BS in Engineering Physics

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics degree from UIC, students need to complete university and college degree requirements. The course requirements for this program are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Engineering section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies. See the ECE Department website for revisions to the Engineering Physics curriculum.

Summary of Requirements
Nonengineering and General Education Requirements72
Required in the College of Engineering 44
Mathematics-Related Elective3
Technical Electives9
Total Hours128

Nonengineering and General Education Requirements

Required Courses
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Exploring World Cultures course a3
Understanding the Creative Arts course a3
Understanding the Past course a3
Understanding the Individual and Society course a3
Understanding U.S. Society course a3
MATH 180Calculus I b4
MATH 181Calculus II b4
MATH 210Calculus III b3
MATH 220Introduction to Differential Equations3
PHYS 141General Physics I (Mechanics) b4
PHYS 142General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) b4
PHYS 215Computational and Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences4
PHYS 240Fundamentals of Modern Quantum Theory3
PHYS 245Introduction to Vibrations, Waves, and Thermal Physics4
PHYS 411Quantum Mechanics I4
PHYS 441Theoretical Mechanics4
PHYS 481Modern Experimental Physics I4
PHYS 499Survey of Physics Problems1
CHEM 122Matter and Energy c3
CHEM 123Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I b,c2
Total Hours72
a

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.

b

This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.

c

General Education credit is given for successful completion of both CHEM 122 and CHEM 123.

Required in the College of Engineering

Required Courses
ENGR 100Engineering Success Seminar a1
CME 260Properties of Materials3
CS 107Introduction to Computing and Programming4
ECE 115Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering4
ECE 225Circuit Analysis4
ECE 310Discrete and Continuous Signals and Systems3
ECE 322Introduction to Electromagnetics and Applications4
ECE 346Solid State Device Theory4
ECE 421Introduction to Antennas and Wireless Propagation3
ECE 440Nanoelectronics3
ECE 396Senior Design I2
ECE 397Senior Design II2
BME/PHYS 450Molecular Biophysics of the Cell (Molecular Biophysics of the Cell)4
ME 211Fluid Mechanics I4
ECE 499Professional Development Seminar0
Total Hours44
a

ENGR 100 is a one-semester-hour course, but the hour does not count toward the total hours required for graduation.

Mathematics-Related Elective

Courses
Select one of the following:3
Applied Linear Algebra
Complex Analysis with Applications
Applied Differential Equations
Applied Partial Differential Equations
Numerical Analysis
Probability and Random Processes for Engineers
Total Hours3

Technical Electives

Courses
Select 9 semester hours from a list of technical electives available from the advisor. At most, one 200-level course can be used as a technical elective if said course meets the following two criteria: (a) it is a prerequisite for a 300-level or higher course, and (b) it is outside the ECE or PHYS department. These courses should be selected in consultation with the advisor and should be chosen from approved sequences in the following areas. In addition, at most, one course from outside of the major rubric (ECE or PHYS) may be used to meet the technical elective requirement.9
Bioengineering
Civil and Materials Engineering
Chemical Engineering Design
Chemical Engineering, Multiphase Transport Phenomena
Chemical Engineering, Chemical Processes
Computer Science
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Circuits and VLSI
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Communications and Signal and Processing
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Solid State, MEMS, and Nanotechnology
Electromagnetics and Optics
Mechanical Engineering, Thermal/Fluid Science
Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Systems
Modern Physics
Total Hours9

Sample Course Schedule

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
First SemesterHours
MATH 180 Calculus I 4
CHEM 122 Matter and Energy 3
CHEM 123 Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I 2
ECE 115 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 4
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
ENGR 100 Engineering Success Seminar a 1
 Hours16
Second Semester
MATH 181 Calculus II 4
PHYS 141 General Physics I (Mechanics) 4
CS 107 Introduction to Computing and Programming 4
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
General Education Core course 3
 Hours18
Sophomore Year
First Semester
MATH 210 Calculus III 3
PHYS 142 General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) 4
CME 260 Properties of Materials 3
ME 211 Fluid Mechanics I 4
General Education Core course 3
 Hours17
Second Semester
MATH 220 Introduction to Differential Equations 3
Math Elective 3
PHYS 240 Fundamentals of Modern Quantum Theory 3
PHYS 245 Introduction to Vibrations, Waves, and Thermal Physics 4
General Education Core course 3
 Hours16
Junior Year
First Semester
PHYS 215 Computational and Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences 4
PHYS 481 Modern Experimental Physics I 4
PHYS 499 Survey of Physics Problems 1
ECE 225 Circuit Analysis 4
ECE 346 Solid State Device Theory 4
 Hours17
Second Semester
PHYS 441 Theoretical Mechanics 4
ECE 310 Discrete and Continuous Signals and Systems 3
ECE 322 Introduction to Electromagnetics and Applications 4
ECE 440 Nanoelectronics 3
General Education Core course 3
 Hours17
Senior Year
First Semester
PHYS 411 Quantum Mechanics I 4
ECE 396 Senior Design I 2
ECE 421 Introduction to Antennas and Wireless Propagation 3
Technical Elective 3
General Education Core course 3
 Hours15
Second Semester
BME 450 Molecular Biophysics of the Cell 4
Technical Elective 3
Technical Elective 3
ECE 397 Senior Design II 2
ECE 499 Professional Development Seminar 0
 Hours12
 Total Hours128
a

ENGR 100 is one-semester-hour course, but does not count toward the total hours required for graduation.