B.S. Engineering Physics

Our engineering physics plan brings together elements of both physics and engineering. Our plan provides you with a broader technical education than a pure physics plan, especially preparing you for employment after the B.S. degree as well as establishing a foundation for pursuing post-degree education in either physics or engineering.  

To earn this interdisciplinary degree, complete at least 120 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:  

• at least 35 units of liberal studies requirements  Be aware that you may not use courses with a PHY prefix to satisfy these liberal studies requirements.  

• 23 units of preprofessional requirements  

• 37 units of professional requirements  

• 34 units of emphasis requirements  

• elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units  

Be aware that some courses required for your degree may have prerequisites that you must also take. Check the courses in the appropriate subject.  (You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit.)  

Please note that you must complete NAU’s diversity requirements by taking two 3-unit courses, one in ethnic diversity and one in global awareness. These courses may be used to meet other requirements within your academic plan if you choose them carefully. Click here for a list of the available diversity courses.

Also be aware that NAU requires that at least 30 units of the courses you take for your degree must be upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).  

Finally, please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement; however, you must still meet the total of at least 128 units to graduate. Contact your advisor for details.

Preprofessional Requirements  

Complete the following 23 units:  

• CHM 151, 151L, and 152 (8 units)  

• MAT 136, 137, 238, and 239 (15 units)  

Professional Requirements  

The 37 units of requirements for the major are divided into a physics core and an engineering core.  

For the physics core, complete the following 24 units:  

• PHY 161, 161L, 262, 262L, 263, 265 and 361 (17 units)  

• PHY 333W, which meets NAU’s junior writing requirement (3 units)  

• PHY 476C and PHY 486C to meet NAU’s senior capstone requirement (4 units)  (Substitution of engineering design capstone courses will be allowed but keep in mind that these have additional prerequisites.)

The engineering core consists of the following 13 units:  

• EGR 186 and 286 (6 units)

• CENE 225 (3 units)

• EE 188 and 188L (4 units)  

Emphasis Requirements  

Complete 34 units in one of the three emphases—semiconductor, mechanical, or environmental—described in the following sections.  

Environmental Engineering Emphasis  

For this emphasis, take:  

• PHY 451 (3 units)  

• ME 252 ( 3 units)

• CENE 150, 251, 253 and 253L, 280, and 281L (14 units)  

• two of CENE 330, 331, 332, or 333 (6 units)  

• 8 additional units of 300- or 400-level technical courses chosen from BIO, CENE, CHM, EE, GLG, MAT, ME, or PHY in consultation with your advisor  

Mechanical Engineering Emphasis  

For this emphasis, take:  

• PHY 321 and 331 (6 units)  

• ME  252, 291, 340, 386 and 395 (15 units)

• CENE 251, 253 and 253L (7 units)

• 6 additional units of 300- or 400-level technical courses chosen from BIO, CENE, CHM, EE, GLG, MAT, ME, or PHY in consultation with your advisor  

Semiconductor Emphasis  

For this emphasis, you take:  

• PHY 331, 332, 441, and 471 (12 units)  

• EE 280 and 370 (8 units)  

• Two courses from the following: PHY 481, EE 471 or 472 (6 units)

• 8 additional units of 300- or 400-level technical courses chosen from BIO, CENE, CHM, EE, GLG, MAT, ME, or PHY in consultation with your advisor  

Click here for Physics undergraduate courses, here for Astronomy undergraduate courses, and here for Physical Sciences undergraduate courses.

Click here for Physics and Astronomy faculty.