Michael Santos, Chair and Graduate Liaison
100 Nielsen Hall
Norman, OK 73019-2061
Phone: (405) 325-3961
FAX: (405) 325-7557
Internet: http://www.nhn.ou.edu/ephys/
Professors (of Physics) Doezema, Furneaux, Gutierrez, Johnson, Santos, Skubic; Associate Professors (of Physics) Abbott, E. Abraham, Mason, Murphy, S. Ryan, Shafer-Ray, Strauss; Assistant Professors (of Physics) Bumm, Shaffer; and participating faculty from the College of Engineering units.
Established in 1924, the Program in Engineering Physics was one of the first programs of its kind offered in the United States. The undergraduate curriculum is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; telephone: (410)347-7700. Throughout its history, Engineering Physics has served as the starting point for new programs in applied physics at OU. For example, geophysics, nuclear engineering, and meteorology were first offered at OU in 1935, 1955, and 1957, respectively, as options in Engineering Physics. Current research emphases in Engineering Physics include nanotechnology and cold atom science.
An engineering physicist applies the knowledge of engineering and physics to develop new engineering methods and principles; and designs, develops and supervises the construction of new equipment. The engineering physicist completes the link between the pure scientist and the engineer by being able to understand the theory of science and to relate it to the practical problems of engineering.
The program makes use of the extensive teaching and research facilities of both the College of Engineering and the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy (which is part of the College of Arts and Sciences). The student to faculty ratio in Engineering Physics is excellent, with 45 majors during the 2005-2006 academic year. About one third of the graduating seniors immediately attend graduate school in physics or engineering. The recent graduates who immediately enter the work force are employed predominantly in the microelectronics or aerospace industries.
The program in Engineering Physics prepares students for careers in areas of technology where the disciplines of physics and engineering intersect. The program provides an interdisciplinary environment where pure and applied sciences merge. The curriculum is designed to develop sufficient depth in both engineering skills and physics knowledge to produce engineers who are able to relate fundamental physical principles to practical problems in engineering. In order to prepare students for careers in interdisciplinary areas of physics and engineering, the Engineering Physics program pursues the following objectives (which are discussed in detail at www.nhn.ou.edu/ephys):
An essential facet of an Engineering Physics education is research experience. This provides students with the opportunity to use modern engineering tools to address open issues in science and technology. Many students participate in research even before starting their senior Capstone project. All students are encouraged to apply for a position in a National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program as soon as they are qualified. Many students take part in the Department’s NSF-REU program for one summer during their academic career. These research experiences provide the opportunity for particularly strong interaction between a student and a faculty member.
The program is also actively involved with the Honors College in an effort to offer exceptional students the opportunity to do advanced study.
The Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy possesses an excellent scientific library of about 34,000 volumes and more than 175 journal subscriptions. Ancillary library holdings include the world-famous History of Science Collection. A well-equipped and staffed in-house machine shop is provided for use by graduate students.
Excellent computing facilities include the SUN/UNIX Physics computer network and the Natural Sciences Computer Laboratory which is housed in the department.
The Department has well-equipped laboratories for research in atomic and molecular collisions, laser cooling and trapping, artificially structured materials, nanometer-scale materials characterization, low-temperature condensed matter, and instrumentation in high-energy physics. Some of the research is performed as part of the NSF-sponsored Center for Semiconductor Physics in Nanostructures. Research groups also make use of facilities at national laboratories such as Fermilab, the LHC, Los Alamos, and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
The combined curriculum from the College of Engineering and the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy provides the finest quality program for both undergraduate and graduate students. The interdisciplinary structure allows students access to a wide range of research topics.
The Department offers a number of J. Clarence Karcher Scholarships each year to students majoring in physics, astronomy, or engineering physics. In addition, one or more Roy B. Adams Engineering Physics Scholarships and a Michael L. Ruby Engineering Physics Scholarship are awarded each year. The scholarships range from $700-$2,000 per academic year and are renewable. This helps the student to be in the mainstream of his/her professional interest and at the same time receive financial assistance throughout the undergraduate years. Applications (consideration deadline March 15 for the following fall) may be obtained from Undergraduate Programs, Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nielsen Hall, Norman, OK 73019-2061.
Teaching and research assistantships are offered on a competitive basis to graduate students. In 2005 the assistantships started at $18,000 for students with 12 months of support. The Lin Fellowship provides an additional stipend for the first two years of graduate study while the Homer L. Dodge Graduate Fellowship provides an annual stipend of $25,000 with no teaching assistantship responsibilities for the first two years. Departmental applications for graduate study and financial assistance may be requested from the Graduate Programs-Physics, Nielsen Hall, Norman, OK 73019-2061.
The undergraduate major requires 126 hours including 40 hours of physics, 33 hours of engineering and 18 hours of mathematics.
The engineering physics program offers an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree which combines the course offerings and research activities of the College of Engineering and the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy. The degree is recommended by the College of Engineering faculty. The curriculum includes the basic core of science, mathematics, social sciences and engineering sciences that are common to all engineering degree curricula, a block of prescribed upper-division physics courses, and a planned sequence of advanced courses in engineering, physics and allied areas that fulfills the design/synthesis requirement of an engineering program.
This program requires a minimum of 126 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (combined and at OU, in the major, curriculum and overall). For detailed semester by semester curriculum requirements, please consult: http://checksheets.ou.edu/engrindx.htm.
The lower-division (1000- and 2000-level courses) requirements of 66 hours are to be met as follows:
1. Communication: six hours. ENGL 1113 and ENGL 1213 or EXPO 1213.
2. Foreign Language: 0-10 hours. Two years in high school or two consecutive semesters (6-10 hours) of foreign language. (College level foreign language does not count toward the curricular hours required for the engineering degree.)
3. Social Science: six hours. P SC 1113; three hours of General Education Social Science electives.*
4. Humanities: 12 hours. HIST 1483 or 1493; one course each of the following General Education fields: Understanding Artistic Forms, Western Civilization and Culture; and Non-Western Culture.*
5. Science and Math: 33 hours. CHEM 1315; MATH 1823, 2423, 2433, 2443; PHYS 1205, 1215, 2203, 2303.
6. Core Engineering: nine hours. ENGR 1410, 1420, 2003; CH E 2313 and C S 1313 or 1323.
* Three of the 12 General Education elective hours (one course each from Social Science, Artistic Forms, Western Civilization, and Non-Western Culture) must be at the upper-division level (3000-4000).
The upper division (3000- and 4000-level courses) requirements of 60 hours are to be met as follows:
1. Core Engineering: nine hours. AME 3153 or CEES 2223, two engineering electives (six hrs.).
2. Math: six hours. MATH 3413, 3423.
3. Physics Courses: 21 hours. PHYS 3043, 3053, 3183, 3302 or 3312, 3803, 4153, four hours of 4300.
4. Technical elective: three hours.
5. Engineering electives: 15 hours in a design sequence.
6. Engineering Physics elective: three hours.
7. Physics elective: three hours.
All College of Engineering students are required to make a minimum grade of C in each course presented for the degree. Also, students must make a C in each prerequisite course before progressing to the next course(s).
(Partial list only) growth and characterization of electronic and optical materials, device fabrication and simulation, laser applications in chemical reaction dynamics, laser cooling and trapping, microelectronic applications in particle physics.
In addition to meeting the general requirements of the Graduate College, the student should have a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics or an equivalent degree with a minimum preparation of 30 hours of physics and 15 hours of engineering.
This degree is offered as either a nonthesis program or as a thesis program. The nonthesis program requires satisfactory completion of 32 hours of graduate study comprising a minimum of 12 hours of physics and 12 hours of engineering courses. Students must take and pass the physics qualifying examination. The thesis program requires completion of 30 hours of graduate credit including a research thesis on some topic of applied science. Students may count up to four credit hours of thesis research as part of their program. If the thesis supervisor is from engineering, a minimum of 12 hours of physics and nine hours of engineering is required; if the thesis supervisor is from physics, a minimum of nine hours of physics and 12 hours of engineering is required.
All programs of study must be approved by the engineering physics chair or a duly appointed representative. All students of either program must include at least one three-credit-hour mathematics course numbered 4000 or higher. Graduate credit will not be allowed for any course equivalent to one required in the undergraduate engineering physics program.
Students electing to study for a doctoral degree are referred to the general requirements of the Graduate College and the College of Engineering. Each student is assigned an advisory committee who will determine the specific requirements within the guidelines set by these colleges.