Department Information and Typical Discipline-Specific Academic Degree & Qualifications1 of faculty within Physics
The Department of Physics is dedicated to excellence in research, teaching and service to the scientific and university communities. At present, there are twenty-three full-time faculty members assisted by a varying number of adjunct instructors. The department offers degrees of Bachelor of Science in Physics, Bachelor of Science with Honors in Physics, Bachelor of Arts in Physics, Master of Science in Physics, and a Ph.D. in Physics. We also offer Minors in Physics and in Astronomy. The department operates a fully equipped machine shop and an electronic design and repair facility.
Degrees offered
The Physics Department offers these programs:
- BA in Physics
- BS in Physics
- MS in Physics
- Ph.D. in Physics
Terminal Degree 2 for each discipline taught in Physics
Ph.D. in Physics (40.0801)
Related Disciplines 3
Astronomy (40.0201) - all courses
Related Disciplines for specific courses 3
- Biophysics (26.0203) - MET, PHY, PHZ and PSC courses
- Optics/Optical Sciences (40.0807) - MET, PHY, PHZ and PSC courses
- Physical Sciences (40.0101) - PHY 2048, 2053
- Science Teacher Education (13.1316) - PHY 3012
Other Teaching Qualifications (Description of Required Academic Degree and Justifications 4 for the programs in Physics)
Consideration of other teaching qualifications in lieu of academic credentials is made on a case-by-case basis and accepted in special cases where evidence of exceptional industry experience, research or other qualifications can be documented and are directly applicable to the course being taught.
Notes
1Whenever instructors are not credentialed by their advanced degree or by an approved CIP relationship, they must be credentialed through a narrative justification of the instructor's qualifications to teach this/these course(s). Such credentialing is based on the proposed instructor's academic and professional preparation; diplomas, certificates, or relevant licensures; publications and presentations in the field; honors, awards, and professional recognitions; and other demonstrated competencies, skills, and experiences which the instructor brings to the University. These must be clearly tied to the specific courses to be taught and should establish beyond doubt that the instructor is qualified to teach the specific courses they are to be assigned.
The Office of the Provost reviews all such justifications and where the justifications warrant the instructor's teaching the courses proposed, it will either approve the justification for the appropriate period (seven years for full-time faculty members, or four years for part-time faculty members) or employ one of two additional clearance categories beyond the advanced degree and related-discipline categories which it may use to credential some instructors where their accomplishments warrant this:
Active Research Clearance in the Discipline or Active Artistic/Special Talent Clearance in the Discipline
2The level and discipline of the terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., MS, MFA, doctorate) that is required to teach graduate courses in the discipline
3For each discipline, all strongly-related degree(s) and/or equivalent names for the discipline (include level) that would also be appropriate for teaching at the graduate level
4(1)The appropriate academic degrees and justifications for each related degree above if not obvious; (2) the justification for why the terminal degree is not a doctorate in a discipline, e.g., specific examples of best practice in the discipline and accrediting association language; and (3) any other criteria used to determine appropriate academic qualifications to teach specialty courses in the program.
Current/Effective Date 11/15/2024