Physics/Engineering
Dual Bachelor's Degree Program

• Affiliated Engineering Physics
• Who May Be Interested?
• Why Illinois State?
• Engineering Physics Sequence Requirements
• The Affiliated Engineering Sequence at a Glance
• Faculty and Students
• Facilities at Illinois State
• The University
• Engineering Programs at the University of Illinois
• For Further Information

Engineering Physics

This is a five-year program shared with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) or Bradley University. Completion of the program leads to two bachelor's degrees. Students begin at Illinois State University and transfer to an engineering college after completing a minimum of 90 credit hours. After transferring 30 approved hours back to Illinois State, students receive the B. S. in physics. They receive a second B. S. in engineering from their engineering university after satisfying their engineering requirements.

Who May Be Interested?

This program has many advantages over a traditional four to five year engineering program. From an educational perspective, it produces an engineer with a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, the social sciences and humanities. In addition, it offers the engineer in-depth experiences in two fields of study at two universities.

Illinois State's Engineering Physics program is ideally suited for ambitious students who desire a broader background than can be provided in a standard engineering curriculum. However, the program is also well suited for individuals who decided to become engineers late in high school. Such persons have the chance to correct possible mathematics and science deficiencies as part of a degree program. Others who have not yet decided between engineering and the sciences find the program attractive because it gives added time and substantially more information on which to base the choice. Students desiring a supportive, small department experience thrive in our program. All our double-degree majors will, with the combined engineering and physics background, be in a better position to participate in the rapidly-changing technologies of the future.

Why Illinois State?

A special advantage which distinguishes the Illinois State University program from other public universities is the small size of the Department's classes. None of the physics courses listed in the course list below has more than 50 students and most have 25 or fewer students, allowing ample opportunity for individualized attention. All courses are taught by professors, not graduate students. We concentrate exclusively on undergraduates. Our 10:1 student faculty ratio in the Physics Department ensures that majors have all the faculty attention they need.

Another advantage of our undergraduate-only department is our ability to involve students in hands-on research and design experiences outside the classroom. From fundamental laser physics and space science, to applied nanotechnology and nonlinear systems, to our solar car race team, we offer a wide spectrum of choices for our majors to get involved.   To download an updated Engineering Physics Major brochure, please click here.

The Engineering Physics Sequence at a Glance

A typical schedule for physics majors in the Engineering Physics Sequence is listed below. A brief description of each course is provided in the Illinois State University catalog.

Students wishing to transfer after the sophomore year meet the minimum transfer requirements of the UIUC College of Engineering and most other engineering schools. PHY 152 Statics is highly recommended for students transferring to the aerospace, civil, industrial, mechanical, and general engineering programs.

Members of the Illinois State physics faculty hold Ph.D.'s from many of the nation's leading universities. Each is a dedicated teacher and and an active researcher. Our faculty have a strong record of research, including funding from NASA, the National Science Foundatin, the U.S. Department of Energy, and The Research Corporation. Professors and their undergraduate research students publish their research in the nation's top scientific journals.

The Department serves nearly 120 majors in its physics, computer physics, physics teaching, and engineering physics programs. More than half are from the top quarter of their high school class. The mean ACT composite score is above 27. Many majors also participate in the nationally recognized Illinois State University Honors program and the Physics Departmental Honors program.

Facilities at Illinois State

Majors have the benefit of excellent computational facilities in the Physics Department. Students make extensive use of the system from three computer labs reserved exclusively for physics majors.   Our scientific visulaization lab allows state-of-the-art three-dimensional stereo visualization of large data sets and supports our undergradaute research students working on projects ranging from large-scale computer simulations, to spacecraft and laboratory data analysis. A cluster of unix-based workstations from Silicon Graphics, IBM, HP, and Apple give physics students access to all the computer power they need for courses and projects.

The Department is also proud of its experimental facilities. Well-equipped laboratories and a high degree of individualized instruction make the electronics and experimental physics courses an exciting component of the degree program.   Advance lab (PHY 270) students regularly design and build their own experiments with assistance from the physics department shop.  We also have five experimental research labs which involve students in projects in materials science and nanotechnology, fundamental atomic measurements, bio-optical engieering, and studies of nonlinear chaotic systems.

The University

Illinois State University was founded in 1857 as the first public institution of higher learning in Illinois. The University has a proud heritage; the documents establishing the pioneer educational undertaking were drafted by Abraham Lincoln. Illinois State occupies an attractive 850 acre campus in Normal/Bloomington-- twin cities with a population of 100,000. The University has an enrollment of 18,000 among its Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Applied Science and Technology, Business, Fine Arts, and Education. Milner Library's research facilities include on-line data search capabilities and over 3 million books, journals, and special collections. Along with its academic achievements, the University takes pride in its cultural and athletic programs. Weekly music recitals, theater productions and art shows are but a few of the activities which join men's and women's sports in creating an exciting college atmosphere.

Engineering Programs at the University of Illinois

Students may transfer to UIUC any school term. Fall transfers have the opportunity to pre-register and receive advisement during the summer. Students seeking to transfer must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 (A = 4.0) to apply, but competitive standards for admission to some UIUC departments are higher. IN addition, UIUC transfer standards can vary from year to year.

The following UIUC programs are available:

Engineering Programs at Bradley University

The ISU physics department has recently initiated a joint program with the Bradley University department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering which offers our engineering students an educational experience in a small, dynamic department that has excellent relationships with industries and companies in Illinois and nearby states. Transferring is facilitated by an agreement which allows completion of ISU's general education program to count as completion of the Bradley program. This unique program allows students to continue their education in a supportive small department environment not unlike the ISU physics department.

For Further Information, Contact:

Dr. Richard F. Martin, Professor and Chairperson
Department of Physics
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4560
Normal, IL 61790-4560

Phone: (309) 438-8756
Fax: (309) 438-5413
Internet: info@phy.ilstu.edu
Web: http://www.phy.ilstu.edu

page last updated 11/02/06gfj