Degree in Physics
240 credits - Faculty of Science
The Degree in Physics offers general training in this core discipline of science and technology. Some of the goals of the program are to: discover physical phenomena, as well as important theories and physical laws; master mathematical and numerical methods; apply known solutions to new problems; and enable students to carry out laboratory experiments. Interdisciplinary skills will be acquired during the degree programme, including the ability to communicate in English. Additionally, specific skills will be taught such as the ability to knowledgeably describe the physical world using mathematics and to critically compare results of a calculation based on a physical model with conclusions from observations and experiments.
Credit Summary
Core Training | Mandatory | Elective Subjects | External Practicum | Final Degree Project | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 | 144 | 30 | - | 6 | 240 |
Subject list by year and semester
Subjects
First Year
First Semester
Mathematics I*
General Physics I*
Chemistry I*
Analysis of Experimental Data*
Computer-aided Physics*
Second Semester
Mathematics II*
General Physics II*
Chemistry II*
General Physics Laboratory*
Vector Calculus*
Second Year
First Semester
Differential Equations I
Classical Mechanics
Thermodynamics
Electrical Circuits
Complex Variable
Second Semester
Differential Equations II
Analytical Mechanics
Optics
Experimental Physics I
Electronic Instrumentation
Third Year
First Semester
Electromagnetism I
Physics of Continuous Media
Quantum Mechanics
Function Spaces
Computational Physics
Second Semester
Electromagnetism II
Statistical Physics
Quantum Mechanics
Experimental Physics II
Elective 1
Fourth Year
First Semester
Solid State Physics
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Statistical Mechanics
Elective 2
Elective 3
* Core Training
Second Semester
Physical Electronics
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Elective 4
Elective 5
Final Degree Project
Skills
Core Skills
- CB1 Acquiring knowledge and understanding in a field of study based on the foundations of general secondary education together with the support of advanced textbooks and aspects of the latest advances in the field.
- CB2 Being able to apply knowledge acquired as a student to a job or vocation in a professional manner, and possessing the skills that are generally demonstrated by producing and defending arguments and solving problems in a field of study.
- CB3 Having the ability to collect and interpret relevant data (generally within a field of study) in order to make judgments which include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
- CB4 Being able to convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialised or non-specialised audiences.
- CB5 Developing the necessary skills to undertake further studies to a certain degree of independence.
General Skills
- CG1 An ability for analysis and synthesis.
- CG2 An ability for teamwork.
- CG3 An ability to adapt to new situations.
- CG4 An ability to organise and plan.
- CG5 General basic knowledge.
- CG6 Critical reasoning.
- CG7 An ability to generate new ideas.
- CG8 Motivation for quality.
- CG9 Knowledge of English: the ability to understand, speak and write in English to an intermediate level.
Cross-cutting Skills
- CT1 Understanding that any professional activity needs to be done in respect of fundamental rights, promoting gender equality, the principle of universal access and design for all individuals, and in protection of the environment, as well as in accordance with the values inherent to a culture of peace and democracy.
Specific Skills
- CE1 Being able to clearly evaluate orders of magnitude, developing a clear perception of situations that are physically different, but which show analogies and, therefore, enable the use of known solutions to new problems.
- CE2 Understanding the essential aspect of a process or situation and establishing a working model for it: graduates should be able to make the necessary approximations to reduce the problem to a reasonable level; critical thought to build physical models.
- CE3 Having a thorough understanding of the most important physical theories, locating in their logical and mathematical structure the experimental support and physical phenomena that can be described through them.
- CE4 Knowing how to describe the physical world using mathematics, understanding and knowing how to use mathematic models and approximations.
- CE5 Knowing how to critically compare results from a calculation based on a physical model with experiments and observations.
- CE6 Knowing how to solve physical problems with well-defined solutions, having experience in treating complex problems with open solutions and knowing how to formulate problems in precise terms and identifying their essential aspects. Having the ability to use different approximations for challenging problems.
- CE7 Having the ability to use physics textbooks and articles, searching out information in databases and on the internet, starting independent research and interacting with colleagues to attain relevant information.
- CE8 Having the ability to take in explanations, read and understand scientific texts and knowing how to summarise and present information clearly and concisely.
- CE9 Becoming familiar with the most important experimental models, as well as being able to undertake experiments independently, as well as describing, analysing and critically assessing experimental data.
- CE10 Knowing how to undertake and, in some instances, plan an experiment or research, and to write a report about the experiment. Knowing how to use appropriate data analysis methods and assessing errors in measurements and results. Knowing how to link experimental conclusions or research to relevant physical theories.
- CE11 Developing the ability to work independently, using initiative and organising oneself to comply with deadlines. Acquiring experience in group work and being able to constructively interact.
- CE12 Knowing how to write programs with scientific programming languages, using symbolic computation programs and other programs to analyse data and present reports.
- CE13 Showing, possessing and understanding mathematical techniques and methods to a level that enables advanced formulation of physical theories and efficient solutions to problems.