Department website: http://www.atu.edu/cmp
Students graduating with an engineering physics degree will be well qualified for jobs requiring highly technical skills and theoretical knowledge. Also, the degree program will prepare students for graduate studies in the fields of physics and engineering. However, those interested in employment immediately after graduation will have numerous alternatives for career choices. Job opportunities for an engineering physics graduate could include employment in industries such as: McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, Texas Instruments, Honeywell, Microsoft, Polaroid, Union Carbide, National Institute of Standards; Technology, Entergy, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Dow Chemical. Also, government agencies such as NASA, National Bureau of Standards, Office of Naval Research, Department of Energy, etc., provide additional employment opportunities for engineering physics graduates.
To qualify for a baccalaureate degree in engineering physics, the student must complete four (4) hours in chemistry, ten (10) hours in computer and information science, fifteen to eighteen (15-18) hours in mathematics, twenty-nine (29) hours in physics (including the core physics courses), thirty-two (32) hours in engineering, and one (1) hour of engineering design course (in the final semester).
The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman |
Fall |
CHEM 2124 & CHEM 2120 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab |
4 |
COMS 1011 & COMS 1013 |
Programming Foundations I Lab and Programming Foundations I |
4 |
ENGL 1013 |
Composition I 1 |
3 |
MATH 2914 |
Calculus I |
4 |
PHSC 1001 |
Orientation to Physical Science |
1 |
| Hours | 16 |
Spring |
ENGL 1023 |
Composition II 1 |
3 |
MATH 2924 |
Calculus II |
4 |
MCEG 2023 |
Engineering Materials |
3 |
PHSC 1011 |
Orientation to Physical Science II |
1 |
PHYS 2114 & PHYS 2000 |
Calculus-Based Physics I and Physics Laboratory I |
4 |
| Hours | 15 |
Sophomore |
Fall |
COMS 2203 |
Programming Foundations II |
3 |
MATH 2934 |
Calculus III |
4 |
MCEG 2013 |
Statics |
3 |
PHYS 2124 & PHYS 2010 |
Calculus-Based Physics II and Physics Laboratory II |
4 |
SS 1XXX |
Social Science Courses 1 |
3 |
| Hours | 17 |
Spring |
ELEG 2103 |
Electric Circuits I |
3 |
FAH 1XXX |
Fine Arts and Humanities Courses 1 |
3 |
MATH 3243 |
Differential Equations I |
3 |
MCEG 2033 |
Dynamics |
3 |
PHYS 3213 |
Modern Physics |
3 |
| Hours | 15 |
Junior |
Fall |
COMS 2323 |
Programming in Python |
3 |
ELEG 2113 |
Electric Circuits II |
3 |
ELEG 2111 |
Electric Circuits Laboratory |
1 |
FAH 1XXX |
Fine Arts and Humanities Courses 1 |
3 |
PHYS 3023
|
Mechanics
or Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 3133
|
Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
or Computational Physics |
3 |
| Hours | 16 |
Spring |
MCEG 3013 |
Mechanics of Materials |
3 |
MCEG 3313 |
Thermodynamics I |
3 |
PHYS 3003
|
Optics
or Advanced Physics Laboratory |
3 |
PHYS 4213
|
Advanced Topics in Physics and Astronomy ()
or Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics |
3 |
USHG 1XXX |
U.S. History and Government 1 |
3 |
| Hours | 15 |
Senior |
Fall |
MCEG 4202 |
Engineering Design |
2 |
MCEG 4403 |
Mechanics of Fluids and Hydraulics |
3 |
PHYS 3023
|
Mechanics
or Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 3133
|
Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
or Computational Physics |
3 |
|
3 |
| Hours | 14 |
Spring |
|
2 |
MCEG 4443 |
Heat Transfer |
3 |
PHYS 3003
|
Optics
or Advanced Physics Laboratory |
3 |
PHYS 4061 |
Engineering Physics Design |
1 |
PHYS 4213
|
Advanced Topics in Physics and Astronomy ()
or Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics |
3 |
| Hours | 12 |
| Total Hours | 120 |
Excluding MATH 3003 Foundations of Advanced Mathematics, MATH 3033 Methods of Teaching Elementary Mathematics, and MATH 4113 History of Mathematics.
PHYS 3023 Mechanics and PHYS 4003 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics will satisfy the prerequisites for MCEG 3013 Mechanics of Materials and MCEG 4403 Mechanics of Fluids and Hydraulics for engineering physics majors.
Must complete both the PHYS class and one MATH upper division elective (PHYS course offered in alternating years).
Students who complete the program will demonstrate:
- Problem-solving skills: An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly-defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or technical topics to areas relevant to the discipline.
- Design: An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Communication: An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Ethics: An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- Teamwork: An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Experiment: An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- Acquire and apply new knowledge: An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.