2025-2026 Catalog

Physics, B.S. Major (Class of 2027 and Beyond)

Requirements

The program consists of a minimum of 12 major courses and 5 collateral courses:

PHYS 130Relativity, Spacetime and Contemporary Physics

1

 

PHYS 131Physics I: Mechanics

1

Or

PHYS 151Accelerated Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics

1

 

PHYS 133Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves

1

Or

PHYS 152Accelerated Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics

1

 

PHYS 215Introduction to Quantum Physics

1

PHYS 238Intermediate Physics Laboratory

1

PHYS 351Quantum Theory

1

PHYS Three approved PHYS elective credits

PHYS One 300-level or higher PHYS elective credit

PHYS Two 200-level or higher PHYS elective credits

MATH 161Calculus I

1

MATH 162Calculus II

1

MATH 263Calculus III

1

MATH 264Differential Equations with Linear Algebra

1

One approved MATH, CS, CM elective or PHYS 314

  • Any given course can fulfill only one requirement. In particular, PHYS 314 can fulfill a PHYS elective credit requirement or the MATH/CM/CS/PHYS 314 requirement, but not both.
  • Choose three approved PHYS electives from this list: PHYS 314, PHYS 327, PHYS 335, PHYS 338, PHYS 342.

 

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 Student Affairs 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 Student Affairs Committee, when doing so will produce a coherent program of physics applied to an interdisciplinary field such as material science, biophysics, geophysics, etc.

This page reflects the requirements for completing this major. General graduation requirements for all students can be found here.