Physics Department

Name: Abdullahi Mika'il
Rank: Head of Department
The Department of Physics, under the Faculty Natural and Applied Sciences, came into existence with the establishment of Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa in July, 2014. It is one of the pioneer Departments in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences. The pioneer head was Prof. Lawan Sani Taura, the current vice chancellor of the University. Lectures commenced in the Department in July, 2014, with one Professor, one Lecturer II and three Graduate Assistants. From this modest beginning, the staff strength has grown in number and quality over the years. Presently, the Department has seventeen tenure staff (both teaching and non teaching), one staff on sabbatical and thirteen visiting staff. The Department also has two laboratory technologists. The Department is currently located in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences building.
Presently the Department offers four years degree programme leading to the award of B.Sc. (Hons) Physics Degree. There are two semesters in each academic session. The undergraduate students of the Department undergo an industrial training programme for 6 months during the Second Semester at 300 level under the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). At 400 level students undertake a one year project (both semesters) on different aspects of Physics under the supervision of an Academic Staff.
The B.Sc Physics Programme is designed to equip the prospective physics research students with knowledge and essential skills needed for discovering, solving complex societal and industrial problems. The students are exposed to as much content and research literature in the field and are encouraged to interact with the academic members of the programme working in related fields. The graduates of the programme are equipped with knowledge and skill to be successful in pursuing a career in research and teaching and would be well suited to play an important coordinating role in a variety of industries and other areas of employment.
The Department pursues research over a wide range of topics, starting from the abstract and fundamental to the practical and applied physics. The main focus of the Department is to undertake research in Pure and Applied Physics. Staff are actively involved in research activities and they are encouraged to publish papers in both local and international journals and they are also encouraged to participate in national and international conferences. Currently effort is being made to establish Research Laboratories in the fields of Solid State Physics, Geophysics, Quantum Physics and Nuclear Science and Technology. The Staff in the Department are involved in the decision – making process through different meetings such as Departmental meetings, Committee meetings and General Administration meetings. The policy and practice on staff development is as per norm by the University regulations governing staff development. It involves In-Service Training of staff with BSc. Physics Degree (Graduate Assistant) and MSc. Physics to obtain MSc. and PhD Degrees respectively. There is also an In-service Training for Technologist and Junior Staff Cadre. Staff promotion is governed by the norms of the University council’s senior and junior staff approved promotion guidelines. Promotions are approved by the Appointment and Promotion Committee (APC) on the recommendation of the Head of Department and Dean of the Faculty.
Student’s Welfare is handled with utmost importance in the department. Students academic grievances are handled by the Departmental Staff Committee. The committee report to the university senate for final decision. The Departmental Board also appoints an academic adviser (Level Coordinator) for students at all levels.
The Department conducts its examination based on semester system. There are two tests, Quiz (Class work), Assignment and an end of semester examination in every semester. The examination consists of a Continuous Assessment(s) or practical works, which constitutes 40% of the overall semester Examination Score, while the end of semester Examination is 60%. Each semester’s result(s) is approved by the Departmental and Faculty Boards of examiners and then finally by the Senate before it is released to the students by the examination and record office.
The Department sets the priority for staff – students’ interaction through questions and answers during lectures and class discussions. Class attendance is mandatory and students must attain a minimum of 75% attendance. Assignments and practical works keep the students busy and active.
Admission requirements into the Physics Department programs
Level IUnifiedTertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with five SSCE/NECO/GCE O/LEVEL credits obtained in not more than two (2) sittings in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Level IIMinimum of 8 Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) points with five SSCE/NECO/GCE O/LEVEL credits obtained in not more than two (2) sittings in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Credit passes in two major subjects in National Certificate of Education (NCE) with five SSCE/NECO/GCE O/LEVEL credits obtained in not more than two (2) sittings in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
OND at upper credit with five SSCE/NECO/GCE O/LEVEL credits obtained in not more than two (2) sittings in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
FIRST SEMESTER LEVEL I(Level 100)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY 131 | Mechanics, Thermal Physics and Waves | Core | 3 | O’ L |
PHY 117 | Basic Experimental Physics I | Core | 1 | O’ L |
MTH 121 | Elementary Set Theory & Algebra | Core | 2 | O’ L |
MTH 113 | Trigonometry | Core | 1 | O’ L |
MTH 115 | Coordinate Geometry | Core | 1 | O’ L |
CHM 121 | Foundation Chemistry I | Core | 2 | O’ L |
CHM 123 | Foundation Chemistry III | Core | 2 | O’ L |
CHM 111 | Practical Chemistry I | Core | 1 | O’ L |
GSP121 | Communication in English I | 2 | O’ L |
SECOND SEMESTER LEVEL I(Level 100)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY 132 | Electricity, Magnetism & Modern Physics | Core | 3 | O’ L |
PHY 118 | Basic Experimental Physics II | Core | 1 | O’ L |
MTH 132 | Differential Calculus & Applications | Core | 3 | O’ L |
MTH 134 | Vectors and Conics | Core | 3 | O’ L |
STA122 | Probability I | Core | 2 | O’ L |
CSC 122 | Introduction to Computer Science | Core | 2 | O’ L |
CHM 122 | Foundation Chemistry II | Core | 2 | O’ L |
CHM 112 | Practical Chemistry II | Core | 1 | |
GSP 122 | Information and Communication Technology | Core | 2 | |
GSP124 | Use of Library and Study Skills | Core | 2 | O’ L |
FIRST SEMESTER LEVEL II(Level 200)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY233 | Thermal Physics | Core | 3 | PHY131 |
PHY225 | Introduction to Space Science | Core | 2 | |
PHY 217 | Experimental Physics I | Core | 1 | |
PHY221 | Mathematical Methods I | Core | 3 | |
MTH 231 | Chemical Kinetics | Core | 2 | MTH 132 |
MTH 235 | Elementary Differential Equations I | Core | 3 | MTH 132 |
CSC 233 | Computer Programming | Core | 3 | CSC 122 |
STA 221 | Statistics for Physical Science | Core | 2 | |
GSP 223 | Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies | Core | 2 | |
GSP 121 (D.E ONLY) | Communication in English I | Core | 2 |
SECOND SEMESTER LEVEL II(Level 200)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY232 | Electric Circuits and Electronics | Core | 3 | PHY132 |
PHY 234 | Waves and Optics | Core | 3 | PHY131 |
PHY236 | Elementary Modern Physics | Core | 3 | PHY132 |
PHY218 | Experimental Physics II | Core | 1 | |
PHY238 | Physics of the Solid Earth | Core | 3 | |
GSP 224 | Communication in English II | Core | 2 | |
GSP 228 | Nigerian People and Culture | Core | 2 | |
GSP 124 (D.E ONLY) | Use of Library and Study Skills | Core | 2 | |
MTH 236 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis | Elective | 3 | |
STA 222 | Probability | Elective | 1 | |
CSC 220 | Programming in Basic | Elective | 2 |
FIRST SEMESTER LEVEL III(Level 300)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY331 | Analytical Mechanics I | Core | 3 | PHY131 |
PHY333 | Statistical and Thermal Physics | Core | 3 | PHY233 |
PHY317 | Experimental Physics III | Core | 1 | |
PHY329 | Solid State Physics I | Core | 2 | |
PHY321 | Electronics I | Core | 2 | PHY232 |
PHY335 | Quantum Physics | Core | 3 | |
PHY337 | Mathematical Physics I | Core | 3 | MTH231 |
PHY 339 | Electromagnetism | Core | 3 | |
MTH 361 | Complex Analysis I | Core | 3 | MTH 232 or MTH231 |
GSP 321 | Practical Entrepreneurship | Core | 2 |
SECOND SEMESTER LEVEL III (Level 300)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY 368 | SIWES | Core | 6 |
FIRST SEMESTER LEVEL IV(Level 400)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY 421 | Electronics II | Core | 2 | PHY 321 |
PHY 423 | Solid State Physics II | Core | 2 | PHY 329 |
PHY 425 | Workshop Practice | Core | 2 | |
PHY 431 | Analytical Mechanics II | Core | 3 | PHY 331 |
PHY 439 | Mathematical Physics I | Core | 3 | PHY 337 |
PHY 435 | Quantum Mechanics I | Core | 3 | PHY 335 |
PHY 433 | Electromagnetic waves and Optics | Core | 3 | PHY 339 |
PHY 427 | Medical Physics I | Elective | 2 | |
PHY 429 | Industrial Geophysics | Elective | 2 | |
PHY 437 | Nuclear and Particle Physics I | Elective | 3 |
SECOND SEMESTER LEVEL IV(Level 400)
Course Code | Course Title | Course Status | Credit Units | Pre-requisite |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHY432 | Computational Physics | Core | 3 | |
PHY436 | Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy | Core | 3 | PHY 335 |
PHY434 | Quantum Mechanics II | Core | 3 | PHY435 |
PHY462 | Supervised Independent Project | Core | 6 | |
PHY 424 | Atmospheric Physics | Elective | 2 | |
PHY 422 | Biophysics | Elective | 2 | |
PHY 438 | Nuclear and Particle Physics II | Elective | 3 |