PHYS

194 2025-2026 Alfred University Undergraduate Catalog

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Credits 0

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026-undergraduate

Source

www.alfred.edu

A lecture and laboratory course including electricity and magnetism; optics; and some modern physics. Calculus is not used but some knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is assumed. Credits 4 Degree Attributes CLAS: (F-I) Scientific Inquiry CLAS: (F1) Nat Sci w/Lab CoB: Natural Science

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Credits 0

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026-undergraduate

Source

www.alfred.edu

Sub-Total Credits 4 B. Take 4 credits from the following. ASTR 104 or ASTR 107 must be one of the selected courses. Course Code Title Credits

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Credits 0

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

This calculus-based lecture and laboratory course includes electric field and potential; direct and alternating current circuits; magnetism and magnetic induction and an introduction to electromagnetic and other waves. Credits 4 Degree Attributes CLAS: (F-I) Scientific Inquiry CLAS: (F1) Nat Sci w/Lab CoB: Natural Science

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Credits 0

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Topics vary from year to year and are designed especially for; but not limited to; non-science majors. Typical topics might be light and color; music and sound; or laboratory topics to include aspects of physics of interest to artists; musicians; photographers; environmentalists; etc. (Sufficient demand) Credits 1-4 Semester Offered Sufficient demand 2025-2026 Alfred University Undergraduate Catalog

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026-undergraduate

Source

www.alfred.edu

An introduction to the mathematical techniques used throughout intermediate and advanced courses in physics; including matrix algebra; complex variables and exponentials; ordinary differential equations by inspection; boundary value problems and partial differential equations by separation of variables; and Fourier and power series solutions. Credits 3

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

This course discusses geometrical and wave optics with special emphasis on optical instruments. Credits 3 Degree Attributes CoB: Natural Science

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Physics Electives (300 level or above) 8 Sub-Total Credits 22 Notes: • Up to 4 credits of physics electives may be taken in astronomy courses (300 level or above) • Many 300 and 400 level physics courses are only offered in alternate years, so careful scheduling is necessary. PHYS 125, 126, 325, and 326 should be completed by the end of the fall of the junior year. Total Credits 22 256 2025-2026 Alfred University Undergraduate Catalog

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Numerical methods are an essential element of any modern physics curriculum. This course is concerned with developing the most frequently employed numerical methods for solving differential equations and carrying out complex integrations. Special emphasis will be given to problems associated with quantum mechanics. Credits 3

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

251 2025-2026 Alfred University Undergraduate Catalog

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Topics vary from year to year and are designed especially for; but not limited to; non-science majors. Typical topics might be light and color; music and sound; or laboratory topics to include aspects of physics of interest to artists; musicians; photographers; environmentalists; etc. (Sufficient demand) Credits 1-4 Semester Offered Sufficient demand

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026-undergraduate

Source

www.alfred.edu

243 2025-2026 Alfred University Undergraduate Catalog

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

We start with an extensive review of special relativity; followed by a detailed development of differential geometry which is the mathematics of the Einstein equations. The Einstein equations are then applied to such classic problems as the deflection of light by stars; the precession of the perihelion of mercury; the behavior of static and rotating black holes; and cosmology. Credits 4 Degree Attributes CoB: Natural Science

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Sub-Total Credits 8

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Local gauge invariance is applied to the quantum theories of electrodynamics; strong; and weak V-A interactions. The Feynman rules and diagrams for these interactions are developed with a strong emphasis placed on the calculation of cross sections. The unification of electromagnetism and weak interactions into electroweak theory is developed and used to calculate cross sections. The important role that spontaneous symmetry breaking and the Higg's mechanism play in particle physics is developed in detail. Credits 4 Degree Attributes CoB: Natural Science

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

A first course in nonlinear dynamics; culminating in the emergence of chaos innonlinear systems. Major topics include bifurcations; phase plane analysis; fractals; and strangeattractors. Applications are drawn from physics as well as a wide variety of fields throughout thenatural sciences; engineering; and social sciences. Credits 3

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026-undergraduate

Source

www.alfred.edu

This course deals with the various aspects of macroscopic thermodynamics and describes these statistically in terms of the microstates of systems. Examples taken mainly from gaseous and solid systems. (Offered on demand) Credits 4 Degree Attributes CoB: Natural Science

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

253 2025-2026 Alfred University Undergraduate Catalog

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Sub-Total Credits 10-11

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Academic inquiry into an area not covered in any established course; and carried on outside the usual instructor/classroom setting. Approved Plan of Study required. Credits 1-4

Subject

PHYS

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu

Sub-Total Credits 8

Subject

PHYS

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.alfred.edu