Below are descriptions of courses required for the undergraduate physics major concentrations. For a complete list of course descriptions for the University of Maryland, refer to the undergraduate catalog.

PHYS 171 Introductory Physics: Mechanics and Relativity (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 140 and a high school physics course or permission of department. Co-requisite: MATH 141. Credit will not be granted for PHYS 171 and PHYS 161 or PHYS 141 or former PHYS 191. First semester of a three semester sequence for physics majors and those desiring a rigorous preparation in the physical sciences: kinematics, Newton's laws, energy and work, linear and angular momenta, temperature and pressure, ideal gas law, and special relativity. 

PHYS 174 Physics Laboratory Introduction (1)
Three hours of laboratory per week. Co-requisite: MATH 140.  Recommended: high school physics. Introduces students to the techniques of data gathering and analysis. This course will lay a foundation for higher-level labs in physics and the physical sciences. Students will learn to use laboratory equipment such as calipers, meters, oscilloscopes, and computer interfaces. Techniques of measurement and error analysis will be presented.  Students will be taught to use the computer for data analysis with an emphasis on using spreadsheets. 

PHYS 272 Introductory Physics: Fields (3)
Prerequisites: (PHYS 171 or PHYS 161) and MATH 141. Co-requisite: MATH 241. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 272 or PHYS 262 or PHYS 142. Second semester of a calculus based general physics course. Universal gravitation, electric and magnetic fields and potentials, simple circuits, Maxwell's equations in integral form. Continues the application of mathematics to conceptual models, now with more abstract components. 

PHYS 273 Introductory Physics: Waves (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 272, and MATH 241. Corequisites: MATH 246 or MATH 414. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 273 or PHYS 263. Oscillations and AC circuits using complex variables, Fourier series and integrals, waves on strings, sound; electromagnetic waves from Maxwell's equations in differential form; physical optics. 

PHYS 275 Experimental Physics I: Mechanics, Heat and Fields (2)
One hour of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: (PHYS 171 or PHYS 161) and PHYS 174. Corequisite: PHYS 272. First course in the introductory sequence pertaining to the methods and rationale of experimental physics. Intended for physics majors and science and engineering students who desire a more rigorous approach. Experiments chosen from the areas of mechanics (from PHYS 171), gas laws, heat, and static of electromagnetic fields. Theory and applications of error analysis. 

PHYS 276 Experimental Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism (2)
Four hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 272 and PHYS 275. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 276 or former PHYS 295. Second course in the three semester introductory sequence. Methods and rationale of experimental physics. Experiments chosen from the fields of electricity and magnetism including electrostatics, magnetostatics, magnetic induction, AC circuits. 

PHYS 374 Intermediate Theoretical Methods (4)
Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion/recitation per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 273 and MATH 246. Corequisite: MATH 240. Introduces or reviews areas of mathematics that are regularly used in upper level and graduate courses in physics, including important areas from complex variables, Fourier analysis, partial differential equations and eigenvalue problems. These methods will be studied in the context of relevant physics applications. A current standard symbolic manipulation program will be introduced and its appropriate use in theoretical analyses will be taught. 

PHYS 375 Experimental Physics III: Electromagnetic Waves, Optics and Modern (3)
Physics Six hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 273 and PHYS 276. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 375 or former PHYS 296. Third course in the three-semester introductory sequence. Methods and rationale of experimental physics. Experiments chosen from the areas of electromagnetic waves, optics and modern physics. 

PHYS 401 Quantum Physics I (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 273. Corequisites: PHYS 374 and MATH 240. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 401 or PHYS 420 or former PHYS 421. Formerly PHYS 421. Introduces some quantum phenomena leading to wave-particle duality. Schroedinger theory for bound states and scattering in one dimension. One-particle Schroedinger equation and the hydrogen atom. 

PHYS 402 Quantum Physics II (4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 401, and PHYS 374, and MATH 240. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 402 or former PHYS 422. Formerly PHYS 422. Quantum states as vectors; spin and spectroscopy, multiparticle systems, the periodic table, perturbation theory, band structure, etc. 

PHYS 404 Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 273 or equivalent, and MATH 241. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 404 or former PHYS 414. Formerly PHYS 414. Introduction to basic concepts in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. 

PHYS 405 Advanced Experiments (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 375. Recommended: High school physics. For PHYS majors only. Formerly PHYS 395. Advanced laboratory techniques. Selected experiments from many fields of modern physics. Emphasis on self-study of the phenomena, data analysis, and presentation in report form. 

PHYS 406 Optics (3)
Prerequisite: {PHYS 263 or PHYS 273 or PHYS 301}; and MATH 240. Geometrical optics, optical instruments, wave motion, interference and diffraction, and other phenomena in physical optics.

PHYS 410 Classical Mechanics (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 374. Theoretical foundations of mechanics with extensive application of the methods. Various mathematical tools of theoretical physics. 

PHYS 411 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 374. Foundations of electromagnetic theory, with extensive applications of the methods. Thorough treatment of wave properties of solutions of Maxwell's equations.  

PHYS 420 Principles of Modern Physics (3)
Prerequisite : {PHYS 263 or PHYS 273 or PHYS 301}; and MATH 241. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 420 or PHYS 421. A survey of atomic and nuclear phenomena and the main trends in modern physics. Appropr iate for students in engineering and other physical sciences.

Supporting Mathematics Courses

MATH 140 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisite: permission of department based on 3 1/2 years of college preparatory mathematics (including trigonometry) and a satisfactory score on the mathematics placement exam, or MATH 115 with a grade of C or better. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: MATH 140 or MATH 220. Introduction to calculus, including functions, limits, continuity, derivatives and applications of the derivative, sketching of graphs of functions, definite and indefinite integrals, and calculation of area. The course is especially recommended for science and mathematics majors. 

MATH 141 Calculus II (4)
Prerequisite: MATH 140 or equivalent. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: MATH 141 or MATH 221. Continuation of MATH 140, including techniques of integration, improper integrals, applications of integration (such as volumes, work, arc length, moments), inverse functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series. 

MATH 240 Introduction to Linear Algebra (4)
Prerequisite: MATH 141 or equivalent. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: MATH 240 or MATH 400 or MATH 461. Basic concepts of linear algebra: vector spaces, applications to line and plane geometry, linear equations and matrices, similar matrices, linear transformations, eigenvalues, determinants and quadratic forms. 

MATH 241 Calculus III (4)
Prerequisites: MATH 141 and any one of the following: MATH 240 or ENES 102 or PHYS 161 or PHYS 171. Introduction to multivariable calculus, including vectors and vector-valued functions, partial derivatives and applications of partial derivatives (such as tangent planes and Lagrange multipliers), multiple integrals, volume, surface area, and the classical theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss. 

MATH 246 Differential Equations for Scientists and Engineers (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 141 or equivalent. An introduction to the basic methods of solving ordinary differential equations. Equations of first and second order, linear differential equations, Laplace transforms, numerical methods, and the qualitative theory of differential equations. 

MATH 461 Linear Algebra for Scientists and Engineers (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 141 and one MATH/STAT course for which MATH 141 is a prerequisite. This course cannot be used toward the upper level math requirements for MATH/STAT majors. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: MATH 240, MATH 400 or MATH 461. Basic concepts of linear algebra. This course is similar to MATH 240, but with more extensive coverage of the topics needed in applied linear algebra: change of basis, complex eigenvalues, diagonalization, the Jordan canonical form.

MATH 462 Partial Differential Equations for Scientists and Engineers (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 241; and MATH 246. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: MATH 462 or MATH 415. Linear spaces and operators, orthogonality, Sturm-Liouville problems and eigenfunction expansions for ordinary differential equations, introduction to partial differential equations, including the heat equation, wave equation and Laplace’s equation, boundary value problems, initial value problems, and initial-boundary value problems.

Meteorology Courses

METO 431 Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers I (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 240 or 461; PHYS 263; CHEM 103. Recommended: MATH 246. The general character of the atmosphere and its weather and climate systems, phenomena, and distributions of variables (winds, temperature, pressure, moisture). The formal framework of the science; the application of basic classical physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computational sciences to the atmosphere.

METO 432 Meteorology Scientists and Engineers II (3)
Prerequisite: METO 431. Corequisite: MATH 246. 3 semester hours. The general character of the atmosphere and its weather and climate systems, phenomena, and distributions of variables (winds, temperature, pressure, moisture). The formal framework of the science; the application of basic classical physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computational sciences to the atmosphere.

METO 434 Air Pollution (3)
Prerequisites:{CHEM 113 and MATH 241} or permission of department . Production, transformation, transport and removal of air pollutants. The problems of photochemical smog, the greenhouse effect, stratospheric ozone, acid rain, and visibility. Analytical techniques for gases and particles.

Supporting Chemistry Courses

CHEM 103 General Chemistry I (4)
Three hours of lecture, three hours of laboratory, and one hour of discussion/recitation
per week. Prerequisite: placement in MATH 110 or higher. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: CHEM 102, CHEM 103, CHEM 105, CHEM 107, CHEM 111, CHEM 143. The first semester of a chemistry sequence intended for students whose curricula require a year or more of chemistry. The nature and composition of matter, chemical calculations, elements and inorganic compounds.

CHEM 113 General Chemistry II (4)
Three hours of lecture, three hours of laboratory, and one hour of discussion/recitation
per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 103 or CHEM 105. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: CHEM 113 or CHEM 115. Kinetics; homogeneous, heterogeneous, and ionic equilibria; ox idation-reduct ion; elect rochemistry; chemistry of the elements.

Education Courses

EDCI 280 Introduction to Teaching (3)
Development of conceptual understanding of the teaching-learning process.
Seminar to coordinate on-and off-campus experiences. Two hours each week on campus with an arranged six hours each week in schools.

EDCI 463 Reading in the Secondary School (3)
Prerequisites: admission to teacher education program; and 2.5 GPA; or permission of department required for post-baccalaureate students. For education majors only. Provides secondary school teachers with understanding the need for an approaches to teaching students to read and learn from content area texts.

EDHD 413 Adolescent Development (3)
Adolescent development, including special problems encountered in contemporary culture. Observational component and individual case study.

EDHD 426 Cognition and Motivation in Reading: Reading in Content Areas I (3)
Students preparing for secondary teaching will learn the cognitive and motivational aspects of reading and learning from text in subjects of literature, science, history and mathematics. Different structured approaches to using text for content learning are presented. Classroom contexts that enable students to engage productively with diverse texts and internet resources are identified.

EDPL 301 Foundations of Education (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing and admission to teacher education; or Bachelor’s
degree; or permission of department. Social context of education and conflicts over philosophies, values, and goals that are reflected in educational institutions in our pluralistic
society. Helps teachers become reflective, critical thinkers about the social and philosophical issues they face and the choices they make.

EDPL 401 Educational Technology, Policy, and Social Change (3)
Junior standing. Formerly EDPA 401. Examines technology as a complex force which influences social change and the educational development of individuals.