Concentrations

Standard Physics

Physics:

Allied Field Courses:

Allied Field courses are required for completion of a major's requirements, but which are offered by departments other than the major department.

Open Electives 

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.

Computational Physics

Physics

Allied Field Courses

Allied Field courses are required for completion of a major's requirements, but which are offered by departments other than the major department.

Open Electives

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.

Engineering Physics

DePaul University offers a joint program with the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in physics and engineering. This program allows students to enroll in courses at IIT while remaining full-time DePaul students. Students will receive a degree in Physics from DePaul University and a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Engineering from IIT upon completion of the five-year program.
 
Students can also choose a four-year joint program that leads to a degree only from DePaul or can choose to complete their engineering requirements at another university. Students interested in Engineering Physics or the joint program should promptly consult with a Physics Department advisor for information about scheduling, requirements, and admission to the joint program.
 

Physics

Allied Field Courses

Allied Field courses are required for completion of a major's requirements, but which are offered by departments other than the major department.

Mathematics

Computer Science

Chemistry

Engineering

  • Approved twenty quarter hours at 300/400 level from an accredited Mechanical, Aerospace, Aeronautical, Computer, or Electrical Engineering program. 

Open Electives

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.

Interdisciplinary Physics

Intended for students that wish to apply their scientific training in a career outside of physics, this concentration allows students to combine a core physics curriculum with a minor from another field. Possible minors include Journalism or Technical Writing for students interested in a career in science writing, Economics for students interested in business, or Biological Sciences for students interested in biophysics.

Physics

  • Six courses, at least three at the 300 level, as approved by a departmental advisor.

Allied Field Courses

Allied Field courses are required for completion of a major's requirements, but which are offered by departments other than the major department.
 
  • Six courses which constitute a minor in a different discipline, as approved by a departmental advisor.

Open Electives

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.

 

PHY 310

MECHANICS I

One-, two-, and three-dimensional motion, conservative systems, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, central-force problems.

PHY 311

MECHANICS II

Systems of particles, collisions and scattering, motion in rotating frames, rigid body motion.

PHY 320

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM I

Electrostatics, magnetostatics, and boundary-value problems.

PHY 321

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM II

Time varying fields, electromagnetic waves, and radiation.

PHY 360

QUANTUM MECHANICS I

Introduction to quantum mechanics, including the solution of the Schrodinger equation in one and three dimensions for a variety of potentials. Applications to atomic systems and solids.
Prerequisites:
PHY 301 is a prerequisite for this class.

PHY 361

QUANTUM MECHANICS II

Applications of quantum mechanics, including time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, the variational principle, and an introduction to scattering theory.

PHY 370

ELECTRONICS

A laboratory course covering analysis and construction of analog and digital circuits used in experimental research. lab fee

PHY 380

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS I

Experimental techniques in optics, atomic and nuclear physics. Approved for Experiential Learning Credit. Laboratory.

PHY 390

APPLIED COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS LABORATORY

Project-based computational laboratory of problems in modern applied physics. Numerical modeling of experiments, computer interfacing of experiments, computational techniques in data analysis.

MAT 261

MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS II

Multiple integration, line and surface integrals, change of variable in multiple integration, Green's and Stokes' theorems.
Prerequisites:
MAT 260 is a prerequisite for this class.

BIO 191

GENERAL BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS

Focuses on the unity of life: its biochemical and cellular makeup and functions, the acquisition and utilization of energy, and the storage and utilization of genetic information. Lecture-laboratory. Lab fee. Formerly BIO 101. CO-REQUISITE(S): Recommended: CHE 130 and CHE 131.
Prerequisites:
MAT 130 is a prerequisite for this class.

BIO 192

GENERAL BIOLOGY II FOR SCIENCE MAJORS

Introduction to evolution, ecology, organismal development and diversity. Lecture-laboratory. Lab fee. Formerly BIO 102.
Prerequisites:
MAT 130 and BIO 191 are a prerequisite for this class.

BIO 193

GENERAL BIOLOGY III FOR SCIENCE MAJORS

Deals primarily with diversity and development within the plant and animal kingdoms including basic principles of physiology. Lecture-laboratory. Lab fee. Formerly BIO 103.
Prerequisites:
MAT 130 and BIO 192 are a prerequisite for this class.

CHE 130

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I

This introductory course for science majors emphasizes the composition of matter, atomic and molecular structure, bonding and chemical reactions. It is the first in the three-course sequence of General Chemistry. This course meets for three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Formerly CHE 111LEC. CO-REQUISITE(S): CHE 131.
Prerequisites:
MAT 130 or (CHE 128 and CHE 129) is a prerequisite for this class.

CHE 131

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY

Laboratory course to be taken in conjunction with CHE 130. The course meets weekly for three hours. The experimental techniques provide hands-on experience with the course material in CHE130. Formerly CHE 111LAB. CO-REQUISITE(S): CHE130.
Prerequisites:
MAT 130 or (CHE 128 and CHE 129) is a prerequisite for this class.

CHE 132

GENERAL CHEMISTRY II

Second course of three in the General Chemistry series. Topics discussed include: common states of matter, phase transitions, properties of solutions, kinetics and equilibrium. This course meets for three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Formerly CHE 113LEC. CO-REQUISITE(S): CHE133.
Prerequisites:
CHE 130 and CHE 131 are a prerequisite for this class.

CHE 134

GENERAL CHEMISTRY III

Third of three courses in the General Chemistry sequence. Topics included in lecture: chemical equilibrium in aqueous solution (acids and bases, solubility, complex ion formation), Thermodynamics (entropy and free energy), electrochemistry, chemistry of d-block elements and descriptive chemistry. Formerly CHE 115LEC. CO-REQUISITE(S): CHE135.
Prerequisites:
CHE 132 and CHE 133 are a prerequisite for this class.

BIO 215

ECOLOGY

Study of organismal interactions; responses of individuals, populations and natural communities to their external environment. Lecture-laboratory. Lab fee.
Prerequisites:
BIO 193 is a prerequisite for this class.

ENV 216

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE

This course focuses on three of the great spheres of the Earth (lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere) and how they interact with the biosphere to create an integrated Earth system with an emphasis on how human activities impact important earth system cycles. Students should have a basic understanding of how living organisms interact with their physical environment. Laboratory activities provide experience with the tools and methodology of systems thinking. Lab fee applies.

ENV 217

HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

A science-based course that examines the interface between humans and the living and non-living environment, the consequences of these interactions, and options for mitigating environmental impacts.
Prerequisites:
ENV 216 is a prerequisite for this class.

PHY 342

COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS

Computational solution and simulation of physical systems; applications chosen from nonlinear dynamics, optics, central-force motion, fluids, condensed matter.

CSC 261

PROGRAMMING IN C++ I

This is an introductory course in computer programming covering basic data types, variables, flow of control, functions, and parameter passing, pointers and pass by reference, arrays, c strings and the C string library, basic input/output and structures. Examples in this course will concentrate on basic procedural algorithms for manipulating data.

CSC 262

PROGRAMMING IN C++ II

This is an intermediate programming course in C++, intended as a follow-up course to CSC 261. Topics include object-oriented programming, user-defined classes and objects, constructors, C++ memory management including pointers and dynamic allocation, copy constructors, destructors, and operator overloading. The course will also cover inheritance and polymorphism. Optional topics, as time allows, will include templates and the C++ Standard Template Library. PREREQUISITE(S): CSC 261

CSC 211

PROGRAMMING IN JAVA I

Introduction to programming in Java and problem solving. Variables, data types, input/output, using objects and methods from the standard classes (such as String and Scanner), control structures, writing methods, arrays. Solving problems with algorithms and implementing algorithms in Java.

CSC 212

PROGRAMMING IN JAVA II

Intermediate programming in Java and problem solving. Writing Java programs with multiple classes: constructors, visibility modifiers, static members, accessor and mutator methods, and arrays of objects. Inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces. Sorting arrays of primitive data and arrays of objects. Exception handling. PREREQUISITE(S): CSC 211.

PHY 340

THERMAL PHYSICS

Statistical interpretation of the laws of thermodynamics and physical applications.

CHE 133

GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II

Laboratory to be taken in conjunction with CHE 132. The Course meets weekly for three hours. The experimental techniques learned in lab provide hands-on experience with the course material in CHE132. Formerly CHE 113LAB. CO-REQUISITE(S): CHE 132.
Prerequisites:
CHE 130 and 131 are a prerequisite for this class.
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CHE 135

GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III

Laboratory to be taken in conjunction with CHE 134. The Course meets weekly for three hours. The experimental techniques provide hands-on experience with the course material in CHE134. Formerly CHE 115LAB. CO-REQUISITE(S): CHE 134.
Prerequisites:
CHE 132 and CHE 133 are a prerequisite for this class.