(updated on December 7, 2021)
The Engineering Physics major allows students with strong interests in both physics and engineering to concentrate their studies in the common areas of these disciplines. The Engineering Physics major prepares students to pursue careers in industry, either directly after undergraduate studies, or following graduate study in engineering or physics. Many employers value the unique problem solving approach of physics, especially in industrial research and development.
Students majoring in engineering physics complete the Engineering Core as well as a rigorous course of study in physics. Students select a concentration area from an engineering discipline, and must complete a sequence of at least four courses in this discipline. In addition, a senior research and design project under the guidance of a faculty member is required. The project includes a written report and participation in the senior seminar and symposium.
For more information, contact Prof. Xuan Gao, xuan.gao@case.edu.
Mission and Program Objectives
The mission of the Engineering Physics program is to prepare students for careers in engineering where physics principles can be applied to the advancement of technology. This education at the intersection of engineering and physics will enable students to seek employment in engineering upon graduation while, at the same time, provide a firm foundation for the pursuit of graduate studies in either engineering or physics. The Engineering Physics program will develop sufficient depth in both engineering and physics skills to produce engineers who can relate fundamental physics to practical engineering problems, and will possess the versatility to address new problems in our rapidly changing technological base. The program provides a curriculum and environment to develop interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical and professional outlooks, communication skills, and the tools and desire for life-long learning. In order to realize this mission, the Engineering Physics Program pursues the following objectives:
Program Objective 1:
Graduates of the Engineering Physics program will apply their strong problem solving skills as physicists along with an understanding of the approach, methods, and requirements of engineering and engineering design for a successful career in advancing technology. Its engineering science and design components prepare students to work as professional engineers.
Program Objective 2:
Graduates of the Engineering Physics program will use their strong skills in problem solving, research experience and knowledge in physics and engineering as successful graduate students and researchers in highly ranked graduate programs. The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program in Engineering Physics is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
Enrollment Statistics (Fall 2012 through Fall 2017)
Data reflects sophomore, junior and senior declared Majors.
| Fall 2012 | Fall 2013 | Fall 2014 | Fall 2015 | Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 |
| 13 | 15 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 25 |
Graduation Statistics (AY 2012-13 through AY 2016-17)
| 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 |
| 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
Course requirements for B.S.E., Engineering Physics Major*
*A student’s Academic requirements page in SIS and the University’s General Bulletin, https://case.edu/bulletin/, are the definitive sources for course and degree information.
Engineering Core and Science Requirements
PHYS 121 or 123 General Physics I. Mechanics or Physics & Frontiers I – Mechanics
PHYS 122 or 124 General Physics II. Electricity and Magnetism or Physics & Frontiers I – Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 221 Introduction to Modern Physics
MATH 121 Calculus for Science and Engineering
MATH 122 Calculus for Science and Engineering II
MATH 223 Calculus for Science and Engineering III
MATH 224 Elementary Differential Equations
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry for Engineers
ENGR 131 Elementary Computer Programming
ENGR 145 Chemistry of Materials
ENGR 200 Statics and Strength of Materials
ENGR 210 Introduction to Circuits and Instrumentation
ENGR 225 Thermodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer
ENGR/ENGL 398 Professional Communication for Engineers SAGES First Seminar and two University Seminars Humanities and Social Science 12 hours Physical Education
Physics Courses
PHYS 208 Instrumentation and Signal Analysis Laboratory
PHYS 250 Computational Methods in Physics
PHYS 303 Advanced Physics Laboratory Seminar
PHYS 310 Classical Mechanics
PHYS 313 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 317 Engineering Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 318 Engineering Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 324 Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS 325 Electricity and Magnetism II
PHYS 331 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 352 Senior Physics Project Seminar*
PHYS 353 Engineering Physics Senior Project*
*Students may elect to satisfy the SAGES capstone requirement by completing one of the SAGES capstones course in another department in the Case School of Engineering in place of PHYS 352 and PHYS 353. Students selecting this option must also complete a 3-credit hour technical elective satisfied by any 200 level or above course in the Case School of Engineering
Applications of Quantum Mechanics (Choose one of the following courses)
PHYS 315 Introduction to Solid State Physics
PHYS 332 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 327 Laser Physics
EECS 321 Semiconductor Electronic Devices
EMSE 405 Dielectric, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials
Engineering Physics Concentration
Engineering Physics majors must complete a sequence of at least four upper level courses in an engineering concentration. Below is a list of suggested sequences in the various engineering programs. Students should seek advice from those engineering representatives listed below for each program in order to select the courses, either from the courses below or a set of four consistent with scheduling, student preparation, and student interest. Both the program representative and the student’s advisor must approve the sequence. Following approval, students must submit the paperwork to undergraduate studies to insure credit for the sequence toward graduation.One of the Engineering Physics concentration courses must provide an engineering design experience which can be satisfied by completing one of EBME 380, ECHE 399, ECIV 398, EECS 398, EMAC 378, EMAE 360, EMAE 398, or EMSE 379 courses.
Biomedical Engineering Concentration
Contact Prof. Dustin Tyler
Biomedical Systems and Analysis, Devices, and Instrumentation
EBME 201 (Physiology-Biophysics I)
EBME 202 (Physiology-Biophysics II)
EBME 308 (Biomedical Signals & Systems)
Biomaterials
EBME 201 (Physiology-Biophysics I)
EBME 202 (Physiology-Biophysics II)
EBME 306 (Introduction to Biomedical Materials)
Plus one from the following:
EBME 309/359 (Modeling for Biomedical Engineering)
EBME 317 (Excitable Cells) EECS 245 (Electronic Circuits)
EECS 309 (Electromagnetics)
Plus one from the following: (pre-reqs might preclude a few of the options)
EBME 303 (Structure of Biological Materials)
EBME 305 (Materials for Prosthetics and Orthotics)
EBME 325 (Introduction to Tissue Engineering)
EBME 315 (Applied Tissue Engineering)
EBME 350 (Quantitative Molecular Bioengineering)
EBME 406 (Polymers in Medicine)
Chemical Engineering Concentration
Contact: Prof. Uziel Landau
ECHE 260 Introduction to Chemical Systems
ECHE 360 Transport Phenomena for Chemical Systems
ECHE 361 Separation Processes
ECHE 364 Chemical Reaction Processes
Civil Engineering Concentration
Contact Prof. Bill Yu, ecivchair@case.edu or see below
ECIV 310 Strength of Materials
ECIV 211 Civil Engineering Materials
And then two courses from Civil Engineering Minors lists in either:
Solid Mechanics (Contact: Prof. Brian Metrovich)
Structural Engineering (Contact: Prof. Dario Gasparini)
Geotechnical Engineering (Contact: Prof. Bill Yu)
Environmental Engineering (Contact: Prof. Aaron Jennings)
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Concentration
Contact: Prof. Michael Lewicki
Solid State
EECS 245 Electronic Circuits
EECS 321 Semiconductor Electronic Devices
EECS 322 Integrated Circuits/Electronic Devices
EECS 344 Electronic Analysis and Design
Computer Science
EECS 233 Introduction to Data Structures
EECS 302 Discrete Mathematics
EECS 340 Algorithms and Data Structures
EECS 341 Databases
Computer Engineering, Software
EECS 233 Introduction to Data Structures
EECS 337 Systems Programming
EECS 338 Introduction to Operating Systems
Computer Engineering, Hardware
EECS 233 Introduction to Data Structures
EECS 281 Logic Design and Computer Organization
EECS 316 Computer Design
Plus one from the following:
EECS 315 Digital Systems Design
EECS 301 Digital Logic Laboratory
Plus one from the following:
EECS 315 Digital Systems Design
EECS 301 Digital Logic Laboratory
Systems and Control
EECS 246 Systems and Control
EECS 304 Control Engineering I
EECS 346 Engineering Optimization
EECS 352 Engineering Economic and Decision Analysis
Macromolecular Science and Engineering Concentration Contact: Prof. David Schiraldi
EMAC 270 Introduction to Polymer Science
EMAC 376 Polymer Engineering
EMAC 377 Polymer Processing
Plus one from the following:
EMAC 378 Polymer Engineer Design Product
EMAC 403 Polymer Physics
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Concentration
Contact: Prof. Paul Barnhart
Aerospace Engineering
EMAE 325 Fluid and Thermal Engineering II
EMAE 359 Aero/Gas Dynamics
EMAE 381 Flight and Orbital Dynamics
Plus one from the following:
EMAE 382 Propulsion
EMAE 376 Aerostructures
Mechanics Engineering
EMAE 325 Fluid and Thermal Engineering II
EMAE 350 Mechanical Engineering Analysis
EMAE 355 Design of Fluid and Thermal Analysis
Plus one from the following:
EMAE 387 Vibration Problems in Engineering
EMAE 370 Design of Mechanical Elements
Materials Science and Engineering Sequence
Contact: Prof. James McGuffin-Cawley
EMSE 201 Introduction to Materials Science
EMSE 202 Phase Diagrams and Phase Transitions
EMSE 314 Electrical, Magnetic, and Optical Properties of Materials
EMSE 312 Diffraction Principles
Engineering Physics – Typical Schedule
|
|
Fall (Class Hours-Lab Hours-Credit Hours) |
Spring (Class Hours-Lab Hours-Credit Hours) |
| First Year |
PHYS 121 or PHYS 123* Mechanics (4-3-4) MATH 121** Calculus for Science and Engineering I (4-0-4) CHEM 111 (3-0-3) or (4-0-4) PHYS 166 Physics Today & Tomorrow (1-0-1) FS** SAGES First Seminar (4-0-4) PHED *** Physical Education Activities (0-3-0) |
PHYS 122 or PHYS 124* Electricity & Magnetism (4-3-4) MATH 122** Calculus for Science and Engineering II (4-0-4) ENGR 145 (3-0-3) or (4-0-4) ENGR 131 Elementary Computer Programming (2-2-3) US** University Seminar (3-0-3) PHED *** Physical Education Activities (0-3-0) |
| Second Year |
PHYS 221 General Physics III Modern Physics (3-0-3) MATH 223** Calculus for Science & Engineering III (3-0-3) ENGR 200 Statics & Strength of Materials (3-0-3) ENGR 210 Circuits & Instrumentation (2-4-4) US** University Seminar (3-0-3) |
PHYS 208 Instrumentation & Signal Analysis Lab (2-4-4) PHYS 250 Computational Methods(3-0-3) PHYS 310 Classical Mechanics (3-0-3) MATH 224** Differential Equations (3-0-3) ENGR 225 Thermodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, Heat & Mass Transfer (3-0-3) |
| Third Year |
PHYS 303+317 Adv. Lab. Seminar + Engr. Phys Lab I (1-0-1) + (0-7-3) PHYS 313 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mech. (3-0-3) PHYS 331 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I (3-0-3) Engineering Concentration Course*** (3-0-3) Humanities/Social Science Elective (3-0-3) |
PHYS 318 Engr. Physics Lab II (0-8-4) PHYS 324 Electricity and Magnetism I (3-0-3) ENGL 398 + ENGR 398 Professional Communication for Engineers (3-0-3) Engineering Concentration Course*** (3-0-3) Humanities/Social Science Elective (3-0-3) |
| Fourth Year |
PHYS 315**** Condensed Matter Physics Elective (3-0-3) PHYS 325 Electricity and Magnetism II(3-0-3) PHYS 353+352 Senior Physics Project+Seminar (0-6-2)+(1-0-1) Engineering Concentration Course*** (3-0-3) Humanities/Social Science Elective (3-0-3) |
PHYS 353+352 Senior Physics Project + Seminar (0-6-2)+(1-0-1) Applied Quantum Mechanics Course (3-0-3) Engineering Concentration Course*** (3-0-3) Humanities/Social Science Elective (3-0-3) Open* Elective (3-0-3) |
* Selected students may be invited to take PHYS 123, 124 (Physics and Frontiers I, II Honors) in place of PHYS 121, 122.
** Selected students may be invited to take MATH 123, 124, 227, and 228 in place of MATH 121, 122, 223, and 224.
*** Engineering physics concentration courses are flexible, but they must be in a specific engineering discipline or study area and approved by an advisor. Possible concentration areas include aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering “hardware,” biomedical engineering “software,” chemical engineering, civil engineering (solid mechanics, structural and geotechnical, environmental), computer science, computer systems hardware, computer systems software, control systems and automation, electrical engineering, macromolecular science, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, signal processing, systems analysis and decision making. One of the Engineering Physics concentration courses must provide an engineering design experience which can be satisfied by completing one of EBME 380, ECHE 399, ECIV 398, EECS 398, EMAC 378, EMAE 360, EMAE 398 or EMSE 379.
**** The Applications of Quantum Mechanics Elective is normally chosen from EECS 321, EMSE 405, PHYS 315, PHYS 327, PHYS 332 in either the junior or senior year.
***** Students may elect to satisfy the SAGES capstone requirement by completing one of the SAGES capstones course in another department in the Case School of Engineering in place of PHYS 352 and PHYS 353. Students selecting this option must also complete a 3-credit hour technical elective satisfied by any 200 level or above course in the Case School of Engineering