Physics is the study of matter and energy and their interactions, both in nature and under man-made conditions. Physics provides both the fundamental foundation for science and technology, and the framework for understanding the world around us and the universe itself.
UWM students can shape their Physics major in one of two directions. The standard major provides a broad overview of all aspects of physics: mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, quantum physics, magnetism, electricity, and the mathematical principles that underlie physics. In the astronomy focused version of the major, students master these basics plus take additional coursework in astrophysics and gravitation.
UWM's program provides excellent preparation for graduate programs in physics, engineering, and math, and can also serve as a springboard to careers in diverse areas, including engineering, business, law, and medicine. All Physics undergraduates are encouraged to get involved in research as early as their freshman year as a means to enhance their education and help diversify their career options.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Science Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses and 30 of those 36 credits in designated L&S Advanced Natural Science courses.
The College requires that students complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| Achieve a grade of C or better in the following course: | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course, or achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department) | ||
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning 1 | ||
or PHILOS 111 | Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning | |
| College Algebra | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
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Math 111 and Philosophy 111 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), you must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, and the Research requirement. The International requirement develops your potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that you take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for you to build your critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in your major.
For the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) you will complete additional coursework in L&S Advanced Natural Science courses.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
II. L&S Advanced Natural Sciences Requirement
For the Bachelor of Science, students must complete 30 credits of the 36 credits in upper-division courses in designated L&S Advanced Natural Science courses.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course (minimum 9 credits) combination of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses in those areas used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses.
Physics Major Requirements
The department offers two study options. The standard physics major is for students who seek a general physics degree. The physics major with astronomy emphasis is for students who wish to pursue their interest in astronomy. While the standard physics major generally is followed by students who plan to go on to graduate school, the major with astronomy emphasis also enables students to pursue graduate work in physics.
Both options require that students take at least 15 credits in the major in advanced-level (numbered 300 and above) courses in residence at UWM. The College of Letters & Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. All students in the College are required to complete a research experience in their majors. Physics majors meet this requirement by successfully completing an upper-level, 3-credit laboratory courses.
Freshmen who enter with scores of 4 or 5 on the Physics Advanced Placement exam given by CEEB are given partial credit for the introductory courses.
Standard Physics Major
A minimum of 43 credits in physics, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following options: 1 | 10 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| Physics I (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics II (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Physics I: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Physics II: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| PHYSICS 309 | Physics III: Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 317 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 325 | Optics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 370 | Analytical and Numerical Methods in Physics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Infrared Microspectroscopy | ||
| Experiments in Linear Electronics | ||
| Modern Physics Laboratory | ||
| Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Undergraduate Research Participation 3 | ||
| PHYSICS 411 | Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 420 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 422 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 441 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 4 |
| PHYSICS 442 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Selecting electives are encouraged (see below) | ||
| Total Credits | 43 | |
- 1
PHYSICS 209/PHYSICS 214 and PHYSICS 210/PHYSICS 215 are strongly recommended; however, PHYSICS 219 and PHYSICS 220 may be substituted.
- 2
These courses are not offered every semester; check with the undergraduate advisor to plan for completing this requirement.
- 3
The research proposal must be approved by the undergraduate advisor and the Departmental Undergraduate Committee, and it must demonstrate pedagogical value. Unfocused laboratory internships are not acceptable.
Electives
No elective courses are required, but students are encouraged to select electives from Physics or Astronomy courses 300 level or above from the following list. Only the courses identified in the list below with the phrase “if not selected above” will be counted in the student's major GPA. Electives may not be offered every semester; check with the undergraduate advisor to plan for completing this requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASTRON 400 | Astrophysics I | 3 |
| ASTRON 401 | Astrophysics II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 305 | Medical Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 306 | Introduction to Biophysics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 351 | Basics of Condensed Matter Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 391 | Undergraduate Research Participation | 1-6 |
| PHYSICS 406 | Introduction to Infrared Microspectroscopy (if not selected above) | 3 |
| PHYSICS 408 | Experiments in Linear Electronics (if not selected above) | 3 |
| PHYSICS 409 | Modern Physics Laboratory (if not selected above) | 3 |
| PHYSICS 501 | Special Topics: Mathematical Models of Physical Problems I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 515 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 517 | Special Relativity | 3 |
| PHYSICS 531 | Principles of Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 532 | Principles of Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 541 | Elementary Particles | 3 |
| PHYSICS 551 | Introduction to Solid State Physics I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 651 | Introduction to Solid State Physics II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 670 | Electron Microscopy Laboratory (if not selected above) | 3 |
Physics Major with Astronomy Emphasis
A minimum of 55 credits in physics and astronomy courses, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Select one of the following options: 1 | 10 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| Physics I (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics II (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Physics I: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Physics II: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| PHYSICS 309 | Physics III: Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 325 | Optics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 317 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 370 | Analytical and Numerical Methods in Physics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Infrared Microspectroscopy | ||
| Experiments in Linear Electronics | ||
| Modern Physics Laboratory | ||
| Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Undergraduate Research Participation 3 | ||
| PHYSICS 411 | Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 420 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 422 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 441 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 4 |
| PHYSICS 442 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| ASTRON 400 | Astrophysics I 2 | 3 |
| ASTRON 401 | Astrophysics II 2 | 3 |
| Electives 2 | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Survey of Astronomy | ||
or ASTRON 211 | Principles of Astronomy | |
| Cosmic Origins | ||
| The Origin, Composition, and Structure of the Planetary Atmospheres | ||
| Geology of the Planets | ||
| Undergraduate Research Participation | ||
| Special Topics: Mathematical Models of Physical Problems I | ||
| Special Relativity | ||
| Elementary Particles | ||
Or another course approved by the undergraduate advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 55 | |
- 1
PHYSICS 209/PHYSICS 214 and PHYSICS 210/PHYSICS 215 are strongly recommended; however, PHYSICS 219 and PHYSICS 220 may be substituted.
- 2
These courses are not offered every semester; check with the undergraduate advisor to plan for completing this requirement.
- 3
The research proposal must be approved by the undergraduate advisor and the Departmental Undergraduate Committee, and it must demonstrate pedagogical value. Unfocused laboratory internships are not acceptable.
Possible Course Substitutions for Students with Physics and Engineering Double Majors
One of the following courses may be substituted for PHYSICS 370:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIV ENG 280 | Computer Based Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| COMPSCI 240 | Introduction to Engineering Programming | 3 |
| COMPSCI 250 | Introductory Computer Programming | 3 |
| MECHENG 101 | Computational Tools for Engineers | 2 |
The following course may be substituted for PHYSICS 317:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MECHENG 301 | Basic Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
The combination of both of the following may substitute for PHYSICS 411:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIV ENG 201 | Statics | 3 |
| CIV ENG 202 | Dynamics | 3 |
Upper level engineering technical electives may be substituted for PHYSICS 325 and independent study/research may be substituted for the 400-level laboratory courses.
Physics BS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Physics program will be able to:
- solve problems using the principles of classical mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.
- employ general principles of physics to develop mathematical models of the physical world.
- apply appropriate mathematical and numerical techniques, including approximate methods.
- critically evaluate the validity of the results.
- design and conduct scientific experiments to test new ideas and theories using standard laboratory procedures.
- analyze the data using basic statistical principles.
- present concepts and results clearly, in both written and oral form, to peers and the public.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Accelerated Program Option
This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.