Department of Physics

About

The Physics Department offers Courses in Physics leading to award of  BSc, MSc and PhD. There is a wide range of courses at both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. To keep in step with new advances in physics, there are new course units designed as electives. There are also several areas of research in which members of staff are engaged.

Physics (in its various forms) is one of the oldest disciplines studied in University around the world. Physics is also the most widely applied discipline in the modern world with applications ranging from Engineering, Medicine, Industry, Commerce, Electronics, Automobile, Archaeology, to mention but a few. Physics, as you will find, cannot be classified in the traditional scheme as an ‘Arts’ or ‘Science’ subject because it is a tool and also a descriptive language applicable to a variety of situation. This interdisciplinary character of Physics opens up enormous opportunities for Physics students to enjoy a rich, varied, and stimulating career during and after their formal university studies. We are proud of the fact that our graduates are found in all walks of life ranging from teaching, research, telecommunications, computing, banking, commerce, industry, agriculture, medical support work, statistical work, management and politics.

Our Vision

 To be the leader in the region in the training of Physicists.

Our Mission

To produce high quality graduates who will easily find employment in industry, who will be competent enough for postgraduate studies in physics and related science fields, who will be good physics educators and who are innovative enough to solve physics related problems in their communities. In addition, the Department is to carry out high quality research involving societies’ physics related problems and to provide the best consultancy services.

The Physics programme is offered either as a Major or a Minor. A major constitutes of not less than two-thirds of the programme load, while a minor constitutes of not more than one-thirds of the programme load.

Some students taking Physics Minor would be taking Education with Mathematics as their Major and are potential Secondary school teachers. In order to fit these courses into available time, some courses offered to Physics majors in the second year will be taken in the third year by Physics Minors.

The Department of Physics offers courses in Physics leading to the award of BSc, MSc, and PhD. The undergraduate courses are arranged such that a student may take Physics as major or mint Department teaches Physics to students from the School of Education, the School of Librarianship Information Science and any other faculty which may wish to take some courses in Physics.

BSc. Science (Physics Major)

3 Years

BSc. Science (Physics Minor)

3 Years

MSc. Physics

Code: PHY | 3 Years

Ph.D Physics

Code: PHY | 3 Years

  • 4th East African Astronomical Society Workshop
  • National Consultative Forum on the Post 2015 Development Agenda
  • 5th East African Astronomical Society Workshop
  • Peparatory School to the Winter College on Optics
  • Winter College on Optics: Optical Frequency Combs
  • International Conference on Science and Technology
  • 2016 Life Sciences Review of the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

BSc. Science (Physics Major)

Years: 3

Programme Structure

CODE

COURSE NAME

L

P

CH

CU

 

First Year

    
 

SEMESTER I – Core Courses

    

PHY1111

Mathematical Methods in Physics I

45

45

3

PHY1112

Properties of Matter

30

30

45

3

PHY1113

Heat & Thermodynamics

30

30

45

3

CSK 1101

Communication Skills

    
 

Total

   

9

PHY1114

General Physics (For None Physics students)

45

30

60

4

 

SEMESTER II – Core Courses

    

PHY1211

Classical Mechanics I

30

30

45

3

PHY1212

Electricity and Magnetism

45

30

60

4

PHY1213

Optics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

10

 

Second Year

    
 

SEMESTER I – Core Courses

    

PHY2111

Mathematical Methods in Physics II

45

45

3

PHY2112

Solid State Physics I

30

30

45

3

PHY2113

Wave Optics

30

30

45

3

DES 1108

Introduction to Development Studies

    
 

Electives: (Choose one)

    

PHY2114

Evolution of Physics

45

45

3

PHY2115

Elements of Astronomy and Astrophysics

45

45

3

PHY2116

Elements of Environmental Physics

45

45

3

 

Total

   

12

 

SEMESTER II – Core Courses

    

PHY2211

Classical Mechanics II

45

30

60

4

PHY2214

Quantum Mechanics I

30

30

45

3

PHY2215

Electronics

45

30

60

4

 

Electives: (Choose one)

    

PHY2212

Fluid Dynamics

30

30

45

3

PHY2213

Introduction to Geo-Physics

30

30

45

3

PHY2216

Acoustics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

14

 

Recess Term:

    

PHY2320

Field Attachment

150

75

5

 

Third Year

    
 

SEMESTER I – Core Courses

    

PHY3111

Computer Programming in Physics

30

30

45

3

PHY3112

Electro-Magnetism

45

30

60

4

PHY3117

Statistical Mechanics

45

45

3

 

Electives: (choose two)

    

PHY3113

Geophysical Methods

30

30

45

3

PHY3114

Introduction to Space Physics

30

30

45

3

PHY3115

Electronics & Instrumentation

30

30

45

3

PHY3116

Agricultural Physics

30

30

45

3

PHY3118

Bio-Physics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

16

 

SEMESTER II – Core Courses

    

PHY3211

Physics Project

90

90

3

PHY3212

Solid State Physics II

30

30

45

3

PHY3214

Quantum Mechanics II

30

30

45

3

PHY3218

Nuclear Physics

45

45

3

 

Electives: (choose one)

    

PHY3213

Materials Science

30

30

45

3

PHY3215

Solar Energy

30

30

45

3

PHY3216

Microwaves and Fibre Optics

30

30

45

3

PHY3217

Industrial Physics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

15

BSc. Science (Physics Minor)

Years: 3

Programme Structure

CODE

COURSE NAME

L

P

CH

CU

 

First Year

    
 

SEMESTER I – Core Courses

    

PHY1111

Mathematical Methods in Physics I

45

45

3

PHY1112

Properties of Matter

30

30

45

3

PHY1113

Heat & Thermodynamics

30

30

45

3

CSK1101

Communication Skills

    
 

Total

   

9

 

SEMESTER II – Core Courses

    

PHY1211

Classical Mechanics I

30

30

45

3

PHY1212

Electricity and Magnetism

45

30

60

4

PHY1213

Optics

30

30

45

3

 

TOTAL

   

9

 

Second Year

    
 

SEMESTER I – Core Courses: None

    
 

Electives: (choose two)

    

PHY2112

Solid State Physics I

30

30

45

3

PHY2113

Wave Optics

45

30

60

4

PHY2116

Elements of Environmental Physics

45

45

3

CSK1101

Introduction to Development Studies

    
 

Total

   

6/7

      
 

SEMESTER II – Core Courses: None

    
 

Electives: (choose two)

    

PHY2213

Introduction to Geophysics

30

30

45

3

PHY2214

Quantum Mechanics I

30

30

45

3

PHY2215

Electronics

45

30

60

4

PHY2216

Acoustics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

6/7

 

Third Year

    
 

SEMESTER I – Core Courses:None

    
 

Electives: (choose two)

    

PHY3112

Electro-Magnetism

45

30

60

4

PHY3113

Geo-physical Methods

30

30

45

3

phy3114

Introduction to Space Physics

30

30

45

3

PHY3115

Electronics & Instrumentation

30

30

45

3

PHY3116

Agricultural Physics

30

30

45

3

PHY3118

Bio-physics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

6/7

 

SEMESTER II – Electives: (choose two)

    

PHY3213

Materials Science

30

30

45

3

PHY3215

Solar Energy

30

30

45

3

PHY3216

Microwaves and Fibre Optics

30

30

45

3

PHY3217

Industrial Physics

30

30

45

3

 

Total

   

6

MSc. Physics

Years: 3

Objectives of the Programmes

The main objectives of the postgraduate training in Physics are:

  • Capacity Building: To train Physicists who are needed in the various work force sectors.
  • Knowledge: To impart more advanced knowledge and keep up to date with new advances in Physics beyond the undergraduate level.
  • Research: To impart research skills and encourage research leading to new knowledge and solutions of problems related to industry and soci-ety needs in general.
Entrance Requirements

Admission into the Masters of Science in Physics Degree Programme is governed by the general Makerere University and Faculty of Science entrance requirements for Postgraduate Courses. In particular a candidate should be in possession of at least a Second Class honours degree, from a recognised University or Institution, in Physics or Physics combined with another subject.

Candidates seeking admission to a particular area of specialisation within the programme must show competence (such as having offered subjects closely related to the area as part of an honours degree programme) in such an area.

Candidates with lower qualifications will be considered for admission provided they have demonstrated academic growth in Physics and/or in the area of specialisation they are seeking admission to.

Type of Programme

The MSc. (Physics) is conducted by Coursework and Dissertation. A student is expected to select an area of specialisation. Each such area of specialisation has three Core Courses, and in addition to the Core Courses, a student will select two courses from the electives to make up 5 courses to be done in year 1, semester 1 & 2.

During the Second Year, Semesters 1 & 2, a student will be required to carry out research in his/her area of specialisation and to submit an acceptance dissertation.

Duration

The minimum duration of the Programme is two (2) years and the maximum is five years. Each semester shall comprise 15 weeks of teaching/study and 2 weeks for examinations. Students will have a break of 4 weeks between the two semesters.

Graduate Course Units

Course Code

Course Name

Credit Units (CU)

PHY6108

Computer Science

2

PHY6101

Mathematical Physics

2

PHY6102

Classical Mechanics

2

PHY6106

Statistical Mechanics

3

PHY6203

Material Science

3

PHY6203

Advanced Quantum Mechanics I

2

PHY6205

Classical Electrodynamics I

2

PHY6104

Energy Physics

2

PHY6103

Solid State Physics

                              3

 

Ph.D Physics

Years: 3

To obtain a Ph.D. in Physics a candidate must have accumulated at least 9 CU in the courses and submitted a dissertation.

Research Projects

Zinc Oxide materials for Voltaic Applications

Principal Investigator: Professor Otiti

Duration: 2011-2013

Study of Thin Films for Energy applications

Principal Investigator: Professor Otiti

Collaborators: International programme in Physical Sciences, Sweden