirement), or | 4 | PHSX 313 (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| | PHSX 316 (Major Requirement) | 1 |
MATH 127 | 4 | MATH 220 or 320 | 3 |
MATH 290 | 2 | Goal 3 Arts and Humanities | 3 |
1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| 15 | | 15 |
Junior |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PHSX 521 | 3 | PHSX 536 (or Elective/KU Core) | 4 |
Goal 4.1 US Diversity | 3 | PHSX 611 | 3 |
3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | Goal 4.2 Global Awareness | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 | 4th Semester Language (BA Second Language)8 | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 |
| 15 | | 16 |
Senior |
---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PHSX 531 (Major Requirement) | 3 | PHSX Lecture or Lab Elective 500+ (Major Requirement)5 | 3 |
PHSX 616 or 536 (or Elective/KU Core)4 | 4 | Goal 6 Integration & Creativity (PHSX 503 recommended)6 | 3 |
Goal 5 Social Responsibility and Ethics | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours7 | 1 |
| 16 | | 13 |
Total Hours 120.5 |
Please note: All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.
Departmental Honors in Physics and Astronomy
Qualified students earning either a B.A. or a B.S. degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in astronomy or physics may graduate with Honors in Physics & Astronomy by fulfilling the following requirements: (1) By the end of the candidate's final semester, achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major, in all courses taken in residence and elsewhere; and (2) Complete at least 24 semester hours of astronomy and physics courses numbered 500 or above, including undergraduate research represented by two hours of credit in ASTR 501, ASTR 503, PHSX 501 or PHSX 503. A grade of B or better must be earned in one of the following: ASTR 501, ASTR 503, PHSX 501 or PHSX 503. All of our department’s honors requirements include student research, for which results shall be presented in either: (1) a written research summary, read by 3 faculty members in physics and astronomy or related fields or authorship on a peer-reviewed manuscript; or (2) a research-based oral presentation at an appropriate venue (e.g., Undergraduate Research symposium, a presentation in an advanced department seminar class, a discipline specific meeting); or (3) presentation of a poster at an appropriate venue. Students planning to graduate with honors must file a Declaration of Intent Form with the Departmental Honors Coordinator, preferably during their junior year but no later than enrollment for the final undergraduate semester.