Washington and Lee University · Courses

PHYS

36 courses with the subject PHYS, 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.

PHYS 1002Physics and Perception of Music4

Crosslisted With MUS 1002

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 1101General Physics I4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 1102General Physics II4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1101 FDR: Lab Science Distribution (SL) Credits: 4 A continuation of General Physics I. Topics include thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and optics.

PHYS 1200Dreams of a Final Theory: The Quest for Unification in Physics4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 1205Supervised Study Abroad: Big Science in Twenty-First Century Europe4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 1501Stellar Evolution and Cosmology4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 1800FS: First-year Seminar3-4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: First-year student class standing Credits: 3-4 A seminar for first-year students.

PHYS 1900Foundations of Quantum Computing and Quantum Information4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 1905Special Topics in Contemporary Physics3-4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different, up to a total of 8 credits.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 2004Relativity3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1102 Credits: 3 An examination of the special theory of relativity. Emphasis is placed on kinematic effects of the theory, conservation of momentum, conservation of energy, and electromagnetic implications of the theory. A brief introduction to general relativity is entertained.

PHYS 2007Electrical Circuits4

Crosslisted With ENGN 2310

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1102 with a grade of C or greater Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes Credits: 4 A detailed study of electrical circuits analysis techniques and practical system design. Core topics covered include DC and AC circuits; amplifiers and basic semiconductor devices; analog-to-digital converters; and microcontroller programming. The lab acquaints the student with fundamental electronic diagnostic equipment. Emphasis is placed on designing, building, and analyzing practical sensors and systems bridging the analog and digital domains.

PHYS 2008Electronics3

Crosslisted With ENGN 2550

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

PHYS 2100Modern Physics3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1102 Credits: 3 An introduction to the special theory of relativity and the physics of the atom. Topics in relativity include the Lorentz transformations, relativistic velocity addition, and relativistic momentum and energy. Topics in atomic physics include the wave description of matter, introductory quantum mechanics, the hydrogen atom, and the historical experiments that led to the modern theory.

PHYS 2205Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering3

Crosslisted With ENGN 2130

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1102 and MATH 2100 Credits: 3 Study of a collection of mathematical techniques particularly useful in upper-level courses in physics and engineering: vector differential operators such as gradient, divergence, and curl; functions of complex variables; Fourier analysis; orthogonal functions; matrix algebra and the matrix eigenvalue problem; ordinary and partial differential equations.

PHYS 2300Classical Mechanics3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1101 and MATH 2100 Credits: 3 A comprehensive journey through the foundational and advanced principles of classical mechanics. The course begins with an in-depth study of Newton’s laws of motion and progresses through topics including energy, momentum, oscillations, the central-force problem, rigid body motion, and accelerated reference frames. Special focus is given to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics, providing students with powerful tools for describing and predicting the motion of physical systems.

PHYS 2505Numerical Methods for Engineering and Physics4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1102 Credits: 4 This course introduces students to computer programming and a variety of numerical methods used for computation-intensive work in engineering and physics. Numerical integration, difference approximations to differential equations, stochastic methods, graphical presentation, and nonlinear dynamics are among the topics covered.

PHYS 2605Modeling and Simulation of Physical Systems4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 2705Electricity and Magnetism3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 2205 or ENGN 2130 Credits: 3 An introduction to the classical theory of electric and magnetic fields. The basic equations of electromagnetism (Maxwell’s equations) are developed through a study of electrostatics, steady-state magnetism, and electromagnetic induction.

PHYS 2805Optics4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 2205 or ENGN 2130 Credits: 4 A study of the properties of electromagnetic waves with special emphasis on visible light. Wave descriptions are developed for scattering, reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Topics in geometrical optics are also studied, including lenses and aberration theory.

PHYS 2809Advanced Physics Lab4

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 4
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 2100 Credits: 4 This laboratory course will provide students with hands-on experience studying a variety of phenomena encountered in advanced fields of physics, including particle physics, plasma physics, quantum mechanics, electronics, and optics. The lecture portion of the course will cover select topics in error analysis, data interpretation, and best practices for physics research and publication. This course equips students with the skills necessary to bridge theory and experimentation, preparing them for advanced research or professional careers in physics.

PHYS 2901Observational Astrophysics3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 1501 or PHYS 2100 Credits: 3 This course is a project-based course using multi-wavelength astrophotography to learn about celestial objects that populate our Universe: planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Students will use robotic telescopes, create beautiful color images with visible and invisible light using digital processing techniques, interpret the results in terms of the physics of emission, infer the nature of astrophysical structures and processes, and communicate results through blog posts.

PHYS 2905Intermediate Special Topics in Physics3-4

Intermediate work in nuclear physics, optics, photonics, condensed matter, complex systems, nanotechnology, astrophysics, computational physics, or other topics according to faculty expertise and student interest.

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 4
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for credit for a maximum of eight credits with permission and if the topics are different.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu

PHYS 3105Nuclear and Particle Physics3

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

PHYS 3400Quantum Mechanics3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 2100 and either PHYS 2205 or ENGN 2130 Credits: 3 A study of the postulates and formalism of quantum theory emphasizing the Schrödinger approach. The probabilistic theory is applied to one-dimensional bound and scattering states and the three-dimensional central force problem. Investigation of spin and angular momentum, Clebsch-Gordan coefficients, indistinguishable particles, and perturbation theory. Mathematical formalism includes operators, commutators, Hilbert space, and Dirac notation.

PHYS 3405Statistical Physics3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: PHYS 2100 and either PHYS 2205 or ENGN 2130 Credits: 3 A study of the statistical methods used in various branches of physics. The Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distribution functions are derived and applied to problems in thermodynamics and the physics of solids.

PHYS 4001Directed Individual Study1

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 1
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit for a maximum of six credits with permission and if the topics are different.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Credits: 1 Advanced work and reading in topics selected by the instructor to fit special needs of advanced students.

PHYS 4002Directed Individual Study2

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 2
Credits (max): 2
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit for a maximum of six credits with permission and if the topics are different.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Credits: 2 Advanced work and reading in topics selected by the instructor to fit special needs of advanced students.

PHYS 4003Directed Individual Study3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit for a maximum of six credits with permission and if the topics are different.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Credits: 3 Advanced work and reading in topics selected by the instructor to fit special needs of advanced students.

PHYS 4201Directed Individual Research1

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 1
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes Credits: 1 Directed research in physics.

PHYS 4202Directed Individual Research2

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 2
Credits (max): 2
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes Credits: 2 Directed research in physics.

PHYS 4203Directed Individual Research3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes Credits: 3 Directed research in physics.

PHYS 4501Summer Research Internship1

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 1
Credits (max): 1
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor Note(s): Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Credits: 1 Students conduct research in physics under direct mentorship through a summer research program at an off-campus institution. Students will have a mentor at the host institution as well as a mentor from Washington and Lee who is assigned as the instructor of record. May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor

PHYS 4502Summer Research Internship2

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 2
Credits (max): 2
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Credits: 2 Students conduct research in physics under direct mentorship through a summer research program at an off-campus institution. Students will have a mentor at the host institution as well as a mentor from Washington and Lee who is assigned as the instructor of record. May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.

PHYS 4503Summer Research Internship3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Repeatable: May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Credits: 3 Students conduct research in physics under direct mentorship through a summer research program at an off-campus institution. Students will have a mentor at the host institution as well as a mentor from Washington and Lee who is assigned as the instructor of record. May be repeated for degree credit with permission of the instructor.

PHYS 4703Senior Thesis3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes Credits: 3 Culminates in the writing of a thesis on original scholarship undertaken with the guidance of a faculty adviser. May also involve additional research in physics, individual or group conferences with the faculty adviser, literature review, interim reports, and dissemination activities.

PHYS 4903Honors Thesis3

Subject: PHYS
Credits (min): 3
Credits (max): 3
Credit unit: Credits
Type: course
Edition: 2026-2027
Catalog: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Source: catalog.wlu.edu
Prerequisite: Instructor consent Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes Credits: 3 Honors Thesis.

Source: Washington and Lee University's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 59