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RPI Catalog (Course Descriptions)

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Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 Eighth Street, Troy, New York 12180-3590 USA

Telephone:
(518) 276-6310
Fax: (518) 276-6680
E-mail: physics@rpi.edu

Laboratory Experience

Physics is an experimental science and our innovative curriculum is designed to give you hands-on advanced laboratory experience early in your academic career. There are additional laboratories in advanced courses, such as optics and astronomy, and all students are required to cap their experience with at least one semester of research.

In fact, many students take advantage of our open research environment through much of their undergraduate career. There are opportunities to conduct research during the summer through our funded programs and over a longer period through Rensselaer’s industrial cooperative education program.

Requirements

All science majors require 124 credit hours to graduate. In the physics curriculum 72 credits are required in the School of Science and 24 credits are selected from a wide palette of Humanities and Social Sciences courses. In addition to formal course offerings, students may also take advantage of weekly colloquia and seminars.

A large component of your coursework — 28 credits — is devoted to unrestricted elective courses. With the help of a faculty adviser, you will design a personalized curriculum that best fits your personal academic goals.

Options include:

• a physics or applied physics major with graduate-level courses
• minors in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology
• concentrations in microelectronics, optical physics, computer science, or environmental science

Beyond Physics

Many students also choose courses in the School of Engineering or the Lally School of Management and Technology.

Dual-major programs are available. You can complete a joint program with many other departments at Rensselaer, in the normal four-year period. For example, you can study physics in conjunction with biology, computer science, mathematics, or engineering.

Sample Curriculums

• B.S. Basic Physics
• B.S. Physics as Preparation for Graduate Study
• B.S. Applied Physics
• B.S. Applied Physics with Optics Concentration
• B.S. Applied Physics with Microelectronics Concentration
• B.S. Applied Physics with Nuclear Science Concentration
• B.S. Applied Physics with Computing Concentration
• B.S. Applied Physics with Biology and Medicine Concentration
• B.S. Applied Physics with Space Science Concentration
• B.S. in Physics and Biology
• B.S. in Physics and Computer Science
• B.S. in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering
• B.S. in Physics and Mathematics