Dual Major in Physics and Electrical Engineering
How Electrical Engineering majors can look at the physics program:
Common to both options:
|
Physics requirements |
EE requirements |
|
Ph 211, 212, 213 General Physics (with Calculus) |
Ph 211, 212, 213 or 221, 222, 223 General Physics |
|
Ph 214, 215, 216 Lab for Ph 211, 212, 213 |
Ph 214, 215, 216 Lab |
|
Ph 311, 312 Introduction to Modern Physics |
Ph 317, 318 |
|
Ph 314, 315 Methods of Experimental Physics |
ECE 201, 202, 203, 301, 302 |
|
Ph 321 Current Electricity |
EE 321 |
|
Ph 322 Computational Physics |
EAS 101, 102, ECE311, STATS 460 |
|
Ph 424 Classical Mechanics I |
Ph 411 (?) |
|
Physics elective |
ECE Elective: ECE 491 (or any other physics course) |
|
Ph 431 Electricity and Magnetism (elective) |
ECE 331 |
|
Mth 251, 252, 253, 254 Calculus |
Mth 251, 252, 253, 254 |
|
Mth 256 Applied Differential Equations |
Mth 256 Applied Differential Equations |
| Mth 343 Linear Algebra | Mth 343 Applied Linear Algebra |
|
One year of general chemistry: Ch 221, 222, 223, 227, 228, 229 |
Substitute another year of science or technology (EE electives) |
|
Standard Option Physics Requirements |
Standard Option EE Requirements |
|
Ph 316 Methods of Experimental Physics I |
Ph 464 (?) |
|
Ph 425 Classical Mechanics II or Ph 432 Electricity and Magnetism |
ECE 332 |
|
One year of approved courses in a related area of science or technology (biology, geology, additional chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering) |
Substitute another year of science or technology (EE electives) |
The question marks in the above list indicate a less than ideal fit between the physics and EE programs, but in some approximation these courses are acceptable. In fact, these courses are highly desirable for both the EE and the Physics major. From this analysis, the following can be deduced. Besides completing the BS in EE, EE majors need to take two additional courses in physics and one specific ECE elective to qualify for a BS degree in physics (based on the Portland State University Bulletin '02/'03).
These include :
Ph 464: Applied Optics
Ph 411: Quantum Mechanics
ECE 415: Fundamentals of semiconductor devices or any Ph elective (any 3 or more credit class, except for: 321, 314, 315)
Administrative detail: You can simply add physics as your second major in the online registration procedures. The additional work is minimal, if done over two years. This should increase your potential.
These courses are of great importance in high technology and will add considerable value to your electrical engineering degree. The minimum acceptable grade, in both Applied Optics and Quantum Mechanics (Ph 464 and 411), is C. If one or more grades of C- are obtained, you will need to take one more course, one or more credits, 300-level or above, with a grade of C- or better.
If for some reason (class time conflicts and/or other reasons) you can not take one of these courses (Applied Optics and Quantum Mechanics Ph 464 and 411), you can substitute any two courses in physics for the course that you missed. Thus, in this case, you will have to take three additional courses. Any course of two or more credits will do (300-level and above).
Download a PDF version of these requirements.
