The Department of Physics offers the B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics. The Department also offers a teacher certification option and pre-professional programs in engineering and achitecture. The faculty serve approximately 25 undergraduate majors, 10 graduate majors and 50 pre-engineering students, as well as offer a number of general education and service courses. All majors are encouraged to participate in research activities.
Undergraduate Program
The science of physics explores the basic properties of matter and the forces which act upon matter. Using precise experimental measurements, physicists formulate laws which describe the observed behavior of the physical world. In the Bachelor of Science program, students gain experience in dealing with a broad range of physical phenomena. They learn the laws of physics and develop the theoretical and experimental skills necessary to apply these laws to a wide range of phenomena. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a student is prepared to do design and development work in industry or a government laboratory or to teach high school science and physics. Students planning to do physics research or to teach at the university level should obtain a master's or doctor's degree. (More information is available in the Undergraduate Catalog)
GradTrac is available to Physics majors.
Graduate Program
The Department of Physics offers a program of graduate study leading to the Master of Science degree. The program serves as preparation for a) further advanced study in physics or related fields, b) a career in government or industrial research, or c) teaching at the secondary or postsecondary level. (More information is available in the Graduate Catalog)
Pre-Engineering Program
What is Pre-Engineering?
Pre-Engineering is a program designed to provide for a student's first two years of a four-year Engineering degree. Since the first two years of most programs have the same curricula, one can transfer to Engineering schools with minimal difficulty.
Dual degree!
Western Illinois University has an agreement with the College of Engineering, University of Illinois, whereby students may obtain a Bachelor's degree in College of Arts and Sciences at WIU, and a degree from the College of Engineering at University of Illinois. In general, students spend three years at WIU and two to two and one-half at the University of Illinois. A student becomes eligible for both degrees when the entire program is completed. At present, College of Arts and Sciences at WIU cooperates with College of Engineering at Bradley University in Peoria, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Pre-Engineering course requirements
If you are interested in a Dual Degree, you are required to complete the standard pre-engineering courses as well as the Curriculum requirements for the B.S. Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. They are shown in the table below.
Category |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|
Communication Skills |
9 |
Natural Sciences and Mathematics |
16 |
Social Science |
12 |
Humanities |
12 |
Multicultural Studies |
3 |
Human well-being |
3 |
Freshman Year
Fall |
Sem. Hr |
Spring |
Sem. Hr |
|---|---|---|---|
MATH133 ( Calculus I) |
4 |
MATH134 ( Calculus II) |
4 |
PHYS197 ( University Physics I) |
4 |
PHYS198 ( University Physics II) |
4 |
ENGR 105 Engineering Drafting |
3 |
CS225 C++ |
3 |
ENG180 College Writing I |
3 |
SOC./HUM |
3 |
Sophomore Year
Fall |
Sem. Hr |
Spring |
Sem. Hr |
|---|---|---|---|
CHEM201(Inorganic Chemistry I) |
4 |
CHEM202( Inorganic Chemistry II) |
4 |
MATH231 (Calculus III) |
4 |
MATH333 (Ordinary Diff. Eq.) |
3 |
PHYS200(University Physics III) |
4 |
PHYS201(University Physics IV) |
3 |
MATH311 (Linear Algebra) |
3 |
PHYS 220 or 221 and/or 312 |
3 - 4 |
ENG280 (College Writing II) |
3 |
SOC./HUM |
3 |
- Programs requiring Phys 220 include computer, electrical, industrial, mechanical and nuclear engineering.
- Programs requiring Phys 221 include food, agricultural, ceramic, general, and metallurgical engineering, as well as engineering mechanics.
- Programs requiring Phys 312 include mechanical, food, ceramic, industrial, metallurgical, civil, engineering mechanics, aeronautical and astronomical, agricultural, general, and nuclear.
Academic tutoring centers
There are several Academic tutoring centers available at no cost to you - a partial list appears below.
Subject |
Location |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
Chemistry |
CH 315 |
MW 2-5, TTh 9-12, 2-5 |
Mathematics(Pre-Calculus) |
MG 211B |
MTWTh 2-5,TW 7-8 p.m |
Mathematics(Calculus) |
MG 214 |
TTh 2-5 |
Physics |
CH 514 |
MTWTh 3-5 |
Who is your adviser?
Adviser |
Office |
Phone |
Advisee (Last Name) |
|---|---|---|---|
Dr.Dirksen |
KH 335 |
8-2388 |
Pre-Architecture |
Dr.Hart |
CH 212 |
8-1596 |
A-D |
Dr.Lwin |
CH 300 |
8-1574 |
E-J |
Dr.Welch |
MG 468 |
8-1691 |
K-N |
Dr. Andreev |
MH 482 |
8-1485 |
O-R |
Dr. Rabchuk |
CH 316 |
8-2577 |
S-Z |
Dr.Terry |
CH 307 |
8-2184 |
Pre-Chemical Eng. |
For more information on Pre-Engineering at WIU
Contact: Dr. James Rabchuk, Coordinator, Pre-Engineering Studies Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois 61455 (309)298-2577 email: JA-Rabchuk@wiu.edu.