Dual Physics/Electrical Engineering  BS degree

    By careful planning a student can receive BS degrees in physics and electrical engineering by taking as few as 18 additional credit hours above the 120 credit hours required for either BS degree alone.  The requirements and a sample schedule for obtaining the two degrees together are below.  The combination of subjects in this dual degree program of study would broaden one’s career opportunities allowing one to work in either physics or electrical engineering.  It would also prepare a person for a career in research and/or development of technology at the interface between physics and electrical engineering.  Such research and development areas include semiconductor and integrated circuit devices development, nanotechnology, advanced memory development, instrumentation, and new sensor and imaging technology, to name but a few. 

     As with most dual degrees, this dual degree requires more effort than a single degree. Considering the challenging nature of both physics and electrical engineering, a student might consider stretching the degree out somewhat by taking some courses in the summer or in one or two additional semesters.  As alternatives, a student with interest in both physics and electrical engineering might also consider pursuing a single BS degree in electrical engineering with a masters degree in applied physics, a  single BS in physics with a masters in electrical engineering, or a single physics BS with a masters in applied physics (note there is an accelerated program for this last combination).  The dual physics/electrical engineering BS degree would serve to ground a person well in the core knowledge of both disciplines, typically contained in junior and senior level core classes.  On the other hand, a single BS with masters degree would result in a faster attainment of an advanced degree, although this would require even more hours of classes than the dual BS degree.  Most key researchers in technology hold advanced degrees, mostly Ph.D.s, while people with BS and masters degree usually have related or supporting jobs.

Requirements for Dual Physics/EE  BS degree revised August 2004

1. ENGL 101 (100), 302,  6 hours total
2. COMM 100 3 hours
3. Literature 3 hours  (see EE approved list of approved literature courses.  See Note 2 below sample schedule at http://ece.gmu.edu/bsdegree/ugrad_ee_catalog.htm).
4. HIST 100, 120  6  hours total
5. Global Understanding     3  hours  (see global understanding list in university catalog under GenEd requirements)
6. ECON 103   3  (also fulfills physics social science requirement and the university Social and Behavior Sciences Requirement)
7. CS 112, 211  7  hours total (CS 112 also serves to meet the ethics part of the university IT requirement).
8. Fine Arts     3 (see university approved list of courses)
9. MATH 113, 114, 203, 213, 214, STAT 346 20 hours total.
10. Physics core:  PHYS160, 260, 261, 262, 263, 308   15 hours total.  Note that 308 also fulfills the requirement for one of the three EE technical elective courses in item 13b below.
11. EE core:  ECE 101, 201, 220, 280, 305, 320, 331, 332, 333, 334, 421, 433, 445, 460, 491, 492, 493     44  hours total 
12. Additional physics courses from PHYS 251, 303 306, 307, 402, 408, 409 or ASTRO 328, 428   12  hours total
13.  Additional ECE courses
    1.  ENGR 107 (2 hours) (this also satisfies the proficiency part of the university IT requirement).
    2.  EE tech electives (9 hours, 3 hours of which are fulfilled by Phys 308 which is required for the physics degree)
    3. two advanced ECE lab courses (2 hours total)   
    4. 10  hours total 
14. The physics requirement of 12 hours of additional technical courses is satisfied by upper level EE courses required by the EE degree.
15. The physics “General electives” are fulfilled by the other EE courses as required by the EE degree.
16. Total hours required  135

See sample schedule below (next page).  Also below are lists of the two degrees listed separately. 

Sample schedule.  All courses are 3 hours credit unless as indicated.

          135 total hours

 1Students need to add the following general education courses into the spaces marked “GenEd”.   These are generally available in all semesters including the summer.  The required general education courses are: Literature (3 hrs), HIST 100,  HIST 120, COMM 100, Global Understanding (3hrs), and Fine Arts (3hrs).  (Note that ECON 103 required by the EE degree satisfies the Social/Behavioral Sciences and so is not listed here.)  See the approved list of literature, global understanding, and fine arts courses under the university’s general education requirements on the web and in the ECE web pages.

     In addition, English 302 needs to be added and taken after English 101 and sometime after the sophomore year.  English 302 and the above required Gen Ed courses total 7 courses or 21 credit hours. 

2See ECE departmental list of approved EE technical electives.  Note also that PHYS 308 serves as one of the three required EE technical electives.  Note also the requirement for a number of “design hours” for the EE degree in the EE web pages.

3Choose advanced physics course from: PHYS 251, 303, 306, 307, 402, 408, 409, 416, and ASTRO 328, 428.  A total of 12 hours of these are required.

4See the EE list of advanced electrical engineering labs.  Note also the requirement for a number of “design hours” for the EE degree in the EE web pages. 

     ECE 305 satisfies the physics requirement of PHYS 305 (both are electromagnetic theory).  ECE 333 and 334 satisfies the physics requirement of PHYS 407.  STAT 346 replaces the old EE and physics requirements for STAT 344.  The physics requirement of 12 hours of technical electives are met by CS 112 and unused upper level EE courses.  The physics requirement for General Electives is met by unused EE courses.

Requirements of Physics and EE  BS degrees listed separately. 

(in parallel fashion to the dual degree requirements list above)   revised 7/04

Requirements for a physics BS (credit hours in bold):

• 1.       English 101 (100), 302  6
• 2.      Oral Communications 3 (satisfied by COMM 100 required by EE)
• 3.      Literature  3
• 4.      HIST 100, 120  6
• 5.      Global Understanding      3
• 6.      Social Science (anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, psychology, sociology, linguistics.  Note that ECON 103 required by the EE degree fulfills this requirement)  3
• 7.      Fine Arts     3
• 8.      MATH  113, 114, 203, 213, 214, 313 or 413 or STAT 344 (replaced by STAT 346)  20
• 9.      Physics core PHYS160, 260, 261, 262, 263, 305 (can be replaced by ECE 305), 308, 407 (can be replaced by ECE 333 and 334)   21
• 10.  Additional 12 hours of physics courses from PHYS 251, 303, 306, 307, 402, 408, 409 or ASTRO 328, 428   12
• 11.  Additional technical courses from PHYS 121, 122, 124, CS 112, or any approved upper level course in physics, astronomy, chemistry, electrical engineering, or math  12
• 12.  General electives  28
• 13.  Total hours equals 120.

Requirements for a EE BS:

• 1.      ENGL 101, 302  6
• 2.      COMM 100  3
• 3.      Literature 3
• 4.      HIST 100, 120  6
• 5.      Global Understanding     3  (see university approved list)
• 6.      ECON 103   3
• 7.      CS 112, 211  7
• 8.      MATH 113, 114, 203, 213, 214, STAT 346  20
• 9.      PHYS  160, 260, 261, 262, 263    12
• 10.  EE core:  ECE 101, 201, 220, 280, 305, 320, 331, 332, 333, 334, 421, 433, 445, 460, 491, 492, 493     44
• 11.  Additional ECE courses:
• a.       ENGR 107
• b.      EE tech electives (9 hours, 3 hours of which are fulfilled by PHYS 308 required for the physics degree)
• c.       Two advanced ECE lab courses (2 hours total) 
• d.      Total additional ECE course hours equals  13
• 12.  Total hours equals 120.