Department of Physics

Professor: Bykov, the Virgil E Bottom Endowed Professor of Physics, Department Chair
Professor: Keith
Associate Professor: Renfro
Assistant Professor: Upshaw

Mission and Goals:

The mission of the McMurry University Department of Physics is:

to provide non-science majors with an introduction to the concepts, problem-solving techniques, and critical-thinking skills of physics;
to provide non-physics science majors with a survey of physics and a discovery-based laboratory experience that emphasizes data analysis and scientific communication;
to provide physics majors with a broad-based curriculum that emphasizes the fundamentals through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and research experiences;
to enhance the education of physics majors and other interested students through such extra-curricular activities as the Society of Physics Students by providing the opportunity to form natural learning communities; and
to work in collaboration with each other to maintain an appropriate level of activity in our technical disciplines, in our academic communities, and in the local community, to provide our students examples of individuals who value the habits of life-long learners.

The faculty members of this department believe that this mission will bring the people affected closer to the goals of the department, which are:

to enable non-science majors to understand the proper roles of science, technology, and mathematics within our society;
to enhance non-physics science majors’ understanding of science through physics applications of the scientific method into disciplines of their interests, thereby providing a richer understanding of the interconnectedness of their discipline to other fields;
to prepare graduates who will possess sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge that will allow for a wide range of career opportunities including graduate study in physics, engineering, pre-med, or other sciences; as well as , science teaching and careers in industry, engineering practice, and science-related business;
to educate graduates who are within our influence as whole people, well-rounded beyond simply the classroom experience, who can work and communicate effectively in collaborative project-managementdriven settings and are capable of socializing in technical and in colloquial environments so that they can more easily grow into contributing, respected, and influential members of their future communities; and
to prepare graduates who are ready to take on leadership roles in their future professions and further develop their knowledge, demonstrating the attitude of lifelong learning.

To attain these goals, we enact this mission to provide scholarly and professional opportunities to our students and colleagues on a daily basis. We believe that when students accept the responsibility to make use of the opportunities provided they will have developed the knowledge and skills that enable them to be successful in their academic and professional endeavors.

Special Programs and Opportunities:

Dual Physics-Engineering Degree Program. McMurry University has joined with the University of North Dakota (UND) in offering a program to allow interested students to simultaneously pursue two bachelor’s degrees. The options include: Engineering Physics degree from McMurry University and an ABET-accredited degree in Mechanical Engineering from the UND, Engineering Physics degree from McMurry University and an ABET-accredited degree in Civil Engineering from the UND, Physics degree with Pre-Electrical Engineering focus from McMurry University and an ABET-accredited degree in Electrical Engineering from the UND, Chemistry degree from McMurry University and an ABET-accredited degree in Chemical Engineering from the UND. Typically a student will complete one year of course work at McMurry University and then will apply for admission to UND. In the course of the next four years the student will continue taking classes from McMurry University as well as distance learning classes from UND. The courses taken at McMurry University will satisfy the general education and pre-requisite courses as well as some upper division Engineering courses for UND. . Depending on the type of the engineering degree pursued at UND, the student may need to take some in-person classes on UND campus during the summer(s). Upon the successful completion of the coursework in both schools, the student will receive two BS degrees. In order to finish this program in five years students should be enrolled in the right courses starting their first semester at McMurry University. Please consult an advisor in the Physics Department for appropriate choice of these courses.

Graduate Study in Engineering

Students with an interest in engineering could also consider completing an undergraduate Engineering Physics degree or a Physics degree with Pre-Electrical Engineering focus at McMurry University followed by application to a graduate program in Engineering. The Physics Department has had recent graduates be accepted into graduate engineering programs at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, University of North Texas and University of South Florida.

Graduate Admission Agreement to Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University has agreed to guarantee physics students at McMurry University graduate admission into its M.S. degree program in physics. The necessary criteria for guaranteed admission to these options are as follows:

Student must receive a B.S. in Physics from McMurry University. Course work must include the following with a letter grade of at least B: PHYS 4310 - Electricity & Magnetism (1 semester minimum) - PHYS 4330 - Quantum Mechanics (1 semester minimum)

Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.00, a minimum GPA in upper division physics courses of 3.25, and must meet all other requirements of the Texas Tech Graduate School.

Society of Physics Students: The McMurry Chapter of the Society of Physics Students is a charter of the Society which was founded on April 22, 1968. The purpose of the Society is to promote educational activities for all students interested in physics and to encourage and assist students to develop the knowledge, competence, enthusiasm, and social responsibility that are essential to the advancement of physics. Membership is open to all students interested in physics.

Sigma Pi Sigma: The McMurry chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society, was chartered in 1962. The objective of the society is to recognize the attainment of high scholarship and potential achievement in physics. Membership is open to juniors and seniors who have attained high scholarship in physics and other subjects and who give evidence of professional merit, proficiency, or distinction. The society is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is an affiliated society of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Sigma Pi Sigma is an integral part of the Society of Physics Students operating within the Education Division of the American Institute of Physics.

Departmental Awards: Each spring, awards are presented to outstanding students at the freshman and sophomore level. An outstanding junior is awarded the John and Ruth Cole Scholarship and an outstanding senior is awarded the Piper-Bottom Award for Excellence in Physics.

The Charles and Lisa Bloomer Research Stipend: is a competitive award providing funding for any major from the Division of Natural and Computational Sciences to support undergraduate research with a sponsoring faculty member during the fall/spring academic year. This program is administered by the Science and Mathematics Advisory Board.

Departmental Honors. Please see the description of the McMurry University Honors Program under the Special Program section in the catalog.

Requirements for a Degree in Physics and a Minor in Physics follows the course descriptions.

Degrees in Physics or Engineering Physics

Satisfactory completion of all requirements for the BS degree in Physics or Engineering Physics will also result in the awarding of a minor in Mathematics. Students wishing to double major in mathematics and physics or engineering physics need five math classes beyond those required by the physics or engineering physics major, and should begin by taking discrete math in their freshman or sophomore year. Be sure do discuss this with your advisor. Students with an interest in engineering should tell their advisor which concentration they would like to pursue. This will affect their sophomore - senior schedules.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Physics Minor

Courses

Physics