Pitt HomeFind PeopleContact Us
School of Engineering

Engineering Physics   Curriculum

 

Students begin the Engineering Physics Program in their sophomore year. (The freshman year is common to all programs. Visit the Freshman Program section of the School of Engineering website for more information). Following the Freshman Program, students are given a basic educational foundation in mathematics (calculus, matrix theory), and the fundamental methods and principles of the physical sciences, as well as an introduction to electrical engineering (linear systems, electronics, and computer applications) and materials science.

During the junior and senior years the course work provides a comprehensive knowledge of the branches of physics that are closely related to modern technology. In particular, the student will take courses in optics, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, and quantum mechanics from the physics department. Junior and senior engineering studies will stress such related topics as applications of electricity and magnetism, material science, signal processing and applied thermodynamics.

first Term

MATH 0220 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 4 units
Humanities/Social Science Elective 3 units
CHEM 0960 General Chemistry for Engineers 1 3 units
PHYS 0174 Intro. to Phys. Science & Engr. 1 4 units
ENGR 0011 Engineering Analysis 3 units
  17 units

second Term

MATH 0230 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 2 4 units
Humanities/Social Science Elective 3 units
CHEM 0970 General Chemistry for Engineers 2 3 units
PHYS 0175 Intro. to Phys. Science & Engr. 2 4 units
ENGR 0012 Engineering Computing 3 units
  17 units

third Term

MATH 0240 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 3 4 units
ECE 0031 Linear Circuits & Systems 1 3 units
PHYS 0219 Basic Laboratory Physics 2 units
ENGR 0022 Materials Structure & Properties 3 units
MSE 0031 Intro. to Materials Laboratory 1 unit
Humanities/Social Science Elective 3 units
ENGRPH 1803 Engineering Physics Seminar 0 units
  16 units

fourth Term

MATH 0250 Matrix Theory & Differential Equations 4 units
ECE 0041 Linear Circuits & Systems 2 3 units
ECE 1201 Engineering Circuits Laboratory 1 3 units
ECE 0257 Analysis & Design of Electronic Circuits 3 units
MSE 0048 Energetics 1 3 units
ENGRPH 1803 Engineering Physics Seminar 0 units
  16 units

fifth Term

MSE 1056 Energetics 2 3 units
MSE 1054 Materials Science 1 3 units
MSE 1055 Materials Science 1 Laboratory 1 unit
PHYS 0480 Principles of Modern Physics 1 3 units
ECE 1247 Semiconductor Device Theory 3 units
PHYS 1351 Intermediate Electricity & Magnetism 3 units
ENGRPH 1803 Engineering Physics Seminar 0 units
  16 units

sixth Term

PHYS 1331 Mechanics 3 units
ECE 1266 Applications of Fields & Waves 3 units
PHYS 0481 Principles of Modern Physics 2 3 units
MSE 1064 Materials Science 2 3 units
Humanities/Social Science Elective 3 units
ENGRPH 1803 Engineering Physics Seminar 0 units
  15 units

seventh Term

PHYS 1361 Wave Motion and Optics 3 units
Program Elective 3 units
ENGRPH 1801 Engineering Design 1 3 units
ECE 1552 Signals & Systems Analysis 3 units
MSE 1168 Electromagnetic Properties of Materials 3 units
Humanities/Social Science Elective 3 units
ENGRPH 1803 Engineering Physics Seminar 0 units
  18 units

eighth Term

Program Elective 3 units
ENGRPH 1802 Engineering Design 2 3 units
Humanities/Social Science 3 units
ECE 1212 Electronic Circuits Laboratory 2 3 units
MATH 1560 Complex Variables and Applications 3 units
ENGRPH 1803 Engineering Physics Seminar 0 units
  15 units

Total: 130 units

Program Electives for Engineering Physics

There are two program electives in the senior year of the Engineering Physics undergraduate degree. It is recommended that those students who wish to pursue graduate studies in physics, or related areas of engineering, take the honors quantum mechanics sequence in the Physics department:

PHYS 1170 Introduction to Quantum Physics 1
PHYS 1171 Introduction to Quantum Physics 2

Those students who do not wish to take these courses to satisfy the program elective requirement may choose a sequence of higher level undergraduate courses that create a concentration in an area. This sequence of courses should be in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department of Mechancial Engineering and Materials Science or the Department of Physics. Recommended sequences of courses include the following:

PHYS 1160/ECE 1240 Photonics 1
PHYS 1161/ECE 1241 Photonics 2

ECE 1232 Introduction to Lasers and Optical Electronics
ECE 1238 Digital Electronics

MSE 1163 Ceramic Materials
MSE 1272&1273 Physical Metallurgy/Laboratory

MSE 1477 Thin Film Processes and Characterization
MSE 1478 Nanoparticles: Science and Technology

MSE 1468 Analysis and Characterization at the Nano-scale

MSE 1469 Materials Science of Nanostructures

Admissions

Undergraduate students are admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science through the School of Engineering Admissions Office.

Course Descriptions

Benedum Hall

Dedicated in 1971, Benedum Hall is home to exploration and discovery.