Overview
Physics is the foundation of all natural sciences, engineering, and technology. The BS in Applied Physics prepares students to work on cutting-edge ideas in science and technology. Applied physics focuses on real-life applications and is designed for technological and practical use. It bridges physics with other fields like medicine, engineering, astronomy, chemistry, biology, and environmental sciences.
LAU prioritizes a student-centered approach, with physics classes designed to nurture active and experiential learning while using the latest technology and lab equipment. Students take undergraduate physics courses in classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, modern physics, optics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and solid-state physics.
Research is a core component of the LAU undergraduate experience. Students are encouraged to work with faculty on a variety of research topics, like nanotechnology, materials science, photonics, and other interdisciplinary areas.
With the discipline and training that comes with a physics degree, students can pursue various career paths, such as:
- Graduate school (M.S. / Ph.D.)
- Medicine (pre-med physics)
- Astronomy and space science
- Industry (sustainable energy, nanotechnology, materials development, petroleum industry, quantum information technology, medical instrumentation, and electronics)
- Teaching in schools
- Science and energy policies
- Intellectual property (patent law)
This program requires 94 credits and can be completed in three years by those entering as sophomores. The program is offered in Beirut and Byblos.
Mission
The BS in Applied Physics mission is to offer an excellent education in physical sciences that can be applied in various technical fields. The program carries out its mission within the context of liberal arts and sciences education and is committed to preparing students for careers in teaching, research, and industry.
Program Objectives
Graduates will be able to:
- Contribute to technological advances in Lebanon and the region.
- Pursue a variety of careers, including teaching, industry jobs, scientific research, etc.
- Use strong quantitative reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable tools for both research and technical tracks.
- Respond to scientific challenges and be a life-long learner.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a profound knowledge underlying experimental and theoretical physics.
- Acquire the skills needed to study various physical applications.
- Design, conduct, and analyze laboratory experiments and correlate results with theoretical models.
- Demonstrate written, oral, and visual presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge.
- Apply the scientific method to perform research.
- Work in teams, and on multidisciplinary topics.
Curriculum
Students must complete 94 credits of the following requirements:
- Physics Requirements (34 credits)
- Mathematics Requirements (12 credits)
- Chemistry Requirement (3 credits)
- Computer Science Requirement (3 credits)
- Elective Courses (minimum 15 credits with at least 6 PHY credits)
- A total of 27 post-Freshman credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences is required as follows:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Core Curriculum (6 credits): ENG202 and COM203
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Change Makers Courses (6 credits)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Digital Cultures Courses (3 credits)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Electives (12 credits: Arts and Humanities: 3 credits, Free Liberal Arts Elective Courses: 9 credits)
Physics Requirements (34 credits)
- PHY201 Electricity and Magnetism (4 cr.)
- PHY201B Electricity and Magnetism lab (1 cr.)
- PHY202 Classical Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY203 Classical Mechanics - Lab (1 cr.)
- PHY304 Mathematical Methods for Physicists (3 cr.)
- PHY307 Thermodynamics (4 cr.)
- PHY308 Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY309 Thermodynamics and Quantum - Lab (2 cr.)
- PHY321 Introduction to Modern Physics (3 cr.)
- PHY322 Modern Physics - Lab (1 cr.)
- PHY402 Solid State Physics (3 cr.)
- PHY405 Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY413 Optics and Waves (3 cr.)
- PHY499R Senior Study (3 cr.)
Mathematics Requirements (12 credits)
- MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
- MTH206 Calculus IV (3 cr.)
- MTH301 Linear Algebra (3 cr.)
- Choose a minimum of 3 credits from the following:
- MTH303 Numerical Methods (3 cr.)
- MTH305 Probability and Statistics (3 cr.)
Chemistry Requirement (3 credits)
- CHM201 Chemistry Principles (3 cr.)
Computer Science Requirement (3 credits)
Choose a minimum of 3 credits from the following:
- CSC243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.)
- BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)
Elective Courses (minimum 15 credits with at least 6 PHY credits)
The program offers three areas of concentration: pre-med physics, materials science, and electronics. Students may also design customized concentration areas in close consultation with their advisors and with departmental approval.
- PHY311* Organic Materials I (3 cr.)
- PHY312* Organic Materials II (3 cr.)
- PHY323 Introduction to Astrophysics (3 cr.)
- PHY324 Nuclear Physics (3 cr.)
- PHY325 Particle Physics (3 cr.)
- PHY326 Computational Physics (3 cr.)
- PHY404 Fluids Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY424 Introduction to Nanotechnology (3 cr.)
- PHY450* Medical Imaging and Instrumentation (3 cr.)
- PHY480 Topics in Physics (3 cr.)
- CHM301* Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
- CHM313* Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)
- CHM314* Organic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.)
- CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
- CHM422 Inorganic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
- CHM423 Synthesis and Identification of Inorganic Compounds (2 cr.)
- CHM424 Synthesis and Identification of Nanomaterials (2 cr.)
- CHM425 Computational Chemistry (3 cr.)
- ELE201 Electrical Circuits I (3 cr.)
- ELE302 Electrical Circuits II (3 cr.)
- ELE303 Electric Circuits II - Lab (1 cr.)
- ELE401 Electronics I (3 cr.)
- ELE402 Electronics Lab (1 cr.)
- CSC245 Objects and Data Abstraction (3 cr.)
- MTH306 Non-Linear Dynamics Chaos (3 cr.)
- MTH400 Advanced Linear Algebra (3 cr.)
- MTH498 Topics in Mathematics (3 cr.)
- BIO201 General Biology I (3 cr.)
- BIO201B* General Biology I Lab (1 cr.)
- BIO202* General Biology II (3 cr.)
- BIO202B* General Biology II Lab (3 cr.)
- BIO321* Genetics (3 cr.)
- BCH301* Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr.)
* Recommended for premed students
Recommended Study Plan
Year One
Fall (16 credits)
- PHY202 Classical Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY203 Classical Mechanics - Lab (1 cr.)
- MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
- CHM201 Chemistry Principles (3 cr.)
- ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
- LAS - Digital Cultures (3 cr.)
Spring (16 credits)
- PHY201 Electricity and magnetism (3 cr.)
- PHY201B Electricity and magnetism Lab (1 cr.)
- PHY321 Introduction to Modern Physics (3 cr.)
- MTH206 Calculus IV (3 cr.)
- COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)
- LAS - Change Makers (3 cr.)
Year Two
Fall (16 credits)
- PHY304 Mathematical Methods for Physicists (3 cr.)
- PHY307 Thermodynamics (3 cr.)
- PHY309 Advanced Physics Lab I (1 cr.)
- PHY413 Optics and Waves (3 cr.)
- Elective 1 (3 cr.)
- LAS - Change Makers (3 cr.)
Spring (16 credits)
- PHY308 Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY322 Advanced Physics lab II (1 cr.)
- PHY402 Solid State Physics (3cr.)
- Elective 2 (3 cr.)
- LAS - Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
- Free LAS Elective (3 cr.)
Year Three
Fall (15 credits)
- PHY499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
- MTH301 Linear Algebra (3 cr.)
- Elective 3 (3 cr.)
- MTH305 Probability and Statistics (3 cr.) or MTH303 Numerical Methods (3 cr.)
- Free LAS Elective (3 cr.)
Spring (15 credits)
- PHY405 Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.)
- Elective 4 (3 cr.)
- Elective 5 (3 cr.)
- CSC243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.) or BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)
- Free LAS Elective (3 cr.)
Recommended Pre-Med Study Plan
Additional courses (9 credits) provide students with the skills to succeed in the Medical College Admission test (MCAT).
Year One
Fall (17 credits)
- PHY202 Classical Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY203 Classical Mechanics - Lab (1 cr.)
- BIO201 General Biology I (3 cr.)
- BIO201B General Biology I lab (1 cr.)
- MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
- CHM201 Chemistry Principles (3 cr.)
- ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
Spring (17 credits)
- BIO202 General Biology II (3 cr.)
- BIO202B General Biology II Lab (1 cr.)
- CHM301 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
- PHY201 Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.)
- PHY201B Electricity and Magnetism lab (1 cr.)
- PHY321 Introduction to Modern Physics (3 cr.)
- COM203 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3 cr.)
Year Two
Fall (16 credits)
- BIO321 Genetics (3 cr.)
- PHY304 Mathematical Methods for Physicists (3 cr.)
- PHY309 Advanced Physics Lab I (1 cr.)
- PHY307 Thermodynamics (3 cr.)
- PHY311 Organic Materials I (3 cr.)
- SOC201 Introduction to Sociology (LAS Elective; 3 cr.)
Spring (17 credits)
- BCH301 Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr.)
- PHY308 Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.)
- PHY322 Advanced Physics lab II (1 cr.)
- PHY312 Organic Materials II (3 cr.)
- PSY201 Introduction to Psychology (LAS Elective; 3 cr.)
Year Three
Fall (18 credits)
- PHY499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
- MTH301 Linear Algebra (3 cr.)
- MTH305 Probability and Statistics (3 cr.) or MTH303 Numerical Methods (3 cr.)
- PHY413 Optics and Waves (3 cr.)
- LAS—- Change Makers (3 cr.)
- LAS—- Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
Spring (18 credits)
- PHY402 Solid State Physics (3 cr.)
- PHY405 Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.)
- CSC243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.) or BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)
- MTH206 Calculus IV (3 cr.)
- LAS—- Change Makers (3 cr.)
- LAS—- Digital Cultures (3 cr.)
