Course Descriptions


Physics (PHY) Courses

PHY 101 Introduction to Physics (3-2) 4 credits

An introductory course in physics for students who have not had high school physics, designed for non-science majors as well as those who plan to take College Physics or General Physics. Emphasizes measurement, mechanics, and thermodynamics; includes selected topics from sound and light as they relate to our daily lives. Provides prerequisite for PHY 118, PHY 119, and PHY 151 and fulfills laboratory science requirements for non-science degrees. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF


PHY 105 Physics of Sound (3-2) 4 credits

An introductory course in physics for students who have not had high school physics, designed for non-science majors. This is a required course for music majors as well as Music Recording Technology majors. Emphasizes: Scientific method, measurement, laboratory proficiency. Topics include vibrations, transverse and longitudinal waves, sound waves, superposition of waves, standing waves, harmonic analysis, mathematical elements of the Pythagorean and modern scales, the production of musical sounds, hearing, sound measurement, fundamentals of microphones and speakers, elements of acoustic architecture. This fulfills the laboratory science requirements for non-science degrees. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF


PHY 118 College Physics I (3-2-1) 4 credits

First semester of a two-semester sequence suitable for transfer students seeking a laboratory science elective, life science students, and those in the engineering technologies. This course is at the mathematical level of intermediate algebra and trigonometry. Topics include motion in one and two dimensions, force laws, energy, momentum, conservation principles, rotational motion, gravity, and fluids. PHY 101 or high school Physics is strongly recommended. Prerequisite: MAT 145 with a grade of 'C' or better or placement into Math Level 3 or higher. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF


PHY 119 College Physics II (3-2-1) 4 credits

Second semester of a two-semester sequence suitable for transfer students seeking a laboratory science elective, life science students, and those in the engineering technologies. This course is at the mathematical level of intermediate algebra and trigonometry. Topics include oscillations and waves, electricity, magnetism, AC and DC circuits, optics, and limited topics in thermodynamics. Prerequisites: PHY 118 with a grade of 'C' or better and MAT 145 with a grade of 'C' or better or placement into Math Level 3 or higher. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF


PHY 151 University Physics I (3-2-1) 4 credits

First semester of a two-semester sequence suitable for transfer students pursuing degrees in engineering, computer science, physics, or professional programs which require calculus-based physics. Topics include motion in one and two dimensions, force laws, energy, momentum, conservation principles, gravity, rotational motion, static equilibrium, and fluids. PHY101 or high school physics with a C or better is strongly recommended. Prerequisites: MAT 271 with a grade of 'C' or better. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF


PHY 152 University Physics II (3-2-1) 4 credits

Second semester of a two-semester sequence suitable for transfer students pursuing degrees in engineering, computer science, physics, or professional programs which require calculus-based physics. Topics include oscillations and waves, electricity, magnetism, AC and DC circuits, optics, and limited topics in thermodynamics. Prerequisites: MAT 272 with a grade of 'C' or better and PHY 151 with a grade of 'C' or better. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF


PHY 253 Modern Physics (3-2-1) 4 credits

The continuation of the University Physics sequence. Topics include relativity, photons, matter waves, introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics, and other selected topics in modern physics. Prerequisites: PHY 152 and MAT 273. Co-requisite: MAT 274.  View Course Syllabus Adobe Acrobat, PDF