Rutgers University–Camden's Department of Physics offers flexible degree programs to its majors. In the bachelor of science (B.S. degree program),
students will be prepared for both graduate study and industrial
employment. In the classroom, they will receive well-rounded exposure to
classical and modern physics. For practical training, the department is
equipped with advanced materials characterization equipment, lasers,
optics, vacuum equipment, and computational facilities. The bachelor of arts (B.A. degree program) is designed for the needs of students who wish to attend medical school or to become physics teachers, just to name two examples.
Students must achieve a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in physics and mathematics courses. When a course has an associated laboratory, the student must take both the lecture course and the laboratory concurrently, unless prior permission has been obtained from the department chair. Students should be aware that certain 300- and 400-level courses may be offered only in alternate years.
Students seeking teacher certification in physics must complete the requirements for the major in physics as well as satisfying other requirements for certification. For details regarding secondary school physics teaching, students should consult the Institute for Effective Education.
The required courses are:
First Year
First Semester
50:640:121 Unified Calculus I (4)
50:750:131 Elements of Physics I (3)
50:750:133 Introductory Physics Laboratory I (1)
Second Semester
50:640:122 Unified Calculus II (4) 50:750:132 Elements of Physics II (3)
50:750:134 Introductory Physics Laboratory II (1)
50:750:140 Introduction to Scientific Programming (3)
Sophomore Year
First Semester
50:160:115 Chemical Principles I (3)
50:160:125 Chemical Principles Laboratory I (1)
50:640:468 Mathematical Methods for Scientists I (3) or 50:640:221 Unified Calculus III (4)
50:750:233 Electric Circuits I (3)
50:750:235 Electric Circuits I Laboratory (1)
50:750:232 Elements of Modern Physics (3)
50:750:238 Modern Physics Laboratory (1)
Second Semester
50:160:116 Chemical Principles II (3)
50:160:126 Chemical Principles Laboratory II (1)
50:640:469 Mathematical Methods for Scientists II (3) or 50:640:314 Elementary Differential Equations (3)
50:750:362 Biophysics (3)
Upper-level courses are offered biennially so the sequence in which students take these courses will vary depending on the year.
