The Department of Physics

Programme Summary

We are living in the electronics age and this area is attracting many students but due to intake limitations of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering most of the students are not getting a chance to study electronics. Through this programme we want to give them an opportunity and furthermore, enhance the development of this area in the Caribbean region. Local industries are also looking for skilled manpower and this programme may be a solution to that. This offering will also serve the needs of the Ministry of Education. They have indicated on several occasions that electronics is a problematic area for students studying the CAPE syllabus and teachers are not competent enough in this area. Therefore through this programme we will be able to address this problem and produce competent Physics teachers. This programme will be jointly run by the Department of Physics and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering of the UWI St. Augustine campus. This programme will be offered to students intended to do major in Electronics independently or with major/minors in Physics or Computer Science or Information Technology or Mathematics. Upon completion of the programme, students may be employed by telecommunication, automation, oil & gas, consumer and power industries. This programme will also give students a chance to pursue higher education in the Faculty of Engineering and provide an avenue to join the engineering main stream.

Electronics Matriculation Requirements

Any of the Following

1. Two (2) CAPE subjects including Physics and Mathematics 
2. CAPE Mathematics and CAPE Electrical & Electronic  Engineering Technology (EEET) with CSEC Physics
3. An approved Associate Degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Aims and Objectives

This main aim of the proposed programme is to create a skilled workforce in various areas of Electronics particularly Communication, Control and Integrated Electronics to support local telecommunication, petroleum, power, mass communication and automation industries. The objectives of the proposed new Major in Electronics are to:

• Provide graduates with highly marketable specialist skills in the technological aspects of Communication, Control and Integrated Electronics.
• Produce a graduate with the technical, scientific and communication skills for the understanding, operation, repair and maintenance of electronics equipment used in various local industries.
• Produce professionals capable of converting a concept to reality, capable of providing technical services, expert advice and consultancy to local industries and government.
• Prepare more competent teachers for providing better education in the Electronics aspects in the Physics syllabus at the CAPE level. Provide an opportunity for Physics students to pursue a career in Electronics Engineering.
• Prepare graduates who are capable of pursuing an advanced degree programme at the postgraduate level in science, engineering, or business.

The candidate who is pursuing a B.Sc General in Physics has several major and minor courses to choose from, each varying each semester.

Note that following;

The credit requirements of certain additional majors may be higher than specified above.