Engineering Physics, B.S.
Mission
The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics is to train and mentor students to become skilled engineers who will glorify God and be good stewards of His creation as they serve others in industry, research, and academia.
Degree Program
A Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics is awarded to students who complete the 3+2 engineering program at Biola and an approved engineering school. The degree requires completion of all the Core Curriculum, Bible requirements, and a minimum of 45 program course credits (at least 15 of these must be upper-division level math/science/engineering credits) at Biola along with the completion of an accredited engineering program. Special arrangement has been made with the University of Southern California for this five-year, dual-degree program in liberal arts/sciences and engineering. Students attend Biola for three years taking courses in physics, engineering, math, chemistry, biblical studies and the liberal arts (all Biola courses must be completed before transferring). The final two years are taken at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Engineering. Upon successful completion of the five-year program, a student receives a B.S. degree in Engineering Physics from Biola and a B.S. degree in their chosen engineering discipline from USC. Students interested in this 3+2 program with USC, or who choose to attend another accredited engineering school following a similar pattern, must plan their course of study under the supervision of the engineering advisor and with the approval of the department.
The student should be aware that engineering schools often have a minimum GPA requirement for application. The program at USC currently requires a 3.0 GPA in core Math and Science courses and requires students to apply for transfer. The required courses taken at Biola for most engineering programs are listed below. Other courses may be required for specific engineering programs.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational principles related to engineering physics (ULO 1).
- Demonstrate an ability to solve quantitative, qualitative, and technical problems related to an ability to engineering physics (ULO 1).
- Demonstrate safe laboratory technique, proper use of appropriate equipment, and suitable results and data analysis (ULO 1).
- Demonstrate an ability to obtain and use appropriate engineering and physics related literature and resource materials.(ULO 1).
- Summarize the key issues in science and faith and recognize the harmony possible while studying God's creation (ULO 1, 2, and 3).
Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.
GPA Requirement
To continue in the program a student is required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in their first year of chemistry, physics and/or math courses taken at Biola. These courses may include: CHEM 105, CHEM 115, MATH 150, MATH 151, PHSC 132, and PHSC 134.
Integration Seminar Requirement
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics degree program are required to take BBST 4653 Integration Seminar: Christianity and the Natural Sciences, or another approved Integration Seminar topic (see advisor).
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Physics majors meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 9 credits in integration seminar, science, and mathematics within the major. The foreign language requirement is met by two years of high school study in the same language or four credits of college foreign language. Students in the engineering 3+2 program sequence are exempt from the Core Curriculum requirement in literature and the last semester residency requirement. ENGL 3133 is recommended. | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| CHEM 107 | Introduction to Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 115 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 150 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 151 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 250 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 335 | Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHSC 121 | Introduction to Engineering | 1 |
| PHSC 124 | Data Analysis and Presentation | 1 |
| PHSC 132 | General Physics I: Mechanics and Heat | 3 |
| PHSC 134 | General Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHSC 233 | General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHSC 237 | General Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| PHSC 234 | General Physics III: Waves, Optics and Modern Physics | 4 |
| PHSC 311 | Computer Techniques in Science and Engineering | 3 |
| PHSC 321 | Circuits and Instrumentation I | 5 |
| BBST 4653 | Integration Seminar: Christianity and the Natural Sciences 2 | 3 |
| Select 4 upper-division credits, additional courses may be required by specific engineering programs. Note: Some courses may have prerequisites. | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II 3 | ||
| Complex Variables | ||
| Statics | ||
| Mechanics of Materials | ||
| Dynamics | ||
| Classical Mechanics | ||
| Circuits and Instrumentation II 3 | ||
| Fundamentals of Materials Science | ||
| Directed Research | ||
| Program Course Requirements: 48-51 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 4 | 51-55 | |
| Total Credits | 99-106 | |
- 1
CHEM 107 is waived for students who meet the qualifications to enter CHEM 105. See the current Placement Options for CHEM 105 for more information.
- 2
Fulfills the BBST 465 Biblical and Theological Studies Integration Seminar requirement.
- 3
Additional courses, which are not program requirements, are required as prerequisites. See department for advising.
- 4
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.
NOTE: The course sequence table is designed by the major department and is one way that the classes will work out properly in sequence for your major. However, there are alternative or flexible ways to rotate some of the classes within the same year/level and sometimes between year levels. Please contact your major department advisor to discuss flexible alternatives in scheduling the sequence of your classes.
Taking coursework during the summer session may also be an option to accelerate your degree path.
See Core Curriculum Program section for a list of approved Core Curriculum courses.
Engineering Physics, B.S.
For students who enroll in more than 18 semester credits, please note the additional cost per credit in the catalog's Financial Information section.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BBST 103 | 3 | BBST 209 | 3 |
| BBST 165 | 3 | BBST 210 | 3 |
| CHEM 107 (if needed per Department) | 3 | MATH 151 | 4 |
| ENGL 100 or 112 | 3 | PHSC 121 | 1 |
| GNST 102 | 1 | PHSC 132 | 3 |
| MATH 150 | 4 | PHSC 134 | 1 |
| PHSC 124 | 1 | Behavioral Science (see Core Curriculum) | 3 |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BBST 251 | 3 | BBST 354 | 3 |
| MATH 250 | 4 | MATH 335 | 3 |
| PHSC 233 | 3 | PHSC 234 | 4 |
| PHSC 237 | 1 | PHSC 321 | 5 |
| Fine Arts (see Core Curriculum) | 3 | Communication (see Core Curriculum) | 3 |
| Foreign Language (see Core Curriculum) | 4 | ||
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BBST 300/400 Bible Elective | 3 | BBST 365 | 3 |
| BBST 300/400 Bible Elective | 3 | BBST 4653 (fulfills BBST 465 Integration Seminar requirement) | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | 3 | Engineering Elective (see list in catalog) | 3 |
| CHEM 115 | 1 | Engineering Elective (see list in catalog) | 1 |
| ENGL 3133 (recommended; fulfills ENGL 313 Core Curriculum requirement) | 3 | HIST 200, 201, or POSC 225 | 3 |
| KNES 107 | 1 | Philosophy (see Core Curriculum) | 3 |
| PHSC 311 | 3 | ||
| KNES Activity (see Core Curriculum) | 1 | ||
| Writing Competency Requirement | |||
| Graduation Application due in Registrar's Office | |||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 106 | |||
Notes:
- If two years of the same foreign language was not taken in high school, four credits at college level will be required for graduation.
- Depending on the engineering discipline, the minimum number of PHEP electives may not fully reflect transfer requirements for 3+2 programs. See advisor for further details.
- Students in the Engineering 3+2 sequence are exempt from general education requirements in Literature (3). The student is also exempt from the last semester residency requirement.
- The student's fourth and fifth year will include a minimum of 30-32 credits of upper-division engineering-related courses from USC or other accredited engineering program.
NOTE: The course sequence table is designed by the major department and is one way that the classes will work out properly in sequence for your major. However, there are alternative or flexible ways to rotate some of the classes within the same year/level and sometimes between year levels. Please contact your major department advisor to discuss flexible alternatives in scheduling the sequence of your classes.
Taking coursework during the summer session may also be an option to accelerate your degree path.
See Core Curriculum Program section for a list of approved Core Curriculum courses.
Engineering Physics, B.S.
For students who enroll in more than 18 semester credits, please note the additional cost per credit in the catalog's Financial Information section.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HNRS 101 | 4 | HNRS 105 | 4 |
| HNRS 102 | 4 | HNRS 106 | 4 |
| GNST 102 | 1 | KNES 107 | 1 |
| MATH 150 | 4 | MATH 151 | 4 |
| PHSC 124 | 1 | PHSC 121 | 1 |
| CHEM 107 (if needed per Department) | 3 | PHSC 132 | 3 |
| PHSC 134 | 1 | ||
| 17 | 18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HNRS 210 | 4 | HNRS 230 | 4 |
| HNRS 215 | 4 | HNRS 231 | 4 |
| MATH 250 | 4 | MATH 335 | 3 |
| PHSC 233 | 3 | PHSC 234 | 4 |
| PHSC 237 | 1 | PHEP Elective | 3 |
| KNES Activity (see Core Curriculum) | 1 | ||
| 17 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HNRS 324 | 4 | HNRS 337 | 4 |
| HNRS 326 | 2 | HNRS 339 | 2 |
| HNRS 443 | 4 | BBST 4653 (fulfills BBST 465 Integration Seminar requirement) | 3 |
| CHEM 105 (recommend taking in summer) | 3 | ENGL 3133 (recommended; fulfills ENGL 313 Core Curriculum requirement) | 3 |
| CHEM 115 | 1 | PHSC 321 | 5 |
| PHSC 311 | 3 | PHEP Elective | 1 |
| 17 | 18 | ||
| Total Credits 105 | |||
Notes:
- If two years of the same foreign language was not taken in high school, four credits at college level will be required for graduation.
- The minimum number of PHEP electives may not fully reflect transfer requirements for 3+2 program; see advisor for further details.
- It is recommended to take CHEM 105 and CHEM 115 during the summer.
