Department of Physics

Chairperson: Willie Rockward

Professors: Ramesh Budhani, Yucheng Lan, Abdellah Lisfi, Willie Rockward, Dereje Seifu

Associate Professors: Birol Ozturk

Lecturers: Amanda Dotson, Antony Kinyua, Sabin Pokharel, Mountasser Rahman, Ezana Negusse Rosario

Laboratory Manager: Arnesto Bowman

Emeritus Professor: Conrad Williams

Objectives of the Department

Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy. Over the last two millennia, physics was a part of natural philosophy along with chemistry, biology, and certain branches of mathematics, but during the scientific revolution in the 17th century, the natural sciences emerged as unique research programs in their own right. Physics intersects with many interdisciplinary areas of research, such as biophysics, physical chemistry, nanoelectronics, data analysis, and quantum cryptography, and the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. New ideas in physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms of other sciences while opening new avenues of research in areas such as mathematics, economics, policy, and philosophy.

Physics also makes significant contributions through advances in new technologies that arise from theoretical breakthroughs. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism or nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products that have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as high-density televisions, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear medicine; advances in thermodynamics led to the development of industrialization, and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus. A career in physics requires hard work and dedication. But there is a payoff for all this hard work: “People know that you are smart!”. A background in physics prepares you to solve problems and think critically, these are skills in high demand and open up a variety of career opportunities.

Engineering physics is meant to provide a more thorough grounding in applied physics for a wide variety of engineering related career such as optics, lasers, quantum physics, computer engineering, materials science, applied mechanics, nanotechnology, microfabrication, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, biophysics, control theory, aerodynamics, sustainable energy, solid-state physics, etc. It is the discipline devoted to creating and optimizing engineering solutions through enhanced understanding and integrated application of mathematical, scientific, statistical, and engineering principles. The discipline is also meant for cross-functionality and bridges the gap between theoretical science and practical engineering with emphasis in research and development, design, and analysis. This course of study will also prepare students for graduate study in any Engineering discipline, as well as Physics and Astronomy.

Note on Mathematics Preparation for Physics and Engineering Physics.
Undergraduate Physics and Engineering Physics as well as most of science and engineering represents a structured course of learning. This means you must master certain knowledge before moving to the next level. Many if not most 200 level Physics and Math courses have prerequisites and co-requisites, which must be fulfilled in order for the student to matriculate to graduation in a timely manner. Pre-requisities for Mathematics courses essential for 200 level and above physics courses are shown below:

MATH 241 requires MATH 113 and MATH 114 or MATH 141 with grades of C or better as prerequisites. *
MATH 242 has a pre-requisite of MATH 241 with a grade of C or better. *
MATH 243 and MATH 340 have a pre-requisite of MATH 242 with a grade of C or better. *

THE MAJOR IN PHYSICS

School-wide Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements in General Education and in the major, students must also complete six (6) credits in the Complementary Studies Program required of all majors in the School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (SCMNS). Options for satisfying this requirement are outlined under the section on the SCMNS. In order to qualify for graduation, students must take the Senior Departmental Comprehensive Examination; must have taken all of their Junior- and Senior-level requirements in the major at Morgan (unless granted written permission by the Department Chair and Dean to take courses elsewhere); and must have earned a cumulative average of 2.0 or better and a major average of 2.0 or better, with no outstanding grades below “C” in the major (which includes all courses required for the major and required supporting courses such as MATH 241, MATH 242, MATH 243, MATH 340, Engineering Design and Engineering Science courses).

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor