Associate of Science in Physics
PROGRAM MISSION
Mission- To prepare students for successful careers in the field of engineering
Diné College’s Associates Degree in Physics is designed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge that include the ability to apply physics principles competently, think critically and creatively, understand abstract concepts, and use technology to ensure the well-being of the Diné People The purpose of Associates Degree in Physics curriculum is to enable students to pursue their academic and professional aspirations with experiences that consider state of the art physical views. They will be prepared to pursue employment or further studies in physics at a four-year institution.
PROGRAM GOALS
Program Goal – Student are to master Newtonian mechanics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Electromagnetic Theory physics principles with confidence.
- Problem solving and critical reasoning
- Appreciation for physics and its applications to real world problems
- Communicate physics principles with confidence
PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
PLSO 1-Newtonian Mechanics
PSLO 2-Thermodynamics/Fluid Mechanics
PSLO 3-Eletromagnetics/Optics
- Understand Physics Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of physics concepts appropriate to introductory level physics by connecting the terms, tools, and techniques to meaning rooted in the physical world.
- Demonstrate Knowledge of Principles of Mechanics: General concepts of the metric system of measurement, unit conversion, dimensional analysis, mechanics and Newton’s laws of motion.
- Demonstrate Knowledge of Electricity and Magnetism: General concepts of sound, sound waves, electricity (charge, current, resistance, force, fields, potential, energy), capacitance, magnetism, optics, and magnetic fields.
- Demonstrate Knowledge of Vibration and Waves: General concepts of solids, fluids, laws of thermodynamics, vibration and wave motion.
- Demonstrate Knowledge of States of Matter: General concepts of chemistry related to physical states of matter, equations of state, and electrochemistry.
2025 – 2026 Checklist
Associate of Science Degree
Physics (71–72 credits)
| General Education Requirements | Credits | Program Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications ENG 101 College Composition I ENG 102 College Composition II | 6 | CHM 151 General Chemistry I CHM 152 General Chemistry II CSC 150 Programming Fundamentals | 12 |
| Humanities / Fine Arts Choose two courses with different prefixes from: ARH 110; ARH 211; CW 208; ENG 231; ENG 233; FA 106; FA 115; FA 178; HUM 152; LIB 110 Course 1: __________ (3.0) Course 2: __________ (3.0) | 6 | Mathematics & Physics Core MTH 190 Pre-Calculus MTH 191 Calculus I MTH 192 Calculus II PHY 121 Calculus-based Physics I PHY 131 Calculus-based Physics II | 20 |
| Mathematics MTH 110 College Algebra (AGEC-S requires MTH 191 or higher) | 4 | Program Credits Total | 32 |
| Navajo Studies NAV 101/102/201/202/211 (3.0–4.0) NIS 111 Foundation of Navajo Culture (3.0) NIS 221 Navajo History to Present (3.0) | 9–10 | Advisor Signature: ____________________________ | — |
| Laboratory Science BIO 181 General Biology I (4.0) CHM 130 or CHM 151 (4.0–5.0) | 8–9 | Social & Behavioral Sciences HST (101/102/135/136) (3.0) One additional approved course (3.0) | 6 |
| Gen Ed Credits Total | 39–40 | — |
IMPORTANT: To fulfill the General Education Science Core, students are required to take BIO 181 and CHM 130 or CHM 151.
Note: Must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher.
DEAN'S OFFICE
Acting Dean, School of STEM
Tuba City Campus
Phone: (928) 283-5113 ext. 07520
Research Labs: 7538, 7539
Email: stabassum@dinecollege.edu
Administrative Assistant
Tsaile Campus
Phone: 928-724-6731
Email: syazzie@dinecollege.edu