Bachelor of Science in Physics (Physics) Course at Botswana College of Engineering and Technology (BCET)

Bachelor of Science in Physics (Physics) Course at Botswana College of Engineering and Technology (BCET)

What is Physics?

Physics is the natural science of matter, involving the study of matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force.

Bachelor of Science (Physics)

• Single major programme
  (Departmental Regulation2.3.1), leading to the award of BSc (Physics).
   
• Combined major/minor
  (Physics Major) (DepartmentalRegulation 2.3.2), leading to the award of BSc
   
• Combined major/major programme
  (DepartmentalRegulation 2.3.3), leading to the award of BSc
   
• Combined major/minor (Physics Minor)
  (DepartmentalRegulation 2.3.4), leading to the award of BSc if the student is registered in the Faculty of Science

LEVEL 100

Semester 1

PHY112: Geometrical Optics and Mechanics (4)

Semester 2

PHY122: Electricity, Magnetism and Elements of Modern Physics (4)

LEVEL 200

Semester 3

PHY231: Mechanics, Vibrations and Waves, Physical Optics (3) (Pre-req. = PHY112)
PHY232: Properties of Matter, Basic Thermodynamics and Introduction to Nuclear Physics (3) (Pre-req. = PHY112)
PHY239: Physics Practicals 3.1 (1) (Pre-req. = PHY112, Co-req. = PHY231 or PHY232)

Semester 4

PHY241: Advanced Electricity and Magnetism (3) (Pre-req. = PHY122)
PHY242: Basic Electronics (3) (Pre-req. = PHY122)
PHY 249: Physics Practicals 4.1 (1 Credit) (Pre-req.=PHY122,Co-req.= PHY241 or PHY242)

Levels 300 and 400

Single Major Programme

Semester 5

In semester 5, the single major programme shall consist of 11 credits of core courses and additional credits may be taken from optional courses in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY351: Advanced Mechanics ( (3) (Pre-req. = PHY231)
PHY352: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3) (Pre-req. = PHY231)
PHY354: Advanced Electronics I) (3) (Pre-req.= PHY242
PHY359: Physics Practicals 5.1 (2) (Pre-reqs.=PHY239 and PHY249)

Optional Courses

PHY353: Mathematical Methods for Physical Sciences I (3)
PHY355: Basic Potential Fields in Geophysics (3)
PHY356: Special Relativity (3) ( P re – reqs. = PHY231, PHY241 )

Semester 6

In semester 6, the single major programme shall consist of 11 credits of core courses and additional credits may be taken from optional courses in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY361: Introduction to Electromagnetism) (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY241
PHY362: Analytical Thermodynamics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY232)
PHY363: Vibrations, Waves and Advanced Physical Optics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY369: Physics Practicals 6.1 (2) (Pre-requisites = PHY239 and PHY249)

Optional Courses

PHY364: Advanced Electronics II (3) (Pre-requisite= PHY354)
PHY365: Physics of the Environment (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY367: Elements of Air Pollution I (3)

Semester 7

In semester 7, the single major programme shall consist of 11 credits of core courses and additional credits may be taken from optional courses in accordance with General Regulation 00.62

Core Courses

PHY472: Statistical Mechanics I (3)
PHY473: Solid State Physics (3)
PHY478: Project in Physics I (3)
PHY479: Physics Practicals 7.1 (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY359 or PHY369)

Optional Courses

PHY474: Physics of Renewable Energy (3)
PHY475: Microprocessor and Digital Systems (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY354)
PHY476: Mathematical Methods for Physical Sciences II (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY353)
PHY477: Elements of Air Pollution II (3)

Semester 8

In semester 8, the single major programme shall consist of 11 credits of core courses and additional credits may be taken from optional courses in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY 481: Atomic and Basic Nuclear Physics (3)
PHY482: Statistical Mechanics II (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY472)
PHY483: Advanced Solid State Physics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY473; Co-requisite = PHY 482)
PHY489: Physics Practicals 8.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY359 or PHY369)

Optional Courses

PHY485: Microcomputing for Physical Sciences (3)
PHY486: Basic Seismology (3)
PHY487: Introduction to Astrophysics (3)
PHY488: Project in Physics II (3)

Combined Major/Minor Programme (Physics Major)

Semester 5

In semester 5, the combined major/minor programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses and at least 3 credits from optional courses.

Core Courses

PHY351: Advanced Mechanics (3) (Pre-requisite= PHY231)
PHY352: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics) (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY359: Physics Practicals 5.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY239 and PHY249)

Optional Courses

PHY353: Mathematical Methods for Physical Sciences I (3)
PHY354: Advanced Electronics I (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY242)
PHY355: Basic Potential Fields in Geophysics (3)

Semester 6

In semester 6, the combined major/minor programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses and at least 3 credits from optional courses.

Core Courses

PHY361: Introduction to Electromagnetism (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY241)
PHY362: Analytical Thermodynamics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY232)
PHY369: Physics Practicals 6.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY239 and PHY249)

Optional Courses

PHY363: Vibrations, Waves and Advanced Physical Optics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY364: Advanced Electronics II) (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY354)
PHY365: Physics of the Environment (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY367: Elements of Air Pollution I (3)

Semester 7

In semester 7, the combined major/minor programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses and at least 3 credits from optional courses.

Core Courses

PHY472: Statistical Mechanics I (3)
PHY473: Solid State Physics (3)
PHY479: Physics Practicals 7.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY359 or PHY369)

Optional Courses

PHY474: Physics of Renewable Energy (3)
PHY475: Microprocessor and Digital Systems (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY354)
PHY477: Elements of Air Pollution II (3)
PHY 478: Project in Physics I (3)

Semester 8

In semester 8, the combined major/minor programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses and at least 3 credits from optional courses.

Core Courses

PHY481: Atomic and Basic Nuclear Physics
PHY485: Microcomputing for Physical Sciences (3)
PHY 489: Physics Practicals 8.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY359 or PHY369)

Optional Courses

PHY487: Introduction to Astrophysics (3)
PHY488: Project in Physics II (3)

Combined Major/Major Programme

Semester 5

In semester 5, the combined major/major programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses. Additional credits may be taken from optional courses PHY353, PHY354, PHY355 and PHY356 in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY351: Advanced Mechanics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY352: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY231)
PHY359: Physics Practicals 5.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY239 and PHY249)

Semester 6

In semester 6, the combined major/major programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses. Additional credits may be taken from optional courses PHY363, PHY364, PHY365 and PHY367 in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY361: Introduction to Electromagnetism) (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY241)
PHY362: Analytical Thermodynamics ( (3) (Pre-requisite = PHY232)
PHY369: Physics Practicals 6.1 (2 ) (Pre-requisite = PHY239 and 249)

Semester 7

In semester 7, the combined major/major programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses. Additional credits may be taken from optional courses PHY474, PHY475, PHY477 and PHY478 in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY472: Statistical Mechanics I (3 )
PHY473: Solid State Physics (3)
PHY479: Physics Practicals 7.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY359 or PHY369)

Semester 8

In semester 8, the combined major/major programme shall consist of 8 credits of core courses. Additional credits may be taken from optional courses PHY 486 or PHY 488 in accordance with General Regulation 00.62.

Core Courses

PHY481: Atomic and Basic Nuclear Physics (3)
PHY485: Microcomputing for Physical Sciences (3)
PHY489: Physics Practicals 8.1 (2) (Pre-requisite = PHY359 or PHY369)

Combined Major/Minor Programme (Physics Minor)

Semesters 5-8

In semesters 5 – 8, the combined major/minor (Physics Minor) programme shall consist of 6 to 8 credits of any of the physics courses from the core courses or optional courses of the Combined Major/Minor Physics Programme as defined in Regulation 2.3.2, in the given semester. To complete the Physics Minor programme, a candidate must take 4 credits of practical courses, PHY359 or PHY369 at Level 300, and PHY479 or PHY489 at Level 400.