Academic Catalog

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

General Information on Undergraduate Program

The objectives of the department are:<BR><BR>-To develop students` basic knowledge of physics in order that they can understand the rules governing the universe.<BR>-To enhance students` ability and motivation to solve unsolved problems in various fields.<BR>-To give broader background in math and science in order to provide a basis for branching out into variety of areas ranging from the nano-scale high-tech area to space physics.<BR>-To prepare students to become a research scientist to make a carrier of physics and also work as a professor in a university, or to work as an applier of physics in almost all fields where science and technology have an important impact.<BR>

Undergraduate Curriculum


FIRST YEAR

First Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS107 PHYSICS LABORATORY I 2 1 2 5.0
PHYS109 MECHANICS 5 5 0 7.5
CHEM101 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I 5 4 2 7.0
MATH119 CALCULUS WITH ANALYTIC GEOMETRY 5 4 2 7.0
ENG101 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES I 4 4 1 6.0
OHS101 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY-I 0 0 0 2.0
Semester Total:34.5

Second Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS108 PHYSICS LABORATORY II 2 1 2 5.0
PHYS110 ELECTROMAGNETISM 5 5 0 7.5
CHEM102 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II 5 4 2 7.5
MATH120 CALCULUS OF FUNCTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES 5 4 2 7.5
BA100 CAREER PLANNING 0 1 0 2.0
ENG102 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES II 4 4 1 6.0
IS100 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS 0 0 2 1.0
Semester Total:36.5

SECOND YEAR

Third Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS200 BASICS OF SCIENTIFIC COMPUTATION 3 2 2 5.0
PHYS203 INTRODUCTORY ELECTRONICS I 4 3 2 6.0
PHYS209 MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS I 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS221 OPTICS AND WAVES 4 4 0 6.0
MATH260 BASIC LINEAR ALGEBRA 3 3 0 5.0
Any 1 of the following set ..
HIST2201 0 2 0 2.0
HIST2205 HISTORY OF THE TURKISH REVOLUTION I 0 2 0 2.0
Semester Total:30

Fourth Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS202 MODERN PHYSICS 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS210 MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS II 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS222 OPTICS AND WAVES LABORATORY 3 1 4 5.0
ENG211 ACADEMIC ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS 3 3 1 4.0
Any 1 of the following set ..
HIST2202 0 2 0 2.0
HIST2206 HISTORY OF THE TURKISH REVOLUTION II 0 2 0 2.0
            FREE ELECTIVE 6.0
Semester Total:29

THIRD YEAR

Fifth Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS307 APPLIED MODERN PHYSICS 3 1 4 6.0
PHYS331 ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY I 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS335 CLASSICAL MECHANICS I 4 4 0 6.0
OHS301 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - II 0 0 0 2.0
Any 1 of the following set ..
TURK105 TURKISH I 0 4 0 5.0
TURK201 ELEMENTARY TURKISH I 0 2 0 3.0
TURK303 TURKISH I 0 2 0 2.0
            NONDEPARTMENTAL ELECTIVE 6.0
Semester Total:31

Sixth Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS300 QUANTUM PHYSICS 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS332 ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY II 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS336 CLASSICAL MECHANICS II 4 4 0 6.0
ENG311 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION AND CAREER SKILLS 3 3 1 4.0
Any 1 of the following set ..
TURK106 TURKISH II 0 4 0 5.0
TURK202 INTERMEDIATE TURKISH I 0 2 0 3.0
TURK304 TURKISH II 0 2 0 2.0
            RESTRICTED ELECTIVE 6.0
Semester Total:33

FOURTH YEAR

Seventh Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
PHYS400 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS 3 2 2 6.0
PHYS430 STATISTICAL THERMODYNAMICS 4 4 0 6.0
PHYS431 QUANTUM MECHANICS I 4 4 0 6.0
            RESTRICTED ELECTIVE 6.0
            TECHNICAL ELECTIVE 6.0
Semester Total:30

Eighth Semester
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
            NONDEPARTMENTAL ELECTIVE 6.0
            RESTRICTED ELECTIVE 6.0
            RESTRICTED ELECTIVE 6.0
            FREE ELECTIVE 6.0
            TECHNICAL ELECTIVE 6.0
Semester Total:30
Program Total:254

h/w = hours per week