Applied Physics (BS)
Undergraduate Program in Applied Physics
The applied physics program stresses the basic physics that underlies most developments in engineering and the mathematical tools that are important to both physicists and engineers. Since the advances in most branches of technology lead to rapid changes in state-of-the-art techniques, the applied physics program provides the student with a broad base of fundamental science and mathematics while retaining the opportunity for specialization through technical electives.
The applied physics curriculum offers students the skills, experience, and preparation necessary for several career options, including opportunities to minor in economics and to take business-related courses. In recent years, applied physics graduates have entered graduate programs in many areas of applied physics or physics, enrolled in medical school, or been employed in various technical or financial areas immediately after receiving the B.S. degree.
Opportunities for undergraduate research exist in the many research programs in applied physics. These include fusion and space plasma physics, optical and laser physics, and condensed matter physics. Undergraduate students can receive course credit for research or an independent project with a faculty member. Opportunities also exist for undergraduate students in the applied physics program to participate in this research through part-time employment during the academic year and full-time employment during the summer, either at Columbia or as part of the NSF REU program nationwide. Practical research experience is a valuable supplement to the formal course of instruction. Applied physics students participate in an informal undergraduate seminar to study current and practical problems in applied physics and obtain hands-on experience in at least two advanced laboratory courses.
Majors are introduced to two areas of application of applied physics (AP) by a course in each of two areas. Approved areas and courses are:
Dynamical Systems: APMA E4101 APPL MATH III:DYNAMICAL SYSTMS or PHYS GU4003 ADVANCED MECHANICS
Optical or Laser Physics: APPH E4110 MODERN OPTICS or APPH E4112 LASER PHYSICS
Nuclear Science: APPH E4010 INTRODUCTN TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE
Plasma Physics: APPH E4301 INTRO TO PLASMA PHYSICS
Physics of Fluids: APPH E4200 PHYSICS OF FLUIDS
Solid-State/Condensed Matter Physics: PHYS GU4018 SOLID STATE PHYSICS
Biophysical Modeling: APMA E4400 INTRO TO BIOPHYSICAL MODELING
In addition to these courses, courses listed in the Specialty Areas in Applied Physics can be used to satisfy this requirement with preapproval of the applied physics adviser.
All students must take 30 points of electives in the third and fourth years, of which 17 points must be technical courses approved by the adviser. The 17 points include 2 points of an advanced laboratory in addition to APPH E4018 APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY. Technical electives must be at the 3000 level or above unless prior approval is obtained from the department. A number of approved technical electives are listed in the section on specialty areas. The remaining points of electives are intended primarily as an opportunity to complete the absolutely mandatory four-year, 27-point nontechnical requirement for the B.S. degree, but if this 27-point nontechnical requirement has been met already, then any type of coursework can satisfy these elective points.
Applied Physics Program
An overview of the degree track in PDF format can be found here.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | ||
| MATH UN11011 | CALCULUS I | |
| Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: | ||
| INTRO TO MECHANICS ＆ THERMO | ||
| PHYSICS I:MECHANICS/RELATIVITY | ||
| ACCELERATED PHYSICS I | ||
| Choose one of the following Chemistry/Biology courses (taken Semester I or II): | ||
CHEM UN1403 (or higher) | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES | |
BIOL UN2001 | ||
BIOL UN2005 (or higher) | INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC | |
| ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester I or II) | UNIVERSITY WRITING | |
| Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) | ||
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2 | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| PHED UN1001 | PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES | |
| ENGI E1102 (taken Semester I or II) | THE ART OF ENGINEERING | |
| Semester II | ||
| MATH UN11021 | CALCULUS II | |
| Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: | ||
| INTRO ELEC/MAGNETSM ＆ OPTCS | ||
| PHYSICS II: THERMO, ELEC ＆ MAG | ||
| ACCELERATED PHYSICS II | ||
| Choose one of the following Chemistry/Biology courses (taken Semester I or II): | ||
CHEM UN1403 (or higher) | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES | |
BIOL UN2001 | ||
BIOL UN2005 (or higher) | INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC | |
| ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester I or II) | UNIVERSITY WRITING | |
| Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) | ||
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2 | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| PHED UN1002 | PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES | |
| ENGI E1102 (taken Semester I or II) | THE ART OF ENGINEERING | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester III | ||
| APMA E2000 - APMA E2001 (taken Semester I or II)1 | MULTV. CALC. FOR ENGI ＆ APP SCI | |
| Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: | ||
| INTRO-CLASSCL ＆ QUANTUM WAVES | ||
| PHYSICS III:CLASS/QUANTUM WAVE | ||
| INTERMEDIATE LABORATORY WORK | ||
| Choose one of the following Required Nontechnical Electives: | ||
| EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I | ||
| CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I | ||
Global Core (3-4) | ||
| HUMA UN1121 or UN1123 | MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN ART | |
| Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) | ||
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2 | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| Semester IV | ||
| APMA E2000 - APMA E2001 (taken Semester III or IV)1 | MULTV. CALC. FOR ENGI ＆ APP SCI | |
| ODE1,3 | ||
| PHYS UN1494 | INTRO TO EXPERIMENTAL PHYS-LAB | |
| Choose one of the following Required Nontechnical Electives: | ||
| EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTRPIECS II | ||
| CONTEMP WESTRN CIVILIZATION II | ||
Global Core (3-4) | ||
| ECON UN1105 - ECON UN1155 | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS | |
| Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) | ||
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2 | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester V | ||
| APPH E3200 | MECHANICS:FUND ＆ APPLICATIONS | |
| MSAE E3111 | THERMO/KINETIC THRY/STAT MECH | |
| APMA E3101 | APPLIED MATH I: LINEAR ALGEBRA | |
| APPH E4901 | SEM-PROBLMS IN APPLIED PHYSICS | |
| Tech Electives4 | ||
| Nontech or Tech Electives | ||
| Semester VI | ||
| APPH E3100 | INTRO TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | |
| APPH E3300 | APPLIED ELECTROMAGNETISM | |
| APMA E3102 | APPLIED MATHEMATICS II: PDE'S | |
| Tech Electives4 | ||
| Nontech or Tech Electives | ||
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester VII | ||
| APPH E4300 | APPLIED ELECTRODYNAMICS | |
| APPH E4100 | QUANTUM PHYSICS OF MATTER | |
| Course in first AP area | ||
| APPH E4903 | SEM-PROBLMS IN APPLIED PHYSICS | |
| Tech Electives4 | ||
| Nontech or Tech Electives | ||
| Semester VIII | ||
| Course in second AP area | ||
| APPH E4018 | APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY | |
| Tech Electives4 | ||
| Nontech or Tech Electives | ||
- 1
Students with advanced standing may start the calculus sequence at a higher level (see Advanced Placement Credit Chart), in which case students are suggested to add linear algebra in the first two years.
- 2
With permission of faculty adviser, students demonstrating familiarity with computational mathematics using Python may waive course requirement and use 3 credits for another technical course.
- 3
Applied physics majors should satisfy their ODE requirement with the Mathematics Department (ordinarily MATH UN2030 ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS). Students who take APMA E2101 INTRO TO APPLIED MATHEMATICS prior to declaring their major in applied physics may use this course to satisfy their ODE requirement with the permission of the faculty adviser.
- 4
They must include at least 2 points of laboratory courses. If PHYS UN3081 INTERMEDIATE LABORATORY WORK is taken as part of the first two years of the program, these technical electives need not include laboratory courses. Technical electives must be at the 3000 level or above unless prior approval is obtained.