West Chester University of Pennsylvania · Courses

PHY

36 courses with the subject PHY, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.

PHY 100Elements of Physical Science3

1-15

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 105Structure of the Universe3

A survey of phenomena and objects in the universe from the very smallest distance scales to the grandest in the cosmos. Includes a historical consideration of the developments of modern theories of the physical world. Gen Ed Attribute: Science Distributive

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 123Food, Fire, and Physics: The Science of Cooking3

An exploration of food and cooking from a physical science perspective. Principles of soft matter physics (e.g. phase diagram, intermolecular forces, viscosity, diffusion, self-assembly, polymer physics) are discussed and used to gain insight into food and cooking. Gen Ed Attribute: Science Distributive

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 130General Physics I2

or PHY 170 Physics I

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 2
Credits (max): 2
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 130LGeneral Physics I Lab

Laboratory studies of the mechanics of solids and fluids, wave motion, heat and temperature, thermodynamics, and kinetic theory. PHY 130L Corequisite: PHY 130.

Subject: PHY
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 140General Physics II2

or PHY 180 Physics II

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 2
Credits (max): 2
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 140LGeneral Physics II Lab

An extension of the laboratory studies from PHY 130L. Electricity and magnetism, geometrical and physical optics, and modern physics. PHY 140L Corequisite: PHY 140.

Subject: PHY
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 170Physics I4

Language 102 3 Behavioral/Social Science Gen Ed 3 Credits 17

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 170LPhysics I Lab

Laboratory studies on mechanics, waves, heat, and thermodynamics. The laboratory emphasizes error analysis, the writing of technical reports, and data analysis using computers. PHY 170L Corequisite: PHY 170.

Subject: PHY
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 180Physics II4

Other Required Courses 1 n

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 180LPhysics II Lab

A continuation of the laboratory studies from PHY 170L. Includes electricity and magnetism, geometrical and physical optics, electronics, and modern physics. PHY 180L Corequisite: PHY 180. 2026-2027 CATALOG - UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING

Subject: PHY
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 199Physics and Engineering Transfer Credits1-10

Transfer Credits

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 10
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 205Cellular and Molecular Biophysics3

This course draws on concepts and tools from physics, biology, and chemistry to understand how energy is transformed into order in living systems. This will require students to consider the roles evolution, polymer physics, and chemistry have played in shaping the machinery of life. This course is aimed at students from physics, biology, and chemistry who are interested in stretching themselves beyond disciplinary boundaries. PHY 205 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 130 or PHY 170; CHE 103; and one of MAT 143, MAT 145, or MAT 161, all with minimum grades of D-. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHY 140 or PHY 180. Gen Ed Attribute: Interdisciplinary, Speaking Emphasis

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 240Introduction to Modern Physics3

An atomic view of electricity and radiation, atomic theory, special relativity theory, X-rays, radioactivity, nuclear fission, and introductory quantum mechanics. PHY 240 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 162; and PHY 140 or PHY 180.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 245Measurement and Uncertainty1

This course is designed to strengthen students' understanding of measurement and uncertainty in the laboratory setting as well as how to present data in a manner consistent with (i) the standards and conventions of the scientific community and (ii) the concepts of transparency, reproducibility, and credibility. PHY 245 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 180.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 1
Credit unit: Credit
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 275Computational Physics3

This is an introductory course on the basic ideas and programming skills of computational physics, with a seven-week introduction to programming given at the beginning of the course. Students will develop their own computer software to solve problems in mechanics, electrostatics, magnetism, quantum mechanics, chaos and other areas. PHY 275 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 162 with minimum grade of D-. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PHY 180.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 300Mechanics3

Particle kinematics, dynamics, energy, and momentum considerations; oscillations; central force motion; accelerated reference frames; rigid body mechanics; Lagrangian mechanics. PHY 300 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 162; and PHY 140 or PHY 180, with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 310Intermediate Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication3

A lecture and laboratory course designed to familiarize students with experimental physics and scientific communication. Students conduct experiments, analyze data, and come to evidence-based conclusions. In addition, explicit instruction occurs on writing and presenting in the discipline of physics. Students write a scientific report on an experiment and present their findings to the department.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Catalog
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 310LIntermediate Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication0

Laboratory studies designed to familiarize students with experimental physics and scientific communication. Students conduct experiments, analyze data, and come to evidence-based conclusions. In addition, explicit instruction occurs on writing and presenting in the discipline of physics. Students write a scientific report on an experiment and present their findings to the department.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 0
Credits (max): 0
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Catalog
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 330Electronics I1

Total Minimum Credits Required 18 CHE 102, along with CRL 103, can be taken in place of CHE 103. *Advanced standing coursework is dened as any 300-level course or above and specic 200-level courses identied by the department. 2026-2027 CATALOG - UNDERGRADUATE

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 1
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 330LElectronics I Lab

Laboratory studies of electronic circuits, including basic operational amplifiers, instrumentation amplifiers, logic circuits, flip flops, counters, and timers. 503

Subject: PHY
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 335Optics and Optical Systems4

Emphasis is divided between theory and experimental procedure. The course begins with a brief review of ray optics and introduces ABCD matrices. Wave optics topics include polarization and Jones vectors, Fresnel coefficients, optical filters, superposition of quasi- parallel plane waves, optical coherence and interferometry. An emphasis is placed on the practical application of these concepts to optical instrumentation. PHY 335 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 261; MAT 315 or (MAT 343 and MAT 311); and PHY 180, all with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 350Heat and Thermodynamics3

Equations of state, first and second laws of thermodynamics, ideal and real gases, entropy, and statistical mechanics. PHY 350 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 261, PHY 275, and PHY 240, with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 370Mathematical Physics3

Selected topics in mathematics applied to problems in physics, ordinary differential equations, vector calculus, Fourier analysis, matrix algebra, and eigenvalue problems. PHY 370 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 261; MAT 315 or (MAT 311 and MAT 343); PHY 275; and PHY 180, with minimum grades of D-, or permission of instructor.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 390Fundamentals of Astrophysics3

An advanced physics course that deals with a broad range of topics in modern astrophysics. Topics include, but are not limited to, astronomical measurements, celestial mechanics, radiative transfer theory, stellar structure, and both newtonian and relativistic cosmology. PHY 390 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 275 and PHY 240, with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 410Optics3

Geometrical and physical optics. Reflection and refraction at surfaces, lenses, interference an diffraction, and polarization. PHY 410 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 261, MAT 315, and PHY 275, with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 420Quantum Mechanics I3

An introductory course in quantum mechanics. Topics covered include the Schrödinger equation, stationary states, time evolution, position and momentum space wave functions, bound states, scattering states, spin and orbital angular momentum, hydrogenic atoms, and entanglement. Additional topics may include perturbation theory, conserved quantities, particle statistics, and quantum information. PHY 420 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 240 with minimum grade of D-. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PHY 370.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 425Quantum Mechanics II3

This course is the second-semester quantum mechanics course. The following fundamental topics will be covered: Time-independent Perturbation Theory, the Variational Principle, the WKB approximation, time-dependent Perturbation Theory, and advanced topics. PHY 425 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 420, with a minimum grade of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 430Electricity and Magnetism I3

Electrostatics of point charges and extended charge distributions, fields in dielectrics, and magnetic fields due to steady currents. Ampere's Law and induced emfs. Topics in electromagnetic waves as time permits. PHY 430 Prerequisite: Successful completion of MAT 343 or PHY 370; and PHY 300, with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 435Electricity and Magnetism II3

This course covers the applications of Maxwell's equations. Specific topics include: conservation laws, electromagnetic waves, guided waves, gauge transformations, retarded potentials, radiation from point charges and dipoles, and transformations of the electromagnetic field. PHY 440 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 240, PHY 370, and PHY 430, with minimum grades of D-.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 455Advanced Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication3

This course is a continuation of PHY 310, a lecture and laboratory course designed to familiarize students with modern physics laboratory equipment and practices through a series of experiments. Students write three research papers and give one research talk describing the experiments and their results in a style consistent with scientific conventions. PHY 455 Prerequisite: Successful completion of PHY 310, with a minimum grade of D-. Gen Ed Attribute: Speaking Emphasis, Writing Emphasis 504

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 455LAdvanced Physics Lab: Experimental Methods & Scientific Communication0

This course is a continuation of the laboratory studies from PHY 310L, designed to familiarize students with modern physics laboratory equipment and practices through a series of experiments. Students write three research papers and give one research talk describing the experiments and their results in a style consistent with scientific conventions.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 0
Credits (max): 0
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Catalog
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 480Special Topics in Physics1-3

Topics of special interest to be presented once or twice. Enrollment requirements to be specified by the instructor. Course may be repeated by student for credit any number of times when different topics are presented. Repeatable for credit.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: may be repeated by student for credit any number of times when different topics are presented.
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 481Special Topics with Lab3

Topics of special interest to be presented with a laboratory component. Enrollment requirements to be specified by the instructor. Course may be repeated by student for credit up to three times when different topics are presented. Repeatable for credit.

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: may be repeated by student for credit up to three times when different topics are presented.
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 481LSpecial Topics with Lab

Laboratory studies of topics of special interest. Enrollment requirements to be specified by the instructor. Course may be repeated by student for credit up to three times when different topics are presented. Repeatable for credit.

Subject: PHY
Type: course
Repeatable: may be repeated by student for credit up to three times when different topics are presented.
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

PHY 490Introduction to Research2

1 ESS 491 Independent Studies 2 3 Total Minimum Credits Required 18 Courses are selected with the approval of the department chairperson. 1 - 6 credits. Research topic must be approved by minor advisor. 13 *Advanced standing coursework is dened as any 300-level course or above and specic 200-level courses identied by the department. 3 MINOR IN EARTH SCIENCE

Subject: PHY
Credits (min): 2
Credits (max): 2
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027-undergraduate
Source: catalog.wcupa.edu

Source: West Chester University of Pennsylvania's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 59