Request to establish a new Undergraduate Major in Biomedical Physics

Date: June 3, 2010
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Clarence Greene, Faculty Governance Program Assistant
Approved On: May 18, 2010
Implementation Date: 2010

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS

The Bachelor of Arts in Biomedical Physics degree is appropriate for students seeking an in-depth understanding of biological physics within the context of a broader education. This degree is ideal for students wishing to double major in biomedical physics and a related discipline. A major in Biomedical Physics leading to the B.A. degree consists of at least 36 semester hours of required physics classes with an average of C or better. The 36hours must include eight hours in an introductory sequence of PHYS 2101, 2102, 2101L, and 2102L. Under special circumstances, and with the approval of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, PHYS 1101, 1102, 1101L, and 1102L may be substituted for the PHYS 2101-2102 sequence. The remaining 28 hours must include PHYS 1000, PHYS 1202, PHYS 3101, PHYS 3121, PHYS 3141, PHYS 3151, PHYS 3210, PHYS 3220, PHYS 4111 and PHYS 4231. Also required are CHEM 1251, 1251L, 1252, 1252L, 2130 or 2131, and 2131L, as well as BIO 2120, 2130, 2130L, 3111, 3111L. Students must also complete MATH 1241, 1242, 2171, and 2241.Students may substitute MATH 2242 for PHYS 3210 with permission from the Department. Freshmen should complete MATH 1241 before the beginning of their second year.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Physics degree The Bachelor of Science degree is appropriate for students planning to pursue a career in a biomedical physics related industry immediately after graduation or students planning to attend graduate school in biomedical physics or medicine. A major in Biomedical Physics leading to the B.S. degree consists of at least 42 semester hours of required physics classes with an average of C or better. The 42hours must include eight hours in an introductory sequence of PHYS 2101, 2102, 2101L, and 2102L. Under special circumstances, and with the approval of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, PHYS 1101, 1102, 1101L, and 1102L may be substituted for the PHYS 2101-2102 sequence. The remaining 34 hours must include PHYS 1000, PHYS 1202, PHYS 3101, PHYS 3121, PHYS 3141, PHYS 3151, PHYS 3210, PHYS 3220, PHYS 4111, PHYS 4231, PHYS 4241, and PHYS 3282, 3283, or 4281. Students must also select 6 hours of upper division science elective courses from a list of approved courses and complete these classes with an average of C or better. Also required are CHEM 1251, 1251L, 1252, 1252L, 2130 or 2131, and 2131L, as well as BIO 2120, 2130, 2130L, 3111 and 3111L. Students must also complete MATH 1241, 1242, 2171, and 2241.Students may substitute MATH 2242 for PHYS 3210 with permission from the Department. PHYS 3000, 3900, 4000, or 4800 may be used to fulfill part of the 6-semester hour science elective requirement only if approved in advance for this purpose by the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Freshmen should complete MATH 1241 before the beginning of their second year.

Course Description for New Course – Introduction to Biophysics (PHYS 4111) that will be required for both new degrees:

PHYS 4111. Introduction to Biophysics. (3)Prerequisite: PHYS 3141, PHYS 3121 (or MEGR 2144) and MATH 2171 all with a grade of C or better. This course covers principles of physics relevant to biological media such as thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, as well as the applied physics used to study biological materials such as optical microscopy and molecular spectroscopy. (Spring)