AUC Banner
cat04

Main Page

Table of Contents


 

General Information

Undergraduate Studies

Graduate Studies

Research

Continuing Education & Training Programs

Appendix: Personnel & Enrollment

 

1A3B7900 1A3B8362 1A3B8052
undergrad
 Physics


Department of Physics
School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE)

Professors:  A. Abouelsaood, S. Arafa, F. Assabghy (Dean of SSE), M. Hammam,
H. Omar
Associate Professors: A. El Fiqi (Chair), A. Shaarawi
Assistant Professors: M. Chis, T. Hassanein, S. Sedky

The excitement of discovery can be experienced when we learn the value of Physics in solving practical problems and in gaining insight into everyday phenomena, and its significance as an achievement of the human intellect in its quest for understanding the world we all  live in.

Physics has always attracted special students, challenged by modern theories that shaped and are still shaping our understanding of the universe like the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, superconductivity and particle physics; just to name a few. A degree in Physics leaves one poised to enter many professions that include but are not limited to traditional physics. The discipline of Physics teaches skills that are transferable to many other professions, including electronics, computer and oil industries. These transferable skills include: mathematical modeling, problem solving, designing experiments, interpretation of experimental data, reflecting on answers before trusting them, research experience, laboratory techniques and communication skills.

Bachelor of Science

The undergraduate program in physics is designed to give students a thorough but flexible training in the fundamental aspects of classical and modern physics. Lecture material is reinforced and complemented by closely integrated laboratory work. The varied course offerings provide several options from which students may choose according to their interests and abilities.

A student who intends to major in physics must complete successfully PHYS 111, PHYS 123 L, PHYS 112, PHYS 124 L, MATH 131 and MATH 132 with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in these courses. To change from any other major to physics the student should have completed the above courses, in addition to an overall and concentration GPA's not less than 2.5.

A total of 132 credit hours is required for the bachelor's degree in physics distributed as follows:

Core Curriculum (40 credits)

The science requirement of the core curriculum electives is met within the physics concentration requirements.

Concentration Requirements (43 credits)

PHYS

111

Classical Mechanics, Sound and Heat, 3 cr.

 

112

Electricity and Magnetism, 3 cr.

 

123L

General Physics Lab I, 1 cr.

 

124L

General Physics II, 1 cr.

 

204L

Optics Laboratory, 1 cr.

 

211

Introduction to Relativity & Nuclear Physics, 3 cr.

 

212

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

214

Waves, Optics and Atomic Physics, 3 cr.

 

215

Introduction to Circuit Analysis and Devices, 3 cr.

 

221L

Intermediate Physics Lab I, 2 cr.

 

311

Thermodynamics and Statitical Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

312

Theoretical Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

313

Nuclear Physics, 4 cr.

 

316

Electromagnetic Theory I, 3 cr.

 

321L

Advanced Physics Lab I, 1 cr.

 

322L

Advanced Physics Lab II, 2 cr.

 

323L

Advanced Physics Lab III, 1 cr.

 

325

Introduction to Solid-State Physics, 3 cr.

 


Concentration electives (21 credits):
To be taken from the 300 or 400 level courses in physics and mathematics. 500-level courses may be used towards the B.Sc. degree, upon the approval of the academic advisor.

Collateral Requirements (23 credits)

CHEM

105

General Chemistry I, 3 cr.

 

106

General Chemistry II, 3 cr.

 

115L

General Chemistry Lab I, 1 cr.

 

116L

General Chemistry Lab II, 1 cr.

CSCI

106

Fundamentals of Computer Science, 3 cr.

MATH

131

Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, 0 cr.

 

132

Calculus and Analytic Geometry II, 3 cr.

 

231

Calculus and Analytic Geometry III, 3 cr.

 

232

Calculus and Analytic Geometry IV, 3 cr.

 

233

Differential Equations, 3 cr.

 


Thesis Requirement (3 credits)

PHYS

301

Seminar in Physics, 1 cr.

 

401

Senior Thesis, 2 cr.


In special cases, and with advisor's approval, another 400-level course may be subsituted for the Senior Thesis and Seminar.

General Electives (6 credits)

Instrumentation option (21 credits)

Students may choose the instrumentation option within the bachelor's degree program by following the required sequence of courses listed below. While retaining the fundamentals of the conventional degree in physics, this option prepares students to meet the needs of an expanding and increasingly vital area of sciences and engineering.

The 21 credits of concentration electives for the electronics option should cover:

PHYS

305L

Modern Sensors Laboratory, 1 cr.

 

307L

Intermediate Physics Laboratory II, 1 cr.

 

315

Modern Sensors, 3 cr.

 

327

Operational Amplifiers and Applications, 3 cr.

 

417

Process Instrumentation, 3 cr.

 


and a minimum of 10 credits selected from the following:

PHYS

309L

Digital Logic Design Laboratory, 1 cr.

 

314

Optical Systems and Instruments, 3 cr.

 

318

Instrumentation Systems and Control, 3 cr.

 

319

Digital Logic Design, 3 cr.

 

404L

Photonics and Optical Communication Laboratory, 1 cr.

 

409L

Computerized Instrumentation Laboratory, 1 cr.

 

414

Photonics, 3 cr.

 

415

Selected Topics, 3 cr.

 

416

Experimental Methods in Undergraduate Research, 3 cr.

 

426

Industrial Physics, 3 cr.

 

427

Analytical Techniques in Instrumentation, 3 cr.

 

429

Computerized Instrumentation, 3 cr.

CSCI

231

Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming, 3 cr.

 


Minor

The minor in physics is designed to provide students majoring in science, computer science or engineering with the opportunity of complementing their major disciplines with a series of courses designed to provide in-depth appreciation of physics.

Requirements (17 credits)

PHYS

211

Introduction to Relativity and Nuclear Physics, 3 cr.

 

212

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

214

Waves, Optics and Atomic Physics, 3 cr.

 

204L

Optics Laboratory, 1 cr.

 


and a minimum of 7 credits from the following

PHYS

311

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

312

Theoretical Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

313

Nuclear Physics, 4 cr.

 

316

Electromagnetic Theory, 3 cr.

 

321L

Advanced Physics Lab I, 1 cr.

 

322L

Advanced Physics Lab II, 2 cr.

 

325

Introduction to Solid State Physics, 3 cr.

 

421

Quantum Mechanics, 3 cr.

 

 

Physics Courses (PHYS)
 

 CourseNum CourseTitle

100

Physics for Poets

100

Physics for Poets

111

Classical Mechanics, Sound and Heat

111

Classical Mechanics, Sound and Heat

112

Electricity and Magnetism

112

Electricity and Magnetism

123L

General Physics Laboratory I

123L

General Physics Laboratory I

124L

General Physics Laboratory II

124L

General Physics Laboratory Il

199

Selected Topic for Core Curriculum

199

Selected Topic for Core Curriculum

204

Optics Laboratory

204L

Optics Laboratory

211

Introduction to Relativity and Nuclear Physics

211

Introduction to Relativity and Nuclear Physics

212

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

212

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

214

Waves, Optics and Atomic Physics

214

Waves, Optics and Atomic Physics

215

Introduction to Circuit Analysis and Devices

215

Introduction to Circuit Analysis and Devices

221L

 Intermediate Physics Laboratory I 

221L

Intermediate Physics Laboratory I 

301

Seminar in Physics

301

Seminar in Physics

305L

Modern Sensors Laboratory

305L

Modern Sensors Laboratory

307L

Intermediate Physics Laboratory II

307L

Intermediate Physics Laboratory II

309L

Digital Logic Design Laboratory

309L

Digital Logic Design Laboratory

311

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

311

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

312

Theoretical Mechanics

312

Theoretical Mechanics

313

Nuclear Physics

313

Nuclear Physics

314

Optical Systems and Instruments

314

Optical Systems and Instruments

315

Modern Sensors

315

Modern Sensors

316

Electromagnetic Theory

316

Electromagnetic Theory

318

Instrumentation Systems and Control

318

Instrumentation Systems and Control

319

Digital Logic Design

319

Digital Logic Design

321L

Advanced Physics Laboratory l

321L

Advanced Physics Laboratory l

322L

Advanced Physics Laboratory II

322L

Advanced Physics Laboratory II

323L

Advanced Physics Laboratory III

323L

Advanced Physics Laboratory III

325

Introduction to Solid-State Physics

325

Introduction to Solid-State Physics

327

Operational Amplifiers and Applications

327

Operational Amplifiers and Applications

399

Guided Studies in Physics

399

Guided Studies in Physics

401

Senior Thesis

401

Senior Thesis

402

Independent Study

4025

Independent Study

404L

Photonics and Optical Communication Laboratory

404L

Photonics and Optical Communication Laboratory

409L

Computerized Instrumentation Laboratory

409L

Computerized Instrumentation Laboratory

412

Semiconductor Physics

412

Semiconductor Physics

414

Photonics

414

Photonics

415

Selected Topics in Physics

415

Selected Topics in Physics

416

Experimental Methods in Undergraduate Research

416

Experimental Methods in Undergraduate Research

417

Process Instrumentation

417

Process Instrumentation

421

Quantum Mechanics

421

Quantum Mechanics

426

Industrial Physics

426

Industrial Physics

427

Analytical Techniques in Instrumentation

427

Analytical Techniques in Instrumentation

429

Computerized Instrumentation

429

Computerized Instrumentation

 

© 2004-2005, The American University in Cairo