Physical Science at Radford University

Physical Science
Facilities
Major in Physical Science
General Science Option
Earth and Space Science Option
Sample Curriculum (General Science Option)
Sample Curriculum (Earth and Space Science Option)
Financial Aid
Admission

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

The Department of Chemistry and Physics offers a Physical Science major with options in General Science, Earth and Space Science, and Physics. Students majoring or obtaining a minor in the department may, with proper course selection, be endorsed to teach one or more areas of science. Students may take courses in the Department of Chemistry and Physics as part of their general education science requirement or as electives to satisfy an intellectual or avocational interest. The curriculum for each student is designed to develop a good understandingof the nature of science, the scientific enterprise, and a firm knowledge base.

FACILITIES

The Department of Chemistry and Physics is housed in Reed-Curie Hall, a modern air-conditioned building containing clasrooms, laboratories, a planetarium, and faculty offices.

MAJOR IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE

A student majoring in Physical Science may choose a concentration in one or more of the following options: General Science, Earth and Space Science, or Physics. All students majoring in Physical Science must complete MATH 151:152, Calculus and Analytic Geometry, or MATH 161, Calculus and Analytic Geometry. Additionally, all students majoring in Physical Science (except Physics option) must complete Geology 101:102 or Geology 101:103. Forty additional semester hours of course work must be completed from selected areas including Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Physics. Depending on the option chosen, an individual plan of course work is designed for each student, within the framework of the requirements of Radford University College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Chemistry and Physics. In order to graduate with a major in Physical Science, a student must attain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all courses attempted in the major including Calculus and Analytic Geometry and Geology 101:102 or Geology 101:103. Students seeking endorsements to teach must also complete PHSC 402, Secondary Science Methods.

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE OPTION (54 semester hours)

Earth and Space Science is an interdisciplinary program of study. The Earth and Space Science Option is designed to provide a basic framework for a professional career in science, and to prepare students for graduate study in the earth and space sciences or science education.

Students seeking endorsement to teach Earth and Space Science should carefully plan their program of studies to ensure that endorsement requirements are met.

Students must complete 54 semester hours of credit distributed as follows:

A: Required Courses 33
ASTR 111:112 General Astronomy 4:4
PHSC 301 Meteorology 4
GEOL 101:102 General Geology 4:4
or
GEOL 101:103* General Geology 4:4
GEOL 360 Oceanography 3
BIOL 101 Principles of Biology 4
MATH 151:152 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 3:3
or
MATH 161 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 6
*Recommended for the teaching program.

SAMPLE CURRICULUM
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(Earth and Space Concentration)

Freshman Year
Fall		Spring
Eng 101	3	Eng 102	3
Fine Arts	3	Phil/Rel	3
Math 138	3	Math 140	3
History	3	Psyc 121	3
Geol 111	4	Geol 112	4
Total Hours	16	Total Hours	16

Sophmore Year

Fall Spring

Soc Sci 3 Soc Sci 3

English 3 Englishi 3

Comp Sci 3 Soc Sci 3

Math 151 3 Math 152 3

Astr 111 4 Astr 112 4

Total Hours 16 Total Hours 16

Junior Year

Fall Spring

Phys 111 4 Phys 112 4

Geol 361 3 Phsc 350 4

Speech 3 Elective 3

Phsc 301 4 Fine Arts 3

Total Hours 14 Total Hours 14

Senior Year

Fall Spring

Astr 421 3 Chem 102 4

Chem 101 4 Lifestyle Dev. 3

Biol 101 4 Elective 4

Elective 3 Phsc 431 3

Total Hours 14 Total Hours 14

FINANCIAL AID