College of Sciences and Humanities
Department of Physics
www.kent.edu/physics

About This Program

The Bachelor of Science in Physics program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in physics or a related field. With a rigorous curriculum that includes advanced coursework in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and more, this program provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in graduate school or the workforce. Read more...

Contact Information

• Almut Schroeder | aschroe2@kent.edu |
  330-672-3044
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Credit is not granted for both the PHY 13001/PHY 13002 and the PHY 23101/PHY 23102 series, nor for PHY 13012.

²

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

³

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category or general electives.

⁴

PHIL 21001 is highly recommended to fulfill the Kent Core Humanities category for the Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy/Pre-Podiatry concentration.

Biological Sciences Concentration Requirements

¹

A maximum 6 credit hours of PHY 40096 may be applied toward the major. Recommended electives: BSCI 40158, CHEM 30481, PHY 44600.

²

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

Chemistry Concentration Requirements

¹

Students who have already completed CHEM 30481 and CHEM 30482 may not take and apply CHEM 20482 toward the major.

²

A maximum 6 credit hours of PHY 40096 may be applied toward the major.

³

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

Computer Science Concentration Requirements

¹

A maximum 6 credit hours of PHY 40096 may be applied toward the major.

²

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

Entrepreneurship Concentration Requirements

¹

A maximum 6 credit hours of PHY 40096 may be applied toward the major.

²

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

³

Recommended electives: ENTR 47047 and one of the following: ENTR 37045, ENTR 37075, MKTG 35056.

Physics Concentration Requirements

¹

A maximum 6 credit hours of PHY 40096 may be applied toward the major.

²

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy/Pre-Podiatry Concentration Requirements

¹

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply toward general electives.

Graduation Requirements

• The following courses may not count toward major requirements: PHY 11030, PHY 21040, PHY 21041, PHY 21430 and PHY 21431.

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

• Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Sciences and Humanities must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.¹ 
• The following programs are exempt from this requirement: The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.²
• Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language

¹

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

²

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science exemption exists under another college policy (Three-Plus-One Programs). The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology exemption is due to its extensive collaboration with and contribution from the Information Technology program in the College of Applied and Technical Studies, which does not have a foreign language requirement.

Roadmaps

Biological Sciences Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Chemistry Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Computer Science Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Entrepreneurship Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Physics Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy/Pre-Podiatry Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate strong technical and cognitive skills expected of a competent physicist, including the ability to:
   1. Think critically and analytically.
   2. Identify, define and solve complex scientific problems.
   3. Apply advanced mathematical methods (such as calculus and differential equations) and computational tools.
   4. Use, design and construct laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
2. Exhibit key personal and professional traits of successful scientists, including diligence, creativity, persistence and self-confidence.
3. Communicate scientific findings effectively to peers, supervisors and professional audiences within the physics community and general public.

Program Policies

Foreign Language Requirements

In general, students may elect any foreign language taught through the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies. However, certain majors, concentrations and minors require specific languages or limit the languages from which students may choose. In addition, students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular languages for that study. In such cases, students should seek the advice of the appropriate department before selecting a language.

Progress Toward Fulfillment

College of Sciences and Humanities students are encouraged to begin meeting the foreign language requirement as early as possible in their program to ensure timely degree completion.

Mandatory Outcomes Assessment

In addition to the other General Requirements of the college, candidates for an undergraduate degree in the College of Sciences and Humanities are required, as a condition of graduation, to participate in an outcomes assessment. These outcomes assessments are conducted by each undergraduate degree program in the College of Sciences and Humanities.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Physics is a professionally oriented program that serves as preparation for either graduate work in physics or entrance into positions in a variety of industries or government service.

The Physics major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Biological Sciences concentration is interdisciplinary and for students with a strong interest in both physics and biology, who may wish to prepare for graduate study in biophysics or work in a biotechnology company.
• The Chemistry concentration is interdisciplinary and designed for students with a strong interest in both physics and chemistry, who may wish to prepare for graduate study in chemical physics or work in a high-technology materials-related research and development laboratory.
• The Computer Science concentration is interdisciplinary and provides a foundation in physics while emphasizing the use of computer software in scientific applications. Graduates are prepared for computer-related careers that require an understanding of the underlying science as well as knowledge of relevant computer applications.
• The Entrepreneurship concentration is interdisciplinary and designed to prepare physics majors for various aspects of starting or managing a scientific business.
• The Physics concentration prepares students for further study at the graduate level or entry into industry careers. This concentration trains students in logical thinking and problem solving using both analytical and computational methods. It also furnishes students with a comprehensive understanding of the basic laws and principles that govern the physical world. In addition, this concentration prepares students for applications of physics to practical devices and systems, making it a popular stepping stone to graduate degrees and careers not only in physics, but also engineering, astronomy/astrophysics, materials science and applied mathematics.
• The Pre-Medicine/Pre-Osteopathy/Pre-Podiatry concentration is interdisciplinary and designed to prepare physics majors for further study leading to careers in medicine.