Physics Program
Department Contact
Dr. Mostafizur Rahman
Department Chair
Email: Mostafizur.Rahman@benedict.edu
Office Phone: (803) 705-7986
The Physics program offers a B.S. degree in physics, a minor in physics, and a wide range of support courses for engineering and other science majors. Our program prepares the next generation of physicists for careers in industry, government agencies, and graduate or professional schools to advance their career paths. Students have numerous opportunities to connect with faculty and participate in research projects. Active research is conducted in several areas of physics.
Why Study Physics?
Physics is the cornerstone of natural science, which helps us understand the fundamental mathematical relationships of natural phenomena and apply those relationships to other areas of science and engineering for problem-solving.Â
Career Pathways
Graduate Schools, Computer Programming, Defense and Aerospace Industry, Engineering, Government Agencies, Healthcare and Medicine, Manufacturing Industry, Physics and Astronomy Research, Quantum Computing, Software Design, and National Labs.Â
Graduate Placements
Our alumni are currently employed, attending, or have attended graduate schools at the following:Â
Clemson University, University of South Carolina, University of Prince Edward Island, and Otis.Â
This program requires a total of 120 credit hours, listed below.
Program Requirements
General Education Courses (32 credit hours)
ENG 131 Analysis and Argumentation (3 credits)
ENG 132 Information, Literacy, and Research (3 credits)
ENG 237 Oral Communication (3 credits)
HIST 130 African American History (3 credits)
Global & Intercultural Learning (3 credits)
Intermediate Foreign Language (Spanish, French, or Arabic) (3 credits)*
MATH 143 Calculus I (4 credits)**
MATH 144 Calculus II (4 credits)
CHEM 137 Chem 137 Principles of Chemistry I (3 credits)
CHEM 117L Principles of Chemistry I Lab (1 credit)
AA 111 College Experience (1 credit)
AA 211 Professional Pathways Development (1 credit)
*This course has a prerequisite for Introductory Foreign Language. Students may place out of the pre-requisite with a placement test.
** MATH 143 has pre-requisites of MATH 138 (College Algebra) and MATH 139 (Precalculus). Students may be placed out of these courses via a placement test.
Major Courses (41 credit hours)
- PHYS 233 Principles of Physics I (3 credits)
- PHYS 213L Principles of Physics I Lab (1 credit)
- PHYS 234 Principles of Physics II (3 credits)
- PHYS 214L Principles of Physics II Lab (1 credit)
- PHYS 331 Statics (3 credits)
- PHYS 332 Dynamics (3 credits)
- PHYS 333 Principles of Physics III (3 credits)
- PHYS 334 Thermal Physics (3 credits)
- PHYS 336 Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)
- PHYS 338 Modern Electronics (3 credits)
- PHYS 431 Modern Physics I (3 credits)
- PHYS 432 Modern Physics II (3 credits)
- PHYS 434 Adv. Modern Physics Lab (3 credits)
- PHYS 435 Optics (3 credits)
- PHYS 436 Intro to Quantum Mechanics (3 credits)
Support Courses (47 credit hours)
- CHEM 138 Principles of Chemistry II (3 credits)
- CHEM 118L Principles of Chemistry II Lab (1 credit)
- ENGR 130 Intro to Engineering (3 credits)
- CSC 132 Introduction to Computing and Programming Logic (3 credits)
- ENGR 132 Engineering Graphics & Design (3 credits)
- CSC 135 Introduction to Programming (3 credits)
- CSC 138 Object Oriented Programming (3 credits)
- MATH 230 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
- MATH 236 Probability and Statistics (3 credits)
- MATH 237 Differential Equations I (3 credits)
- MATH 238 Differential Equations II (3 credits)
- MATH 241 Calculus III (4 credits)
- PHIL 330 Critical Thinking and Logic (3 credits)
- General Elective (9 credits)Â
Clubs and Activities
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Society of Physics Students (SPS)