Structure of the Program

A physics undergraduate program has been designed including topics of current interest and applications. Once a student undergoes this course successfully he will be well equipped to face the challenges of life. The program of study includes courses for improving communication skills, strengthening mathematical background and acquainting the student with the socio-economic & historical background of Bangladesh. With this background it should not also be a problem to find a suitable and satisfying job in various universities & R/D organizations in the country. The total credit requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physics is 132. Out of these 21 credits are for general education. Twenty one major area compulsory courses account for 63 credits. The students are required to complete 3 courses (4.5 credits) of Physics Lab and write a dissertation/report on a suitable thesis/project topic. The thesis/ project work spread over the last two semesters will have a total of 4.5 credits. The students will be required to complete 12 credits choosing from several elective courses in their major field and 27 credits from outside their major specialization. The students may also be required to take non-credit remedial courses in English.

List of Courses for Bachelor of Science in Physics

a. General Education: (21 credits)

1. PHY 110 Mechanics and Properties of Matter
2. CSE 110 Programming Language I
3. DEV 101 Bangladesh Studies
4. ENG 101 English Fundamentals
5. ENG 102 English Composition I
6. HUM 103 Ethics and Culture
7. MAT 102 Introduction to Mathematics

b. Core Courses: (63 credits)

1. PHY 113 Waves, Oscillation and Acoustics
2. PHY 114 Thermal Physics and Radiation
3. PHY 115 Electricity and Magnetism
4. PHY 201 Solid State Physics
5. PHY 202 Optics
6. PHY 204 Classical Mechanics and Special Theory of Relativity
7. PHY 205 Statistical Mechanics
8. PHY 301 Classical Electrodynamics
9. PHY 302 Fluid Mechanics
10. PHY 303 Quantum Mechanics I
11. PHY 304 Quantum Mechanics II
12. PHY 305 Quantum Mechanics III
13. PHY 306 Basic Electronics
14. PHY 401 Particle and Reactor Physics
15. PHY 402 Atmospheric Physics
16. PHY 403 Cosmology & Astrophysics
17. MAT 105 Calculus
18. MAT 203 Matrices, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
19. MAT 204 Complex Variables and Fourier Analysis
20. MAT 205 Introduction to Numerical Methods
21. STA 201 Elements of Statistics and Probability

c. Elective Courses: (12 credits)

1. PHY 308 Methods of Experimental Physics and Instrumentation
2. PHY 309 Introduction to Materials Science
3. PHY 310 Advanced Solid State Physics
4. PHY 311 X-Rays
5. PHY 312 Nuclear Physics II
6. PHY 404 Electronic Devices and Circuits
7. PHY 405 Mathematical Physics
8. PHY 406 Medical Physics and Instrumentation
9. PHY 407 Mathematical Modeling in Physics
10. PHY 408 Advanced Quantum Mechanics
11. PHY 409 Physics of Radiology
12. PHY 410 Laser Physics
13. PHY 411 Geophysics
14. PHY 412 Dynamical and Tropical Meteorology
15. PHY 413 General Theory of Relativity
16. PHY 414 Field Theory
17. PHY 415 Neutron Scattering
18. PHY 416 Radiation Biophysics
19. MAT 301 Group Theory
20. MAT 303 Tensor Analysis

d. Lab: (4.5 credits)

1. PHY 116 PHY Lab I
2. PHY 203 PHY Lab II
3. PHY 307 PHY Lab III

e. Thesis/Project: (4.5 credits)

1. PHY 400 Thesis/Project

f. Courses Outside Major Specialization: (27 credits)*

1. ANT 101 Introduction to Anthropology
2. ARC 292 Painting**
3. ARC 293 Music Appreciation**
4. BI0 101 Introduction to Biology
5. CSE 101 Introduction to Computer Science
6. ECE 310 Introduction to Communication Engineering
7. ENV 101 Introduction to Environmental Sciences
8. ECO 103 Principles of Economics
9. HUM 111 History of Science
10. HUM 101 World Civilization and Culture
11. MGT 211 Principles of Management
12. PHY 313 Physics for Development
13. HUM 102 Introduction to Philosophy
14 POL 103 Introduction to Political Science
15. POL 245 Women, Power and Politics
16 PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
17. SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
18. SOC 401 Gender and Development

* Or any other BRACU course outside major specialization
** 2 Credit courses

Double Major in Physics

To satisfy the needs of students studying in various disciplines of BRACU desirous of pursuing a double major degree is also offered by the MNS Department.

Students who want to do a double-major, one of them being physics, will have to complete a total of 66 credits, the break down of which is given in the following:

A. Core Courses

Theory Courses: (45 credits)

PHY 110 Mechanics and Properties Of Matter
PHY 113 Waves, Oscillation and Acoustics
PHY 114 Thermal Physics and Radiation
PHY 115 Electricity and Magnetism
PHY 201 Solid State Physics
PHY 202 Optics
PHY 204 Classical Mechanics and Special Theory of Relativity
PHY 205 Statistical Mechanics
PHY 301 Classical Electrodynamics
PHY 303 Quantum Mechanics
PHY 304 Atomic and Molecular Physics
MAT 105 Calculus
MAT 203 Matrices, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
MAT 204 Complex Variables and Fourier Analysis
STA 201 Elements of Statistics and Probability

Lab Courses: (4.5 credits)

PHY 116 PHY Lab I
PHY 203 PHY Lab II
PHY 307 PHY Lab III

Elective Courses: (12 credits)

PHY 302 Fluid Mechanics
PHY 305 Nuclear Physics I
PHY 306 Basic Electronics
109
PHY 308 Methods of Experimental Physics and Instrumentation
PHY 401 Reactor Physics
PHY 402 Atmospheric Physics
PHY 403 Plasma and Astrophysics
PHY 407 Mathematical Modeling in Physics
PHY 410 Laser Physics
PHY 411 Geophysics
MAT 205 Introduction to Numerical Methods

Thesis: (4.5 credits)

The thesis work should be in line with one of the majors or on some interactive topic involving the two majors.

Minor in Physics

The MNS Department also offers the program of minor in physics for students doing a major in CS, CSE, ECE or any other relevant discipline. Such major-minor combination will stand the students in good stead in the job market.

The details of the Minor in Physics program are given below.

Total credit requirement: 27 credits

There will be seven compulsory courses, each of three credits, which are as follows:

PHY 111 Principles of Physics I
PHY 112 Principles of Physics II
PHY 204 Classical Mechanics and Special Theory of Relativity
PHY 205 Statistical Mechanics
PHY 210 Quantum Physics of Atoms, Solids and Nuclei
PHY 301 Classical Electrodynamics
PHY 305 Nuclear Physics I

Students may choose any two courses from the following list of elective courses each of three credits offered by the Department.

PHY 302 Fluid Mechanics
PHY 308 Methods of Experimental Physics and Instrumentation
PHY 309 Introduction to Materials Science
PHY 311 X-Rays
PHY 313 Physics for Development
PHY 409 Physics of Radiology
PHY 403 Plasma and Astrophysics

or any other physics course with the permission of the Chairperson of the MNS Department.