Physics, B.S. Major (Classes of 2018 and beyond)
Requirements
The program consists of a minimum of 12 major courses and 5 collateral courses:
| PHYS 130 | Relativity, Spacetime and Contemporary Physics | |
| | | |
| PHYS 131 | Physics I: Mechanics | |
| | Or | |
| PHYS 151 | Accelerated Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics | |
| | | |
| PHYS 133 | Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves | |
| | Or | |
| PHYS 152 | Accelerated Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics | |
| | | |
| PHYS 215 | Introduction to Quantum Physics | |
| PHYS 218 | Oscillatory and Wave Phenomena | |
| PHYS 327 | Advanced Classical Mechanics | |
| PHYS 335 | Thermal Physics | |
| PHYS 338 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | |
| PHYS 342 | Electromagnetic Fields | |
| PHYS 351 | Quantum Theory | |
| PHYS | Two PHYS electives | |
| MATH 161 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 162 | Calculus II | |
| MATH 263 | Calculus III | |
| MATH 264 | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | |
| | An approved MATH, CS, CM elective | |
In special circumstances, students who have taken advanced electrical and computer engineering or mechanical engineering courses in electromagnetic theory, electronics, dynamics, or thermodynamics may waive certain of these required courses with approval of the head of the physics department and the Academic Progress Committee.
Advanced courses from other science or engineering departments may be substituted for physics elective courses and up to two required physics courses with the approval of the head of the physics department and the Academic Progress Committee, when doing so will produce a coherent program of physics applied to an interdisciplinary field such as material science, biophysics, geophysics, etc.
The Common Course of Study is required.