Dual degree (physics/engineering)

Physics/Engineering Dual Degree Program Details

Admission to a College of Engineering is not guaranteed.  Students must meet certain academic and other requirements, as determined by each participating College of Engineering, in order to be selected for entrance into the engineering portion of this program.  Please note that UW-Madison requires that applicants must have Wisconsin residency status and must have enrolled in UW-La Crosse directly from high school (i.e. not as a transfer student).  The Colleges of Engineering may change their specific dual degree admission requirements at any time.

The information below outlines the required courses needed to complete a physics major at UW-La Crosse and transfer to one of the engineering programs at UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Platteville, UW-Stout, the University of Minnesota Duluth, or Winona State University to complete a two-year engineering degree program.  An example of a three-year schedule at UW-La Crosse is shown below. 

Engineering Core Courses

  • General Physics I
  • General Physics II
  • Modern Physics
  • General Chemistry I 
  • Software Design I
  • Calculus I
  • Calculus II
  • Calculus III
  • Linear Algebra with Differential Equations

Required Courses

  • Elective in any area of experimental physics
  • Physics and Astronomy Research 
  • Plus four of these seven courses (totaling 11 credits)
    • Experimental Physics
    • Optics
    • Classical Mechanics
    • Electrodynamics
    • Electronics
    • Thermodynamics
    • Quantum Mechanics

There are also general education requirements.

Please note that different and/or additional courses may be required depending on the specific engineering discipline chosen - be sure to consult with the physics department dual degree advisor for details.

Example of a three-year schedule at UW-La Crosse:

Year One (Freshman Year)
Semester One (16 credits) 
PHY 203 General Physics I - 4 credits
PHY 497 Physics and Astronomy Seminar - 1 credit
MTH 207 Calculus I - 5 credits
ENG 110 College Writing I - 3 credits
HIS 101 Global Origins of the Modern World - 3 credits

Semester Two (15 credits)
PHY 204 General Physics II - 4 credits
PHY 497 Physics and Astronomy Seminar - 1 credit
MTH 208 Calculus II - 4 credits
CST 110 Communicating Effectively - 3 credits
HPR 105 Health and Physical Well Being - 3 credits
 
Year Two (Sophomore Year)
Semester One (16 credits)
PHY 302 Optics - 3 credits
PHY 320 Statics - 3 credits
MTH 310 Calculus III - 4 credits
ECO 110 Microeconomics and Public Policy - 3 credits
ENG 201 American Literature I - 3 credits

Semester Two (15 credits)
PHY 250 Modern Physics - 3 credits
PHY 334 Electrical Circuits (writing emphasis) - 3 credits
MTH 309 Linear Algebra w/Diff. Eq. - 4 credits
CHM 103 General Chemistry I - 5 Credits

Year Three (Junior Year)
Semester One (14 credits)
PHY 311 Experimental Physics (writing emphasis) - 2 credits
PHY 321 Classical Mechanics - 3 credits
PHY 335 Electronics - 4 credits
ECO 336 Women in the U.S. Economy - 3 credits
Appreciation Course - 2 Credits
 
Semester Two (15 credits)
PHY 343 Thermodynamics - 3 credits
CS 120 Software Design I - 4 credits
ECO 120 Global Macroeconomics - 3 credits
Appreciation Course - 2 credits
Elective Course - 3 credits

Students who successfully complete the dual degree program receive both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Physics from UW-La Crosse and a B.S. degree in Engineering from UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Platteville, UW-Stout, the University of Minnesota Duluth, or Winona State University.  The approximate time to complete the program is five years:  three years (85+ credits) at UW-La Crosse and two years at one of the engineering colleges.