Bachelor of Arts: Physics
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Have a functional knowledge of the basic areas of physics.
- Be able to integrate their knowledge with critical thinking skills in order to become quantitative problem solvers.
- Be able to clearly articulate scientific information, both orally and in writing.
- Be able to effectively use the scientific literature.
Description of the Bachelor of Arts Program
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Physics is recommended for students interested in seeking employment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas that require a strong scientific and quantitative background. The BA degree offers greater flexibility than either the Physics BS or the Physics/Engineering Double Degree program because it requires fewer credit hours of physics in contrast to the BS.
Physics advising questions should be directed to Professor Elizabeth Stoddard (stoddarde@umkc.edu).
Students graduating with a BA degree in Physics will be prepared for entry into the high-tech job market.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (satisfied in major requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
Students must successfully complete the major requirements below with at least 12 hours of the noted upper division (300+) course requirements completed at UMKC.
Students must complete 31 hours of Physics coursework, of which 21 hours must be at the 300-level or above.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 120 | Precalculus (satisfies Math Pathway) | 5 |
| MATH 210 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 220 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 250 | Calculus III | 4 |
| CHEM 211 & 211L | General Chemistry I and Experimental General Chemistry I | 5 |
| Choose One Introductory Series | 8 | |
| General Physics I and General Physics II | ||
| Physics For Scientists and Engineers I and Physics For Scientists and Engineers II | ||
| Required Upper Division Theory Courses | 12 | |
| Mechanics I | ||
| Methods Of Theoretical Physics I | ||
| Modern Physics With Engineering Applications | ||
| Introduction To Quantum Mechanics | ||
| Required Upper Division Lab Course (Choose one) | 3 | |
| Physics of Electronics | ||
| Computer Interfacing Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Laboratory | ||
| Additional ASTR/PHYSICS Electives to equal 31 credit hours of Physics coursework. | 8 | |
| Restrictions: no more than 3 credit hours of PHYSICS 490 / PHYSICS 499. | ||
| Regular elective offerings inlcude the following. Please consult with advisor for additional course options. | ||
| Practical Astronomy | ||
| Stellar Astrophysics | ||
| Galaxies | ||
| Cosmology | ||
| Mechanics II | ||
| Modern Physics With Engineering Applications | ||
| Thermal Physics | ||
| Optics | ||
| Introduction To Solid State Physics | ||
| Electricity And Magnetism I | ||
| Electricity And Magnetism II | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Total Credits | 53 | |
General Electives
Students must take elective credit hours to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree, including at least 36 credit hours of coursework at the 300-level or above. The minimum required by the university is 120 credit hours, of which at least 30 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, but some degree programs require more.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 37 | |
Major Minimum GPA: 2.0
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
