Physics Major

Physics Major Requirements

Minimum of 16* courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics, distributed as follows:

*Number of courses required for the major is reduced by one if CHEM 109 Accelerated General Chemistry is taken instead of CHEM 107 General Chemistry I and CHEM 108 General Chemistry II.

Ten courses in Physics

PHYS 160	Light and Relativity	3
PHYS 201	General Physics I	3
PHYS 202	General Physics II	3
PHYS 265	Electronics	3
PHYS 271	Mathematics for the Physical Sciences	3
PHYS 305	Atomic and Nuclear Physics	3
PHYS 314	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	3
	Or
PHYS 318	Optics	3
PHYS 361	Classical Mechanics I	3
PHYS 401	Electricity & Magnetism I	3
PHYS 410	Quantum Mechanics	3
PHYS 489	Physics Pre-Senior Thesis	1
PHYS 490	Senior Project	3

Four courses in Mathematics

MATH 121	Single Variable Calculus	4
MATH 235	Adv Single Variable Calculus	3
MATH 233	Multivariable Calculus	4
MATH 311	Differential Equations	3

Two courses in Chemistry*

CHEM 107	General Chemistry I	3
	And
CHEM 108	General Chemistry II	3
	Or
CHEM 109	Acceler Gen Chem-With 3 Hr Lab	4

Recommended for freshman interested in using the observatory:

PHYS 163

General Astronomy

3

Recommended for students considering graduate work in Physics:

PHYS 362	Classical Mechanics II	3
PHYS 402	Electricity & Magnetism II	3

Suggested advanced Mathematics courses

MATH 220	Linear Algebra	3
MATH 341	Complex Variables	3
MATH 411	Partial Differential Eqns	3

Physics Degree Pathway

First Year

Fall

MATH 121	Single Variable Calculus	4
PHYS 160	Light and Relativity	3

Spring

MATH 233	Multivariable Calculus	4
PHYS 201	General Physics I	3

Second Year

Fall

PHYS 202	General Physics II	3
	Chemistry Courses

Spring

MATH 235	Adv Single Variable Calculus	3
PHYS 271	Mathematics for the Physical Sciences	3

Third Year

Fall

PHYS 265	Electronics	3
PHYS 401	Electricity & Magnetism I	3

Spring

MATH 311	Differential Equations	3
PHYS 314	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	3
	Or
PHYS 318	Optics	3

Fourth Year

Fall

PHYS 305	Atomic and Nuclear Physics	3
PHYS 361	Classical Mechanics I	3
PHYS 489	Physics Pre-Senior Thesis	1

Winter

PHYS 490

Senior Project

3

Spring

PHYS 410

Quantum Mechanics

3