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Engineering Physics Major
The Honors Tutorial College (HTC) engineering physics program is for students interested in physics with an orientation toward applications, or for those who are interested in engineering but would like a deep understanding of fundamentals. Often such students work on problems that do not lie in a traditional branch of Engineering.
There are two ways to study Engineering Physics at Ohio University:
- There is a two-degree program in which a student works toward a bachelor's degree in one of the engineering disciplines within the College of Engineering and Technology, at the same time working toward a degree in Engineering Physics within the Honors Tutorial College.
- Work only on the Engineering Physics degree within the Honors Tutorial College.
Curriculum
Below are outlined two curricula, one for the single-degree program and the other for the two-degree program using, as an example, a student studying Electrical and Computer Engineering.
At the heart of both programs is the tutorial. In a tutorial the student studies from selected written material in a given subject area under the guidance of a professor as tutor. At individual weekly meetings, the student and tutor discuss the current reading, solutions of problems, and other assignments.
A student typically spends about one semester to a fifth of their time (and academic credit) on such studies, the remainder being in laboratories and class work either required (such as mathematics and engineering courses) or electives.
Taken alone, the B.S. in Engineering Physics program in the Honors Tutorial College requires four years to complete. The program is basically the Honors Tutorial Physics curriculum with an engineering component. Unlike the two-degree program, this curriculum may cross engineering disciplines and will include an undergraduate thesis project.
It should be noted that such a degree will generally NOT satisfy the accreditation criteria of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, which some students regard as a disadvantage. On the other hand, there is more flexibility in designing a curriculum to meet individual interests.
View full curriculum in the Academic Catalog
Required subjects are as follows:
- Physics — mechanics, special relativity, wave phenomena, optics, electricity and magnetism, electronics (replaced by equivalent courses for Electrical Engineering majors), quantum physics (molecules, atoms, nuclei, elementary particles, condensed matter), thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics.
- Mathematics — analytical geometry, calculus, differential equations, vector analysis, Fourier series, partial differential equations, matrix algebra, applied complex variables.
- English composition (two semesters) — required of all Honors Tutorial students.
- Chemistry (one year)
- Engineering drawing, computer programming — appropriate engineering courses according to the program designed for you.
- Undergraduate thesis on some topic in Engineering Physics.
The two-degree program takes five years to complete. One must be accepted into the Honors Tutorial Program to work on a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics and into the College of Engineering and Technology to work on a second degree, a Bachelor of Science in one of the engineering disciplines offered.
The branches of Engineering represented at Ohio University are: Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Industrial and Systems, and Mechanical Engineering. The degrees from the College of Engineering and Technology are based upon curricula accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of The Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology.
Detailed descriptions are available in the Undergraduate Catalog or from the College of Engineering and Technology. An example that integrates the requirements for a B.S. in HTC Engineering Physics and a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.S.E.E.) is shown following.
Some especially good students are able to bypass the B.S. and obtain a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Engineering. This has the advantage that, as a graduate student, one may receive a fee waiver and graduate stipend; however, this will not meet the certification requirements for an engineer in the State of Ohio.
Sample Program
This listing assumes no prior calculus. Humanities and/or social science requirements for the B.S.E.E. are 24 hours with at least 8 in humanities and 8 in social sciences selected from a list approved by the College of Engineering and Technology.
Ohio University has certain general education requirements (Tier I, II, and III) which must be satisfied by students in the College of Engineering and Technology. Some of the Tier II requirements may also be met concurrently with the humanities and social science requirements. More detailed requirements for the B.S.E.E. degree appear in the current issue of the Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog.
- First Year Physics tutorial: mechanics, electricity, magnetism, heat, waves, optics, and special relativity; Mathematics: analytic geometry and calculus; Chemistry: introduction to chemistry; Engineering: engineering drawing; General: freshman English composition; and a humanities or social science elective.
- Second Year Physics tutorial: quantum phenomena, elementary quantum mechanics and nuclei and particles; Mathematics: analytic geometry and calculus, ordinary and partial differential equations; Engineering: computer methods in engineering, statics; General: public speaking; and two humanities and/or social science electives.
- Third Year Physics: intermediate physics laboratory (electrons, photons, and nucleons), statistical mechanics; Mathematics: vector analysis, matrix methods, applied complex variables; Engineering: circuits and circuit analysis, instrumentation and introduction to digital circuits laboratory, analytic foundations of electrical engineering; General: junior English composition.
- Fourth Year Physics: intermediate electricity and magnetism, advanced optics; Engineering: strength of materials, intermediate laboratory, linear systems and networks, electronics, microcomputers, applied probability and statistics for EE, and energy conversion.
- Fifth Year Physics tutorial: advanced mechanics, solid state physics; Engineering: advanced laboratory, electrical engineering design, senior EE concentration electives, technical electives; General: Tier III requirement, humanities and/or social science electives.
Career Opportunities
Recipients of the B.S. degree in engineering physics possess high-level problem-solving skills that can lead to opportunities for employment in research institutions, government or industry. This degree also prepares students for graduate study in physics, applied physics or an engineering discipline.
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Financial Aid & Scholarships
All first-year Honors Tutorial College students admitted for fall semester earn the OHIO Premier Scholarship, valued at full in-state tuition and renewable for four years. Out-of-state HTC students may also earn the OHIO Trustee Award, valued at up to $7,000 annually.
Our Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships also provides services to students and parents both in-person and remotely.
Admission Requirements
This is a selective admission program. Students must demonstrate:
- Exceptional academic performance
- Strong potential for independent study and research
- Submission of additional essays and high school teacher recommendations
- An interview with the director of studies
The deadline for application for admission to the Honors Tutorial College for fall semester is November 15. An interview is required for admission.
First-year, transfer, and external applicants are held to the same high standards. More details can be found on the HTC Application Page.
Director of Studies
