Engineering Physics
Bachelor's Degree Requirements +
The engineering physics program focuses on the foundations of modern technology. The program prepares students for research, development, and entrepreneurial careers in many frontier areas of engineering, including quantum devices, ultra fast lasers, adaptive optics, cryogenic electronics, computer simulation of physical systems, solar cells, magnetic storage technology, micro-mechanical systems, and molecular electronics. All students study the core theoretical subjects of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics, supplemented by courses in mathematics, computation, and laboratory technique. The program can be tailored to a student's interests through electives in engineering, physics, or other sciences.
During the freshman and sophomore years, students receive a broad introduction to physics and chemistry as well as five semesters of applied mathematics and mathematical methods in physics. Starting in the junior year, students take a full year of electrodynamics, a year of quantum mechanics, a semester of classical mechanics, a semester of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, a year of physical chemistry, and an additional semester of advanced mathematics. Significant laboratory experience is available through the required elective laboratories in physical optics and modern physics. The Advanced Laboratory (PHYS 4340) provides students with hands-on experience with optical spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning tunneling microscopy, and laser cooling and trapping of atoms, among other experiments. Laboratory courses emphasize student developed and student designed independent projects where students use the knowledge acquired to build apparatus of their own choosing. The program encourages the formation of student research collaborations with faculty in the pursuit of senior thesis projects. Recent projects include research in pulsed laser deposition of high-temperature superconductors, electron diffraction studies of protein structure, and lattice distortion theory of colossal magnetoresistance materials.
The College of Engineering and Applied Science, in cooperation with the Leeds School of Business, offers two different engineering physics degree plans. The first leads to a bachelor of science (BS) degree in four years; the purpose of this plan is to give the engineering student thorough and fundamental training in physics and its applications. The second program leads to a dual BS degree in engineering physics and business in five years. Dual advising is provided for the five-year program.
Additional information about the bachelor's degree in engineering physics may be obtained from the physics department, Duane Physics E-1B32, by phone at 303-492-6953, or online at www.colorado.edu/physics.
For purposes of federal civil service requirements, this is an engineering degree from an accredited college of engineering. Students who plan to become registered professional engineers should check the requirements for registration in their state before choosing their engineering electives.
In order to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering physics, students must complete the curriculum in the undergraduate major programs available through the Department of Physics. (Some variations may be possible; see an engineering physics advisor.) In addition, students must meet the general undergraduate degree requirements of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Specifically included in the general requirements is the achievement of a GPA of at least 2.00 in the student's physics courses.
The Department of Physics offers a minor in physics. A detailed plan can be found at www.colorado.edu/physics.
Curriculum for BS (Engineering Physics) +
Below is a typical schedule only. For a complete description of the engineering physics course requirements, go to www.colorado.edu/physics.
| Required Courses | Semester Hours |
| Freshman Year | |
| Fall Semester | |
| APPM 1350 Calculus 1 for Engineers | 4 |
| CSCI 1300 Computer Science 1: Programming | 4 |
| PHYS 1110 General Physics 1 | 4 |
| Humanities or social science electives (Note 1) | 6 |
| Spring Semester | |
| APPM 1360 Calculus 2 for Engineers | 4 |
| AREN 1017 Engineering Drawing or MCEN 1025 Computer-Aided Design and Fabrication | 2-3 |
| PHYS 1120 General Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 1140 Experimental Physics | 1 |
| Humanities or social science elective (Note 1) | 3 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall Semester | |
| APPM 2350 Calculus 3 for Engineers | 4 |
| CHEM 1221 General Chemistry Lab for Engineers (Note 4) | 2 |
| CHEN 1211 General Chemistry for Engineers (Note 4) | 3 |
| PHYS 2150 Experimental Physics | 1 |
| PHYS 2170 Foundations of Modern Physics | 3 |
| Elective (Note 2) | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| APPM 2360 Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHYS 2210 Classical Mechanics and Math Methods 1 | 3 |
| Elective (Note 2) | 3 |
| Humanities or social science elective (Note 1) | 3 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fall Semester | |
| CHEM 4521 Physical Chemistry (Note 4) | 3 |
| PHYS 3210 Classical Mechanics and Math Methods 2 | 3 |
| PHYS 3310 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 3330 Junior Laboratory | 2 |
| Upper-division mathematics elective | 3 |
| Elective (Note 2) | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| CHEM 4541 Physical Chemistry Lab (Note 4) | 2 |
| PHYS 3220 Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 3320 Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 2 | 3 |
| Physics elective (Note 3) | 6 |
| Elective (Note 2) | 3 |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall Semester | |
| PHYS 4230 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 4410 Atomic and Nuclear Physics | 3 |
| Electives (Note 2) | 8 |
| WRTG 3030 Writing on Science and Society | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| Engineering electives (Note 2) | 10-12 |
| Physics electives (Note 3) | 3-5 |
| Humanities or social science elective (Note 1) | 3 |
| Minimum total hours for the degree | 128 |
Curriculum Notes
1. A total of 18 credit hours of humanities or social science courses is required. See engineering.colorado.edu/homer for specific requirements.
2. Engineering electives: 17-20 engineering elective hours above and beyond the required courses for engineering physics plan 4, including one upper-division laboratory course.Total hours required in engineering electives plus the required computer sciences and drafting hours: 25.
3. Nine hours of physics electives are required. For details, see www.colorado.edu/physics.
4. The 10-hour chemistry requirement may also be met with CHEM 1111 and 1131.
