Spring 2026 Physics

PHYS 100

Preparatory Physics

3 hours. No credit toward the Major in Physics, BS in Physics, or Minor in Physics. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better or concurrent registration in MATH 121; and appropriate score on the department placement test.

PHYS 110

Gateway to Physics: First Year Seminar

1 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. No background in physics is necessary.

PHYS 112

Astronomy and the Universe

4 hours. UIC GE Natural World Lab course. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

PHYS 131

Introductory Physics for Life Sciences I

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): High school algebra and trigonometry. Credit for PHYS 131 is not given if the student has credit for PHYS 105 or PHYS 141. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory, one Lecture and one Discussion/Recitation. UIC GE Natural World Lab course.

PHYS 132

Introductory Physics for Life Sciences II

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 105 and Grade of C or better in PHYS 106; or Grade of C or better in PHYS 131. Credit for PHYS 132 is not given if the student has credit for PHYS 107 or PHYS 142. To be properly registered, student must enroll in one Laboratory, one Discussion/Recitation and one Lecture. UIC GE Natural World Lab course.

PHYS 141

General Physics I (Mechanics)

4 hours. Students may obtain one additional hour of credit by concurrently registering in PHYS 144. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better or concurrent registration in MATH 180; or approval of the department ; and Grade of C or better in PHYS 100 or adequate performance on the departmental placement test. UIC GE Natural World Lab course. During the fall and spring terms, combined-section final exam will be held on Wednesday of finals week from 6 to 8 p.m. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.

PHYS 142

General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism)

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 141; and Grade of C or better or concurrent registration in MATH 181. UIC GE Natural World Lab course.

PHYS 240

Fundamentals of Modern Quantum Theory

3 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in MATH 181; and Grade of C or better in PHYS 142; or Grade of B or better in PHYS 107 or Grade of B or better in PHYS 132. Physics majors (BA and BS) are required to register concurrently for PHYS 241.

PHYS 241

Experiments in Modern Physics

1 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in MATH 181; and Grade of C or better in PHYS 142; or Grade of B or better in PHYS 107 or Grade of B or better in PHYS 132. Requires concurrent registration in PHYS 240 or approval of the department.

Physics Lab Fee $40.00 Flat Fee.

PHYS 245

Introduction to Vibrations, Waves, and Thermal Physics

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in MATH 181; and Grade of C or better in PHYS 142; or Grade of B or better in PHYS 107 or Grade of B or better in PHYS 132. Recommended background: Credit or concurrent registration in MATH 220. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

PHYS 260

Introduction to Thermal Physics

2 hours. Extensive computer use required. Computer and internet access are required. This course does not satisfy the requirements for BA and BS degrees in physics. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 141 and Grade of C or better in MATH 181. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Discussion.

PHYS 391

Physics Seminar

1 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing. Departmental Approval Required

PHYS 392

Physics Research

2 TO 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department. This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the degree and the major.

PHYS 393

Special Problems

2 TO 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department. This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the degree and the major.

PHYS 402

Electromagnetism II

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 230 and Grade of C or better in PHYS 401; or approval of the department. Restricted to Engineering Physics or Physics or Teaching of Physics or Teaching of Chemistry or Biochemistry or Neuroscience or Chemistry or Biological Sciences or Earth & Environmental Sciences or Teaching of Biol Sciences major(s).

PHYS 412

Quantum Mechanics II

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 411; or approval of the department. Restricted to Physics or Engineering Physics or Teaching of Physics or Teaching of Chemistry or Biochemistry or Neuroscience or Chemistry or Biological Sciences or Earth & Environmental Sciences or Teaching of Biol Sciences major(s).

PHYS 441

Theoretical Mechanics

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 215 and Grade of C or better or concurrent registration in PHYS 245; or approval of the department. Restricted to Engineering Physics or Physics or Teaching of Physics or Teaching of Chemistry or Biochemistry or Neuroscience or Chemistry or Biological Sciences or Earth & Environmental Sciences or Teaching of Biol Sciences major(s).

PHYS 450

Molecular Biophysics of the Cell

4 hours. Same as BIOS 460 and BME 450. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 245 or Grade of C or better in PHYS 260 or the equivalent; or approval of the department.

PHYS 480

Elements of Machining Scientific Equipment

1 hours. Same as CHEM 480 and EAES 478. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and approval of the department. Departmental Approval Required

Physics Lab Fee $40.00 Flat Fee.

PHYS 482

Modern Experimental Physics II

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 481; or approval of the department. To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.

PHYS 512

Quantum Mechanics II

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 511 or approval of the department.

PHYS 513

Quantum Field Theory I

4 hours. PHYS 501 and Credit or concurrent registration in PHYS 512 or approval of the department.

PHYS 531

Solid State Physics I

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 511 and upper-level undergraduate course in thermal and statistical physics or approval of the department.

PHYS 562

Statistical Mechanics II

3 hours. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 561 or consent of the department.

PHYS 594

Special Topics in Modern Physics

1 TO 4 hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; or approval of the department.

PHYS 595

Graduate Seminar

1 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term.

PHYS 596

Individual Study

2 TO 4 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

PHYS 598

Master's Thesis Research

0 TO 16 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

PHYS 599

Thesis Research

0 TO 16 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.