Bachelor of Science in Physics (4 years, 240 ECTS)

Name and the Goals of the Study Programme

The name of the Study programme is Bachelor of Science in Physics (4 years, 240 ECTS). The Goal of this study programme is to provide academic education of experts in the field of Physics.

Professional Title, Academic, or Scientific Title

Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded the academic title of Bachelor with Honours in Physics.

The Structure of the Study Programme

Physics, being a fundamental science, is very broad, but today’s market demands specialized professionals. Therefore, this study program is designed to meet both criteria. Basic knowledge of physics, required for all physicists, students receive through the obligatory courses. This study program offers students a kind of orientation, which is in accordance with their aspirations and preferences.

Choosing different elective courses, students can be directed towards research in the fields of research in materials physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, theoretical physics of condensed matter, or fields of applied physics – nanoscience, medical physics, astronomy and astrophysics.

These studies belong to the first cycle studies, bachelor academic studies.

• Requirements for registration in accordance with the Law on Higher Education.
• A list of mandatory study fields i.e. courses and elective courses thereof, together with their content, are given in the tables.
• Studies are carried out through teaching the courses. In addition to lectures, courses may include experimental-laboratory, demonstration and computational exercises, homework, practice, preparation and defending of the seminar papers. An important component of the study programme is students’ independent work on mastering the content. Duration of the study programme is four academic years or eight semesters.

Conditions for transfer from other study programmes within the same or related field of study are also defined.

Credit value of the study programme is 240 ECTS.

Other issues of importance for the realization of the study programme: Studies are conducted through classes (using modern methods), which are listed in the Curriculum and arranged into semesters. Two semesters constitute an academic year. Total number of ECTS in one academic year is at least 60.

Courses within this study programme are divided into groups: academic-general courses, theoretical-methodological courses, scientific-specialist courses and professional-applied courses.

Courses under this program are classified into obligatory and elective courses.

In order to complete studies, students must pass all required obligatory courses and pass at least one option for each group of elective courses, so that they collect a total of at least 240 ECTS.

The Time Allotted for the Realization of Particular Study Forms

Total duration of the programme is 4 years (8 semesters) where students need to collect at least 240 ECTS.

Credit Values of Particular Courses

The number of ECTS awarded to each course is shown in tables.

Way of Choosing Courses from the Other Study Programmes

Students may choose courses from other study programs of the Faculty that are not classified into one of the elective courses groups in this programme but up to a maximum of 24 ECTS. Such subjects may be selected with a request previously approved by the Council of the Department of Physics.

Prerequisites for the Registration for Particular Courses or Group of Courses

The Prerequisites for registering each course are given in the course description.

The purpose of the study programme is providing the high-quality education to successfully perform academic and professional work in the field of Physics to students who will play a leading role in their area of expertise. The study program guarantees acquiring all the necessary competences for education of professionals. The existence of this degree program is fully justified and beneficial to society as a whole, given the role of modern physics – understanding the physical processes and materials. The physicists are experts necessary in every modern society, as they are the key element in the development of new energy sources, new materials, and new technologies.

They are needed in all areas of modern science and technology in general. Environmental protection, modern medicine, meteorology, astronomy and astrophysics, modern education, as well as in many other areas that cannot be developed without physicists. Moreover, physics, its methods and models are today applied in areas such as the economy, stock market business.

Experts of this profile are able to perform a variety of physical analysis, develop different models, participate in the development of new materials, technologies, energy resources.

A physicist of the high quality academic education has a wide range of opportunities to work for example in scientific and research institutes or development departments in many companies, in quality control, aviation, medical industry, in all companies where the measurement and development of methods of measurement are needed, astronomical observatories, planetariums, hospitals, banks, meteorological observatories, environmental protection institutes, in the government sector, and in the modern industry in general.

Faculty of Sciences provides education and training to experts in natural and mathematical sciences, which confirms that the existence of this programme complies with the basic tasks and goals of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad.

The primary goals of this study programme are obtaining academic and professional competences in physics, and mastering the skills and methods for their acquisition and further development. None the less important are the goals to develop creative abilities and skills to perform various forms of development and application of physics.

The most important general objectives of the study programme are to provide stimulating environment for professional and personal development of students, to use the learning methods to develop analytical, critical and self-critical thinking and approach to address the challenges in an interesting and intellectually challenging way.

The main professional goal is to educate and train professionals to work in diverse and dynamic areas of the profession, as well as to acquire the basic and advance knowledge of the theoretical and experimental principles and methods. Naturally, the ultimate goal is that students obtain the appropriate qualifications which require them to demonstrate knowledge in the field to the level of using the expert literature covering the core knowledge of the topic; to professionally apply their knowledge; to develop skills of defending arguments; to develop the ability to solve problems within the field of studies; to develop the ability to collect and interpret the data; to contemplate on the relevant social, scientific or ethical issues; to be able to report their work to professional and general public; to develop the skills and qualify for further studies.

Professional goals are aimed at providing students with:

• Knowledge of mathematics and mathematical methods that are important for physics;
• Broad knowledge of the basics of theoretical and experimental physics;
• Basic knowledge of applied physics;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the structure of the matter and methods for its investigation;
• Knowledge of the basic principles of operation and use of modern appliances, equipment and instruments;
• Understanding and knowledge of the basic principles of measurement and data processing;
• Understanding and knowledge of the basics of modelling;
• Development of communication and building appropriate human relations so that they can communicate effectively with other professionals that the encounter in practice;
• Understanding the basic role of physics in the modern world.

This study programme defines general methods and strategies for acquiring the competencies:

• to acquire knowledge and understanding: accumulation of knowledge is mainly achieved through lectures and various forms of exercises and practice whose purpose is to broaden, clarify and highlight the practical importance of the content provided in class. This part is also includes production of seminar papers at different levels and in accordance with the students’ progress. The program is designed to allow students the freedom to choose their own further orientation in line with their own ambitions and preferences;
• General competencies (ability to analyze, ability of problem solving, integrating theory and practice, synthesis) are mainly achieved through lectures followed by different types of exercises, particularly within the core courses. It is very important to engage students in solving practical problems in the exercise or practice;
• General competences (communication skills through oral presentations and written reports, the use of information technology, the ability to work independently or in a team, integration and evaluation of  information from various sources, effective and continuous learning); Part of these competences is acquired through obtaining other skills. These skills are continually developed, upgraded and improved throughout the programme, especially with the increase of complexity of the seminar papers and practical problems to be solved by students;
• Subject-specific skills such as planning how to solve practical problems, the use of laboratory methods for data collection, data analysis and their critical assessment, preparation of reports, presentation of reports, effective use of computers in practice are mainly achieved through laboratory exercises and producing seminar papers and professional practice.Taking into account that evaluating students is one of the necessary steps in creating high quality experts in the area, each of the courses provides specific methods of assessment.

General and Course-specific Competencies of Students

By mastering the curriculum, the student acquires the following general skills:

• Analysis, synthesis and forecasting problem solutions and consequences;
• Development of analytical, critical and self-critical thinking and approach to problem solving;
• Development of communication skills and agility, cooperation with immediate social and international environment;
• Application of professional ethics;
• Lifelong learning and training;
• Creativity;
• Applying knowledge in practice;
• Work independently or in a team;
• Collecting and interpreting data;
• Contemplation on the relevant social, scientific or ethical issues;
• Mastering the methods, procedures and process of research.

By mastering the study programme, the student acquires the following course-specific skills and knowledge:

• Application of standard experimental or theoretical methods for the specific area;
• Expanded and integrated knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and/or experimental physics;
• Ability for further academic and professional development;
• Identification of the core processes and critical thinking;
• Ability to use the existing models;
• Finding and using the relevant literature and using the core knowledge of the topic;
• Critical choice of the relevant literature resources with the help of supervisors;
• Ability to professionally apply the acquired knowledge;
• Understanding and knowledge of the nature and methods of research in physics;
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the basics of modern physics;
• Knowledge, understanding and ability to apply the most important mathematical and numerical methods;
• Using computers for the purpose of performing calculations and writing software;
• Understanding and detailed knowledge of the most important and traditional experimental methods;
• Working under expert supervision;
• Knowledge of a foreign language for the purpose of professional communication;
• Application of knowledge and understanding in determining the order of magnitude in situations that are physically different but show analogies;
• Understanding the ethics related to physics and the responsibility to protect public health and the environment;
• Ability to work and provide technical support in various types of laboratories for physics and development, astronomical observatories, knowledge of the operation of the basic medical instruments, understanding the simple models related to the atmosphere.