The Ohio State University Department of Physics

Engineering Physics Degree Requirements

Engineering Physics Degree Requirements

The B.S. in Engineering Physics is a degree conferred by the College of Engineering and is managed by the Department of Physics.

Sample Curricula

Students are encouraged to work with the Engineering Physics academic advisor and Buckeye Degree Planner to create a personalized term-by-term academic plan.

Degree Requirements

Required Physics and Engineering (78-81 credit hours)

  • Introductory Calculus based Physics I & II: Physics 1270-1271 or 1250-1251 or 1250H-1251H or 1260-1261 or 1248-1249-1251 (10-12 hours)
  • Physics 2095: Physics Seminar (1 hour) 
  • Physics 2300-2301: Intermediate Mechanics I & II (8 hours total; 4 hours each)
  • Physics 3700: Data Analysis Lab (3 hours)
  • Physics 5400 or 5400H: Intermediate Electromagnetism (4 hours)
  • Physics 5500 or 5500H: Intermediate Quantum Mechanics (4 hours)
  • Physics 5800-5801*: Capstone Design I & II (6 hours total; 3 hours each)
  • Physics 4700: Electronics Lab (3 hours)
  • Physics Elective (choose one):
    • Physics 3470: Optics (3 hours)
    • Physics 5300: Theoretical Mechanics (4 hours)
    • Physics 5401H: Honors Electromagnetism II (4 hours)
    • Physics 5501 or 5501H: Quantum Mechanics II (4 hours)
    • Physics 5600: Statistical Mechanics (4 hours)
    • Physics 5680: Big Data Analytics (3 hours)
    • Physics 5810: Computational Physics (4 hours)
  • Targeted Electives (9 hours). Targeted electives can be any additional math, physics, or engineering course at the 2000 level or above. Additional information is on the engineering physics targeted electives page.
  • Engineering Technical Electives (27 hours). These are the courses you'll take toward your engineering specialization within Engineering Physics. The list of courses required for each specialization are given in the Engineering Specialization section below.

Information about physics courses, including semesters offered and course content is available on the Physics Courses page.

* Students can take the the College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Capstone Design sequence, Engineering 5901.01 and 5902.01 in place of Physics 5800-5801. Enrollment in ENGR 5901.01 requires approval. More information about ENGR 5901.01, including the enrollment request details, can be found on the Department of Engineering Education website.

Required Math & Programming (16-26 credit hours)

  • Calculus (one of the following sequences):
    • Math 1140-1141-1152-2153 (17 hours)
    • Math 1151-1152-2153 (14 hours)
    • Math 1151-1172-2173 (13 hours)
    • Math 1181H-2182H (10 hours)
    • Math 4181H-4182H (10 hours)
  • Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (one of the following): 
    • Math 2174 (3 hours)
    • Math 2415 and Math 2568 (6 hours total; 3 hours each)** 
    • Math 2255 and Math 2568 (6 hours total; 3 hours each)
    • Math 5520H (5 hours)
  • Computer Programming (choose one): CSE 1222, CSE 1223, CSE 1224, Astronomy 1221, ENGR 1221, or ENGR 1281H.**

    **Students pursuing the ECE specialization are required to take Math 2415, Math 2568, and CSE 1222. Students pursuing the CSE specialization are required to take CSE 1222, 1223, or 1224.


General Education (GE) and College Requirements (39-46 credit hours, 10 of which overlap with the major)

The university's General Education (GE) requirements are outlined on the College of Engineering General Education Requirements page and consist of:

  • Engineering Fundamentals (one of the following):
    • Engineering 1181.01 and 1182.01 (standard sequence)
    • Engineering 1181.02 and 1182.02 (scholars sequence)
    • Engineering 1281.01H and 1282.0x (honors sequence)
    • Engineering 1186.01, 1187, and 1188 (transfer sequence)
  • Launch Seminar - GenEd 1201 (or GenEd 2601.01 for certain transfer students) (1 hour)
  • Foundations GE requirements (25 hours) - complete all of the following:
    • Writing and Information Literacy (3 hours)
    • Mathematical and Quantitative reasoning (fulfilled by major requirements) (5 hours)
    • Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts (3 hours)
    • Historical and Cultural Studies (3 hours)
    • Natural Sciences (fulfilled by major requirements (5 hours)
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)
    • Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Diversity (3 hours)
  • Thematic Pathways GE requirements (8-12 hours) - complete the following:
    • Citizenship for a Diverse and Just World 
      • Requirement: take either two 3-credit hours classes or one 4-hour class. If two 3-hour courses are taken, they must be from two different subjects
    • Choice Thematic Pathways 
      • Requirement: choose one of the following Thematic Pathways categories and complete either two 3-credit hours classes or one 4-hour class from that category. If two 3-hour courses are taken, they must be from two different subjects
        • Health and Wellbeing
        • Lived Environments
        • Migration, Mobility, and Immobility
        • Number, Nature, Mind
        • Origins and Evolution
        • Sustainability
        • Traditions, Cultures, and Transformations
  • Reflection Seminar - Fulfilled by the student's capstone design sequence (either Physics 5800-5801 or ENGR 5901.01-5902.01).

Engineering Specialization Options

As mentioned above, the engineering technical electives in Engineering Physics are part of the eight engineering specialization options within the major. The engineering specializations are:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Computer Science and Engineering
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Nuclear Engineering

The below sections can be expanded to view the requirements for each engineering specialization.