COURSE CURRICULUM

Wichita State University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics is a 120-credit program designed for students interested in understanding the fundamental laws of nature and preparing for careers in science, technology, engineering, research, education, and advanced graduate study. The program combines rigorous theoretical coursework, advanced mathematics, laboratory experience, and applied research opportunities. Students complete WSU General Education requirements along with Liberal Arts and Sciences competency courses before progressing into the physics major. Core physics courses include Physics for Scientists I and II with laboratory components, Modern Physics, Analytical Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Thermophysics, and Quantum Mechanics I. Strong mathematical preparation is required through Differential Equations and either Linear Algebra, Advanced Calculus, or Partial Differential Equations. Students also complete 10 credit hours of chemistry to strengthen their scientific foundation. Hands-on laboratory training is a major component of the degree, with students completing three semesters selected from Advanced Physics Laboratory, Electronics Laboratory, and Computational Physics Laboratory, providing experience with experimental techniques, instrumentation, electronics, programming, and data analysis. Additional upper-division physics electives allow students to explore specialized areas such as astrophysics, optics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, computational physics, or advanced theoretical topics. Wichita State’s emphasis on applied learning gives students opportunities to participate in faculty-led research projects, laboratory work, internships, and scientific investigations before graduation. Graduates develop strong analytical, mathematical, computational, and problem-solving skills that are highly valued across many industries. Career opportunities include physicist, research scientist, laboratory analyst, aerospace specialist, data analyst, software developer, engineering professional, defense scientist, technical consultant, and science educator. The degree also provides excellent preparation for graduate studies in physics, astronomy, engineering, materials science, medical physics, data science, and related STEM fields. This program is particularly suitable for students who enjoy mathematics, scientific inquiry, experimentation, and solving complex real-world problems through quantitative analysis and research.