Phone: (209) 946-2153
Location: Anderson Hall
Website: Engineering Physics

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics

Engineering Physics

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics is offered in cooperation with the Department of Physics in the College of the Pacific. The degree is granted by the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Engineering Physics is well suited for the student with a strong interest in physics but with the desire to apply that knowledge to real world problems.

The Engineering Physics curriculum is designed to educate students to work in areas where technology is changing rapidly and where the boundaries of several traditional engineering disciplines overlap. These areas include sensors, robotics, energy, and semiconductor materials particularly in nano-scale electronic devices. The curriculum develops sufficient depth in both engineering and science to produce graduates who are able to relate basic knowledge to practical problems in engineering. The physics engineer is a person with the training of an applied physicist that can function as an engineer with a deeper understanding of physics.

Engineering Physics Program Educational Objectives

Through their careers in engineering or related profession, Pacific graduates are expected to demonstrate the following within a few years of earning their Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics:

  • Competency in an engineering or science profession via promotion to positions of increasing responsibility, publications, and/or conference presentations
  • Adaptability to new developments in science and technology by successfully completing or pursuing graduate education in engineering or related fields, participating in professional development and/or industrial training courses, or pursuing professional licensure.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics

Students must complete a minimum of 120 units of academic work and a minimum of 32 units of Cooperative Education in order to earn the bachelor of science in engineering physics.

I. General Education Requirements

For more details, see General Education

Minimum 28 units and 9 courses that include:

A. CORE Seminars (2 courses)

CORE 001Problem Solving & Oral Comm3
CORE 002Writing and Critical Thinking4

Note: 1) CORE Seminars cannot be taken for Pass/No Credit. 2) Transfer students with 28 or more transfer credits taken after high school are exempt from both CORE seminars.  

B. Breadth Requirement (7 courses, at least 3 units each)

At least one course from each of the following areas:
Artistic Process & Creation
Civic & Global Responsibility
Language & Narratives
Quantitative Reasoning
Scientific Inquiry
Social Inquiry
World Perspectives & Ethics

Note: 1) No more than 2 courses from a single discipline can be used to meet the Breadth Requirement.

C. Diversity and Inclusion Requirement

All students must complete Diversity and Inclusion coursework (at least 3 units)

Note: 1) Diversity and Inclusion courses can also be used to meet the breadth category requirements, or major or minor requirements.

D. Fundamental Skills

Students must demonstrate competence in:
Writing
Quantitative Analysis (Math)

Note: 1) Failure to satisfy the fundamental skills requirements by the end of four semesters of full-time study at the University is grounds for academic disqualification.

II. Major Requirements

Mathematics and Science (minimum of 30 units)
ECPE 127Random Signals3
MATH 051Calculus I4
MATH 053Calculus II4
MATH 055Calculus III4
MATH 057Applied Differential Equations I: ODEs4
Select one of the following Chemistry courses: *4-5
Fundamentals of Chem
General Chemistry
General Chemistry
PHYS 053Principles of Physics I5
PHYS 055Principles of Physics II5
Engineering Science
Select one of the following:3-4
Introduction to Computer Science
Computer Applications in Engineering
ECPE 041Circuits3
ECPE 041LCircuits Laboratory1
ECPE 071Digital Design3
ECPE 071LDigital Design Lab1
IDEA 010Interdisciplinary Design and Success (**)2
IDEA 020Interdisciplinary Design and Innovation (**)2
ENGR 020Engineering Mechanics I (Statics)3
ENGR 030Engineering and Computing Ethics in Society3
ENGR 045
045L
Materials Engineering
and Materials Engineering Lab
4
Engineering Physics Core
ECPE 121Digital Signal Processing4
ECPE 131Electronics4
ENGR 025Professional Practice Seminar1
ENGR 120Engineering Mechanics II (Dynamics)3
EPHY 195Senior Project I2
or ECPE 195 Senior Project I
EPHY 196Senior Project II2
or ECPE 196 Senior Project II
PHYS 057Modern Physics4
Select one of the following:4
Applied Electromagnetics
Applied Electromagnetics
Electricity and Magnetism
Select one of the following:3-4
Thermodynamics I
Thermal Physics
Technical Electives
Electives: Five Courses From Technical Electives Options15-21
Physics Electives
Select one of the following:
Electrodynamics
Optics
Computational Physics
Mathematical Physics
Cosmology
Advanced Physics Laboratory
Solid State Devices
Classical Mechanics
Quantum Mechanics
Independent Study
Undergraduate Research
Engineering Electives
Select two 100 or 200 level BENG, CIVL, COMP, ECPE, ENGR, EMGT, EPHY, IDEA or MECH courses*** **
Math Elective
Select one of the following:
Introduction to Linear Algebra
Numerical Analysis
Applied Linear Algebra
Cryptography
Vector Analysis
Applied Differential Equations II
Graph Theory
Cooperative Education (minimum of 32 units)
ENGR 181Professional Practice1-16
ENGR 182Professional Practice1-16
ENGR 183Professional Practice1-16
*

AP CHEM scores of 4 or 5, or IB CHEM Higher Level scores of 5, 6, or 7, will satisfy the elective.

**

Students who transfer in with 28 or more units are exempt from taking IDEA 010 and IDEA 020.

***

Engineering Elective excludes: COMP 187ENGR 181ENGR 182ENGR 183 and IDEA 132.

Students graduating with a BS in Engineering Physics will have:

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Engineering Physics Faculty

David Mueller, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2015, BS Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2006; MS Electrical Engineering, 2008; PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2015, University of Missouri - Columbia. Semiconductor devices, Optical electronics, Computational intelligence, Robotics, Device simulation, Photovoltaics, Renewable energy, Device fabrication and characterization.

Vivek Pallipuram, Chair of MS Engineering and Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2015, BS National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, India 2008; MS Computer Engineering, Clemson University, 2010; PhD Computer Engineering, Clemson University, 2013. Computer architecture, High performance computing, Cloud computing, Machine learning, Statistics, & Digital signal processing.

Jeffrey Shafer, Chair of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Engineering Physics, Chair of MS in Cybersecurity and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2010, BS, Computer Engineering, University of Dayton, 2002; MS, Electrical Engineering, University of Dayton, 2004; PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, 2010; Computer architecture, Network systems architecture, Data-intensive computing, Cloud computing, Virtualization.

Rahim Khoie, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2002, BSEE, 1977, Abadan Institute of Technology, Abadan, Iran; MS, 1980, University of Pittsburgh; PhD, 1986, University of Pittsburgh. High speed electron devices, Quantum effect devices, Solid state physics, Renewable energy, Analog and digital electronics, and Embedded Systems.

Dongbin Lee, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2022, BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, KwangWoon University, 1992; MS in Robotics, KwangWoon University, 2000; PhD in Robotics & Intelligent Program, Clemson University, 2009; Mobile robotics, industrial robotics, embedded systems, telematics, AI.

Cherian Mathews, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2005, BE in Electrical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India, 1987; MS in Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, 1989; PhD in Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, 1993; Statistical signal processing, Array signal processing, Real-time digital signal processing using DSP processors, power systems.