Engineering Physics Program

2024-25 Engineering Physics UG Major Program (BS, BSH)

The Engineering Physics program is designed for students who have an interest in and an aptitude for both engineering and physics. The program provides students with a firm foundation in physics and mathematics, together with engineering design and problem-solving skills.

This background prepares students to tackle complex problems in multidisciplinary areas that are at the forefront of 21st-century technology, such as aerospace physics, biophysics, computational science, quantum science and engineering, materials science, electromechanical systems, renewable energy, and any engineering field that requires a very solid background in physics. Because the program emphasizes science, mathematics and engineering, students are well prepared to pursue graduate work in either engineering or physics.

The main contacts for the EPhys major are Co-Directors Patricia Burchat (Professor in Physics) and Mark Cappelli (Professor in Mechanical Engieeirng) for pre-major advising, and student services administrator Darlene Lazar.

Pat Burchat, Physics & Astrophysics Building 239, burchat@stanford.edu
Mark Cappelli, Bldg 520-520D, cap@stanford.edu
Student Services: Darlene Lazar, 135 Huang, dlazar@stanford.edu

For instructions on how to declare the EPhys major, jump to the bottom of this page.

Preparing for the Major:

Students interested in pursuing the Engineering Physics major should plan to take Math and Physics courses in the first year.  Take the Physics and Math Placement Diagnostics to get advice on where to start in the math and physics sequences so that you will be prepared to complete the MATH 50 (or 60CM) series and PHYSICS 61/71/81. Then see the sample plans for the start of the Engineering Physics (or Physics) major and the Program Sheet for the Engineering Physics major. 

Advising

Faculty in the School of Engineering, Physics and Applied Physics serve as advisors in the Engineering Physics program. They are listed below by Engineering Physics specialty.

    Aerospace Physics: Ken Hara, Mark Cappelli, Sigrid Close, Ilan Kroo
    Biophysics: Polly Fordyce, Stephen Quake, Jan Liphardt, Andy Spakowitz
    Computational Science: Tom Abel, Ron Fedkiw, Patrick Hanrahan
    Electromechanical System Design: Mark Cappelli, Sigrid Close
    Materials Science: Mark Brongersma, Bruce Clemens, Jen Dionne
    Quantum Science and Engineering: Mark Kasevich, Amir Safavi-Naeini
    Renewable Energy: Mark Cappelli

Grading Policy

All courses applied toward the major must be taken for a letter grade and a grade of 'C-' or better received unless a letter grade option is not offered by the instructor.

Honors

EPHYS majors have the option to pursue an honors degree (ENGR-BSH, Engineering Physics), applying autumn quarter of the senior year; the deadline to submit a proposal for honors is November 1.

Honors Criteria: GPA of at least 3.5 in courses that count toward the major and independent research conducted at an advanced level with a faculty research advisor and documented in an honors thesis. The honors candidate must identify a faculty member who will serve as their honors research advisor and a second reader who will be asked to read the thesis and give feedback before endorsing the thesis. One of the two must be a member of the Academic Council.

Application: Application documents should be submitted to Darlene via email no later than November 1 of senior year:

• One-page description of the research topic
• Application form signed by the honors thesis advisor
• Unofficial Stanford transcript

Students may enroll for research units in ENGR 199(W) or in departmental courses such as ME 191(H). A completed thesis draft must be submitted to the research advisor and second reader by April 15. For more details on completing the honors requirements, see the EPhys Honors description on the Stanford Bulletin Major Programs page.

Summer Research

Engineering Physics majors may participate in on-campus summer research programs in engineering, physics, or applied physics. To conduct research with a faculty member in the School of Engineering, students apply to the summer research program for the department of the faculty mentor. To conduct research with a faculty member in the Physics or Applied Physics Departments or at SLAC, students apply through the Physics, Applied Physics and SLAC program.

Program Sheet

Make a copy of the Engineering Physics program sheet and fill in requirements described in next section.

Requirements

After completing the MATH 50 (or 60CM) series* and PHYSICS 61, 71, and 81 (and any necessary prerequisites based on Placement advice for math and physics), students in Engineering Physics study partial differential equations and more advanced mathematics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and numerical methods, as well as completing an electronic lab course, a project design course, engineering fundamentals (e.g., computer science), a course on Writing in the Major, and a capstone** course or research project. 

In addition, students choose (at least) three elective courses from a specialty area, described in more detail below: Aerospace Physics, Biophysics, Computational Science, Electromechanical System Design, Materials Science, Quantum Science & Engineering, or Renewable Energy. 

For a detailed description of requirements, see the Engineering Physics section at the bottom of the Engineering (BS) section of the Bulletin.

*The Math 50 (or 60CM) series is a corequisite for PHYSICS 61, 71, 81. Although the CME 100 series may be substituted by petition, the Math 50 series is strongly recommended for all Engineering Physics students. The prerequisite to enroll in Math 51 is Math 21, or 10 units AP BC credit or equivalent.

**To satisfy the capstone requirement, students must complete at least one of the following:.

1. Complete an Honors thesis for the Honors program
2. Complete a research project and document it in a capstone paper for ENGR 199W.
3. Complete the capstone course(s) in a department closely aligned with the chosen specialty (e.g., BIOE, CS, ME, etc) or Physics.

Overviews of Specialty Areas:

Aerospace Physics: Students develop a deep background in physics and mathematics and apply it to understanding the space environment, and the dynamics, design, and control of space vehicles. 

Biophysics: Prepares students to employ methods in physics to the study of biological systems.  Students have the opportunity to learn about the physical biology of systems on a broad range of scales, techniques developed in biophysics for imaging, measuring, and manipulating biological systems, and the application of quantitative analysis techniques to topics in biology and genomics. 

Computational Science: Prepares students to apply modern computational techniques to problems in engineering and applied science, and to the analysis of data. Students have the opportunity to study computational theory and algorithms, as well as applications in modeling, data analysis, data science, and machine learning.

Electromechanical System Design: Provides the opportunity for students to explore the process of design, analysis, and realization of modern electromechanical systems including “smart products” with embedded sensing and actuation.

Materials Science:  Students learn how to design and synthesize materials with particular structures at the nanometer and micrometer scale that provide special electrical, optical, magnetic or mechanical properties.  Students can learn how to use these materials to make integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, fuel cells, microelectromechanical systems and other advanced devices.

Quantum Science & Engineering: Provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of quantum systems – including atoms, lasers, and quantum devices – and investigate potential applications, such as timing and navigation, quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum cryptography, and tests of fundamental physics..

Renewable Energy: Students explore energy conversion and storage technologies that are relevant in renewable energy systems, such as solar cells, wind turbines, batteries, fuel cells, and hydrogen production and storage.

Other Specialty: With approval of advisor and by petition, a set of three courses in one area of concentration

Guidelines for Departmental Deviation Petitions for Substitutions or Modifications of Engineering Physics Requirements

In special circumstances, the Co-Directors of Engineering Physics will evaluate petitions for single-course modifications to the requirements for the major published in the School of Engineering UG Handbook (UGHB) and in the Bulletin. In all cases, the proposed course will be evaluated on whether it meets the standards for math and/or physics prerequisites expected for the Engineering Physics major and the relevance to the Engineering Physics core or specialty area. The typical standard is that, if the petition is accepted, the course could be considered as an allowed elective for any student in the Engineering Physics program.

Petitions to replace a required core course or pathway elective with an alternate course should be brief, factual, and based on the content of the relevant courses. The petition should include 

• a link to the course description and a copy of the syllabus for any required or proposed replacement courses mentioned in the petition;
• an explanation for why the Engineering Physics requirements as currently described in the UGHB cannot be satisfied. 

If the motivation for the petition is that you have discovered a (possibly new) course that you think is particularly relevant to an Engineering Physics specialty, then the relevance of the course should be described in the text.  

To submit the petition, complete the Departmental Deviation Petition form linked to the Exceptions & Waivers page and send it to the Engineering Physics Co-Directors (burchat@stanford.edu, cap@stanford.edu) for review.

Declaring Engineering Physics

1. Make a pre-major advising appointment with either Prof Pat Burchat in Physics, or with Prof Mark Cappelli in Mechanical Engineering, to discuss math and physics requirements, the selection of a specialty in Engineering Physics, and choosing an advisor.
2. Declare the Engineering Physics subplan on Axess: select “Engineering” as your major and "Engineering Physics" as your subplan. Do not select Engineering Honors; this option may be elected later should you choose to pursue the Honors program.
3. Print your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess.
4. Download the Engineering Physics Program Sheet from the Program Sheet page. Complete the Program Sheet, indicating how you plan to fulfill the major requirements (or do this when you meet with your advisor).
5. Make an appointment with your advisor to discuss your program. Have your advisor sign the Program Sheet. Your program proposal may change as you progress in the program; submit revisions in consultation with your advisor. (Submit an initial Program Sheet during the quarter in which you declare, and a final Program Sheet at least two quarters before you graduate.)
6. Return your signed form and a copy of your unofficial transcript to Darlene Lazar via email or to 135 Huang; she can then approve your declaration in Axess and enter your new advisor. You can also get AP or transfer credit approval taken care of at this time.