Undergraduate Physics at The Ohio State University

The Change to Semesters and its impact on Physics and Engineering Physics Majors

• Notes on conversion of quarter credit hours and semester credit hours:
  • The basic conversion between quarters and semesters is the following: 1 semester hour = (2/3) quarter hour.
  • As a result, 5 credit hour courses under quarters become: (2/3)5=3.33 or 3 credit hour courses under semesters
  • If the total number of credit hours to graduate under quarters is 180, then the total number of credit hours under semesters is (2/3)180=120 semester hours.
  • This is primarily a problem when students have some hours under quarters, and some hours under semesters. To make things clear below, we will refer below to either "quarter-hours" or "semester-hours" where appropriate.

• Changes for both Physics and Engineering Physics Majors
  • Under semesters, we will require 3 upper division lab courses. Previously, only the Option A (now Advanced Physics) and Engineering Physics students were required to take 3 labs. Since lab experience is potentially even more useful for students who will seek employment immediately after graduation (which is true of most of the students in the other options) this should positively impact their employment prospects.
  • Under semesters, we include the 3rd writing course material (Physics 596 in our Advanced Lab (Physics 616). The new GEC template no longer has a 3rd writing requirement, and yet presentation of data results and analysis is an important educational goal for our students. However, there has been for some time a presentation and writing component to our advanced lab, and this change will be formalized under semesters.
  • Under semesters, we have included an Honors track for both of our upper division Physics sequences in E&M and Quantum Mechanics. This will reduce the overall class size for the two required subject areas of Quantum Mechanics and Electricity&Magnetism, as well as providing a challenging option for students who are academically more prepared.

• Changes Relevant to the B.S. in Physics from the College of Arts and Sciences
  • The details of the Physics major program under semesters can be found here. Other than the changes already noted above, the primary change is in the number and name of the options available to Physics majors.

    We have gone from a system of 6 options labeled A through F, to a system of 4 options in which the names are more closely tied to the expected outcome for the student.

    • The Applied Physics Option for students interested in Engineering, Law, Journalism, other Sciences, etc. (formerly Options B,C,F).
    • The Advanced Physics Option for grad school bound students (formerly Option A).
    • The Physics and Life Sciences Option for premed students (formerly Option D).
    • The Physics Teaching Option for teaching high school physics (formerly Option E).

  • The new semester Advising Sheet for the ASC Physics Major is here.
  • A worksheet is available here for students who take courses under both quarters and semesters. This worksheet should be filled out with help from your advisor, to help you ensure that you satisfy the major requirements. No Physics Major will be hindered in their progress to graduation as a result of the switch from quarters to semesters - this is not only University Policy, but something we as advisors in Physics are certain we can ensure for all students.

  • Sample schedules are available for a variety of circumstances.
    • Applied Physics Option:
      • Students with 3 years under quarters, and 1 year under semesters (planned graduation Summer 2012 through Summer 2013), look here.
      • Students with 2 years under quarters, and 2 year under semesters (planned graduation Autumn 2013 through Summer 2014), look here.
      • Students with 1 years under quarters, and 3 year under semesters (planned graduation Autumn 2014 through Summer 2015), look here.
      • Students with 0 years under quarters, and 4 year under semesters (planned graduation after Autumn 2015), look here.
    • Advanced Physics Option:
      • Students with 3 years under quarters, and 1 year under semesters (planned graduation Summer 2012 through Summer 2013), look here.
      • Students with 2 years under quarters, and 2 year under semesters (planned graduation Autumn 2013 through Summer 2014), look here.
      • Students with 1 years under quarters, and 3 year under semesters (planned graduation Autumn 2014 through Summer 2015), look here.
      • Students with 0 years under quarters, and 4 year under semesters (planned graduation after Autumn 2015), look here.
    • Students pursuing the Physics and Life Sciences Option or the Physics Teaching Option should meet with a Physics advisor to map out their plan for graduation.

• B.S. in Engineering Physics from the College of Engineering
  • The Engineering Physics major under quarters combines a rigorous program in Physics along with a set of technical electives chosen arranged in eight possible specializations depending on the interests of the student.
    The specialization options are:
    • Aerospace Engineering
    • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
    • Computer and Information Science
    • Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Industrial and Systems Engineering
    • Materials Science and Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Nuclear Engineering
    The above specializations are kept under semesters, but some changes are made to ensure ABET accreditation and increase flexibility for our students. The details of the Engineering Physics major program under semesters can be found here. The changes are summarized here:
    
    • IMPORTANT: Students graduating under quarters (i.e. before Summer 2012) will follow quarter-requirements. Students graduating under semesters (i.e. Summer 2012 or after) will follow semester requirements.

    • Under quarters, the Engineering Physics major required:
      • 57 quarter-hours of required Physics at 200-level or above: Physics 295, 261/2/3, Physics 416/517/616, Physics 631/2/3, Phyiscs 555/656, One Physics elective, 2-course Enginering Physics capstone sequence.
      • 15 quarter-hours of prerequisite Math at 200 Level or above: Math 254, 415, 513, and 568.
      • 21 quarter-hours of Engineering core courses: Eng 100, Eng 181/183, Chem 121, Chem 125, ME410.
      • 30 quarter-hours of Engineering Technical electives
      • Total hours listed above: 127 quarter-hours.

    • Under semesters, the Engineering Physics major requires:
      • 49 quarter-hours of required Physics at 200-level or above: Physics 295, 261/2/3, Physics 416/616, Physics 631, Physics 555, three Physics electives, 2-course Enginering Physics capstone sequence. When we switch to semester equivalent courses, this will be 32.7 semester-hours.
      • 12 quarter-hours of prerequisite Math at 200 Level or above: Math 254, 415, and either 513 or 568. If the student is weaker in Vector Calculus, 513 is recommended. If the student is weaker in Linear Algebra, 568 is recommended. When we switch to semester equivalent courses, this will be 8 semester-hours.
      • 7 quarter-hours of Engineering core courses: Eng 100, Eng 181/183 When we switch to semester equivalent courses, this will be 4.7 semester-hours.
      • 36 quarter-hours of Engineering Technical electives When we switch to semester equivalent courses, this will be 24 semester-hours.
      • 18 quarter-hours of courses which can be targeted to either Engineering, Physics, or Math courses at the 200 level or above. When we switch to semester equivalent courses, this will be 12 semester-hours.
      • Total hours listed above: 122 quarter-hours, or 81.3 semester-hours.

    • The new semester Advising Sheet for Engineering Physics is here.
    • A worksheet is available here for students who take courses under both quarters and semesters. This worksheet should be filled out with help from your advisor, to help you ensure that you satisfy the major requirements. No Engineering Physics Major will be hindered in their progress to graduation as a result of the switch from quarters to semesters - this is not only University Policy, but something we as advisors in Physics are certain we can ensure for all students.

    • Sample schedules are available for a variety of circumstances.
      • Engineering Physics Students with 3 years under quarters, and 1 year under semesters (planned graduation Summer 2012 through Summer 2013), look here.
      • Engineering Physics Students with 2 years under quarters, and 2 year under semesters (planned graduation Autumn 2013 through Summer 2014), look here.
      • Engineering Physics Students with 1 years under quarters, and 3 year under semesters (planned graduation Autumn 2014 through Summer 2015), look here.
      • Engineering Physics Students with 0 years under quarters, and 4 year under semesters (planned graduation after Autumn 2015), look here.