The physics department offers a variety of emphases to appeal to students of varied interests. Each emphasis is marked with a different set of requirements and electives to complete the major.
Check departmental information for any additional requirements.
Emphasis 1. Professional Physics for Graduate Study
The goal of the professional physics emphasis is to provide a comprehensive and foundational education in physics. In particular, this emphasis is appropriate for students intending to continue on to graduate school.
Total Hours for Emphasis 1, Professional Physics for Graduate Study: 76
Emphasis 2. Secondary School Teaching
The goal of the secondary school teaching emphasis is to provide the necessary background in physics to teach at the high-school level.
Important: Students wishing to receive Illinois State licensure and/or endorsement to teach physics should also refer carefully to the section below labeled Educator Licensure for additional requirements.
Total Hours for Emphasis 2, Secondary School Teaching: 60
Emphasis 3. Applied Physics
The goal of the applied physics emphasis is to provide a physics major for students who plan to seek employment in a physics-related industry or in a professional school with physics applications. This emphasis is intended to provide a solid background in physics with a focus on a specific cross-disciplinary area.
Electives from physics and other related sciences. At least 7 semester hours must be 400-level PHYS courses, and the rest of the elective courses should be 300- and 400-level courses in physics and/or other STEM subjects. PHYS 498, 499, and 400-level teacher licensure courses cannot be used as the elective courses. Prior to taking elective courses for the Applied Physics emphasis, students must consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to select the appropriate sequence of courses to constitute a track of study. The following are examples of areas of applied physics: acoustics, computational physics, geophysics, atmospheric physics, astronomy/astrophysics, health/medical physics, beam physics, engineering physics, or materials physics. List of courses appropriate for each of these sample tracks are available on the department web site. Other tracks can also be developed in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Total Hours for Emphasis 3, Applied Physics: 69-71
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