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Physics Major

  1. UNO
  2. College of Arts and Sciences
  3. Department of Physics
  4. Academics

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Physics BS and BA

Physics is the flexible degree, opening career opportunities in various fields like engineering, medicine, science, technology, and more.

Physics major writing on whiteboard

What are our graduates doing?

Fay Zuni Curran is an electrical engineer with Lockheed Martin. Fay completed a NASA internship while at UNO.
Joe Smolsky Joe Smolsky recently completed a PhD in nuclear and particle physics at MIT. Joe was 1st author on a scientific paper at UNO.
Kristen Rodenhausen Kristen Rodenhausen is the AP physics teacher at Millard South HS. Kristen published several articles on teaching physics while at UNO.
Liam Yourston Liam Yourston is a biophysics graduate student at the Univ. of Michigan. Liam published 5 scientific papers with physics faculty while at UNO.

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Contact us for advising.

Programs

The UNO Physics Department offers several undergraduate degree options.

Physics Degrees Offered Options Offered
Bachelor of Science in Physics Education Option, Biomedical Physics
Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Courses

Students may earn either a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in physics. The B.S. degree has two concentrations: biomedical physics and physics education. The required major courses for both the B.S. and B.A. degree are listed below, with more details in the catalog. To help you make the best decision, you're encouraged to speak with a departmental advisor as early as possible. See the catalog for more information and 4-year roadmaps.

Required Major Courses

PHYS 1950

PHYSICS GATEWAY COURSE

1

PHYS 2110
& PHYS 1154

GENERAL PHYSICS I - CALCULUS LEVEL
and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I

5

PHYS 2120
& PHYS 1164

GENERAL PHYSICS II - CALCULUS LEVEL
and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II

5

PHYS 2130

MODERN PHYSICS

4

PHYS 3250

MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS*

3

PHYS 3450

CLASSICAL MECHANICS

3

PHYS 3504

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS I

1

PHYS 3524

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS II

1

PHYS 3600

THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS

3

PHYS 3750

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM I

3

PHYS 3800

OPTICS

3

PHYS 4200

INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS

3

PHYS 4950

PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS

1

6 credits of PHYS 3000/4000 level courses

6

Total Credits

42

* Students may substitute MATH 2050 and MATH 2350 for PHYS 3250, with one course counting towards the mathematics cognate and the other towards the major.

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You might be a Physics major if...

  1. You've actually used every single function on your graphing calculator.

  2. You frequently whistle the theme song to "MacGyver."

  3. You think in "math."

  4. You avoid doing anything because you don't want to contribute to the eventual heat-death of the universe

  5. When your professor asks you where your homework is, you claim to have accidentally determined its momentum so precisely, that according to Heisenberg, it could be anywhere in the universe.

  6. You'll assume that a "horse" is a "sphere" in order to make the math easier.

  7. You know vector calculus but you can't remember how to do long division.

  8. When you have a deadline, you work at the spot on campus farthest from the equator to use relativity to your advantage.

  9. You point it out every time Star Trek scriptwriters violate the fundamental physical laws.

  10. You drool at the sight of a laser.

Contact Us

  • Department of Physics
  • 6001 Dodge Street
  • Durham Science Center
  • Room 129
  • Omaha, Nebraska, 68182-0266
  • Phone: 402.554.2511
  • Email: unophysics@unomaha.edu

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