Engineering Physics, BSE
Rockefeller Building (7079)
Phone: 216.368.4031; Fax: 216.368.4671
Xuan Gao, Professor of Physics and Program Director
xuan.gao@case.edu
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE)
Major: Engineering Physics
The Engineering Physics major allows students with strong interests in both physics and engineering to concentrate their studies in the common areas of these disciplines. The Engineering Physics major prepares students to pursue careers in industry, either directly after undergraduate studies, or following graduate study in engineering or physics. Many employers value the unique problem-solving approach of physics, especially in industrial research and development. Its engineering science and design components prepare students to work as professional engineers.
Students majoring in engineering physics complete the Engineering Core as well as a rigorous course of study in physics. Students select a concentration area from an engineering discipline and must complete a sequence of at least four courses in this discipline. In addition, a senior research project under the guidance of a faculty member is required. The project includes a written report and participation in the senior seminar and symposium.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program with a major in Engineering Physics is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria with no applicable program criteria.
Mission
The mission of the Engineering Physics program is to prepare students for careers in engineering where physics principles can be applied to the advancement of technology. This education at the intersection of engineering and physics will enable students to seek employment in engineering upon graduation while providing a firm foundation for the pursuit of graduate studies in either engineering or physics. The Engineering Physics program will develop sufficient depth in both engineering and physics skills to produce engineers who can relate fundamental physics to practical engineering problems and will possess the versatility to address new challenges in our rapidly changing technological base. The program will provide a curriculum and environment to develop interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical and professional outlooks, communication skills, and the tools and desire for life-long learning.
Program Educational Objectives
- Graduates of the Engineering Physics program will apply their strong problem-solving skills as physicists along with competence in the approach, methods, and requirements of engineering and engineering design for a successful career in advancing technology.
- Graduates of the Engineering Physics program will use their strong skills in problem-solving, research experience and knowledge in physics and engineering as successful graduate students and researchers in highly ranked graduate programs.
Learning Outcomes
As preparation for achieving the above program educational objectives, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program with a major in Engineering Physics is designed so that students attain:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Co-op and Internship Programs
Opportunities are available for students to alternate studies with work in industry or government as a co-op student, which involves paid full-time employment over seven months (one semester and one summer). Students may work in one or two co-ops, beginning in the third year of study. Co-ops provide students the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in their field by completing a significant engineering project while receiving professional mentoring. During a co-op placement, students do not pay tuition but maintain their full-time student status while earning a salary. Alternatively or additionally, students may obtain employment as summer interns.
Undergraduate Policies
For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs
Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Mathematics, Science and Engineering Courses | ||
| MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | 4 |
| MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II | 4 |
| or MATH 124 | Calculus II | |
| MATH 223 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III | 3 |
| or MATH 227 | Calculus III | |
| MATH 224 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| or MATH 228 | Differential Equations | |
| PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics | 4 |
| or PHYS 123 | Physics and Frontiers I - Mechanics | |
| PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| or PHYS 124 | Physics and Frontiers II - Electricity and Magnetism | |
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry for Engineers | 4 |
| ENGR 130 | Foundations of Engineering and Programming | 3 |
| ENGR 145 | Chemistry of Materials | 4 |
| ENGR 200 | Statics and Strength of Materials | 3 |
| ENGR 210 | Introduction to Circuits and Instrumentation | 4 |
| ECHE 225 | Thermal and Fluid Sciences | 4 |
| ENGR 399 | Impact of Engineering on Society | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 47 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Required Courses | ||
| PHYS 208 | Instrumentation and Signal Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 221 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 250 | Computational Methods in Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 303 | Advanced Laboratory Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 310 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 313 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 317 | Engineering Physics Laboratory I | 3 |
| PHYS 318 | Engineering Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| PHYS 324 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 325 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 331 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 352 & PHYS 353 | Senior Physics Project Seminar and Senior Engineering Physics Project c | 6 |
| Applied Quantum Mechanics Course: | 3-4 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Semiconductor Electronic Devices | ||
| Introduction to Solid State Physics | ||
| Laser Physics | ||
| Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II | ||
| Engineering Concentration Courses a | 12 | |
| Engineering Design Course b | ||
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Biomedical Engineering Design Experience | ||
| Senior Engineering Design Projects | ||
| Chemical Engineering Design Project | ||
| Civil Engineering Senior Project | ||
| Polymer Engineer Design Product | ||
| Design and Manufacturing II | ||
| Senior Project | ||
| Design for Lifetime Performance | ||
| Senior Project in Computer Science | ||
| Senior Project in Data Science | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 54 | |
- a
Engineering Physics Concentration courses are flexible, but must be in a specific engineering discipline or study area and be approved by an advisor. Possible concentration areas include: Biomedical Engineering (Biomedical Systems and Analysis, Devices and Instrumentation, Biomaterials); Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Solid Mechanics, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering); Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (Solid State, Computer Science, Computer Engineering-Software, Computer Engineering-Hardware, Systems and Control); Macromolecular Science and Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanics).
- b
The Engineering Design requirement is satisfied by completing one of the courses listed. The course might be a) completed as one of the four required Engineering Concentration courses or b) completed as a capstone course.
- c
In place of PHYS 352 and PHYS 353, the capstone requirement can be satisfied by completing a capstone course offered in Case School of Engineering. Students selecting this option must also complete a 3-credit hour technical elective satisfied by any 200 level or above course in the Case School of Engineering.
Engineering Physics Concentrations
Engineering Physics majors must complete a sequence of at least four upper-level courses in an engineering concentration. Students should seek advice from those engineering representatives listed below to select the courses consistent with scheduling, student preparation, and student interest. Both the program representative and the student's adviser must approve the sequence. Following approval, students must submit the paperwork to undergraduate studies to ensure credit for the sequence toward graduation.
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Computer and Data Sciences
- Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering
- Macromolecular Science and Engineering
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
Sample Plan of Study
The following is a suggested program of study. Current students should always consult their advisers and their individual graduation requirement plans as tracked in Stellic.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry for Engineers | 4 |
| MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I a | 4 |
| PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics b | 4 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II a | 4 |
| PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism b | 4 |
| ENGR 145 | Chemistry of Materials | 4 |
| ENGR 130 | Foundations of Engineering and Programming | 3 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 223 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III | 3 |
| PHYS 221 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| ENGR 200 | Statics and Strength of Materials | 3 |
| ENGR 210 | Introduction to Circuits and Instrumentation | 4 |
| Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 224 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 208 | Instrumentation and Signal Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 250 | Computational Methods in Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 310 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| ECHE 225 | Thermal and Fluid Sciences | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 313 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 303 | Advanced Laboratory Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 317 | Engineering Physics Laboratory I | 3 |
| PHYS 331 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Concentration Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 318 | Engineering Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| PHYS 324 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| ENGR 399 | Impact of Engineering on Society | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Concentration Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 325 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 352 | Senior Physics Project Seminar d | 1 |
| PHYS 353 | Senior Engineering Physics Project d | 2 |
| Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Concentration Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 352 | Senior Physics Project Seminar d | 1 |
| PHYS 353 | Senior Engineering Physics Project d | 2 |
| Breadth, or Elective course c | 3 | |
| Applied Quantum Mechanics course | 3 | |
| Engineering Design Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 128 | |
- a
Selected students may be invited to take MATH 124, MATH 227 or MATH 228 in place of MATH 121, MATH 122, MATH 223 or MATH 224.
- b
Selected students may be invited to take PHYS 123 or PHYS 124 in place of PHYS 121 or PHYS 122.
- c
- d
In place of PHYS 352 and PHYS 353, the capstone requirement can be satisfied by completing a capstone course offered in Case School of Engineering. Students selecting this option must also complete a 3 credit hour technical elective satisfied by any 200 level or above course in the Case School of Engineering.