2024-2025 College Catalog

Physics Major

Physics Major Requirements

Minimum of 17* 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.

Thirteen courses in Physics

PHYS 160Light and Relativity

3

PHYS 1701-800-PHYSICS

3

PHYS 201General Physics I

3

PHYS 202General Physics II

3

PHYS 265Electronics

3

PHYS 271Mathematics for the Physical Sciences

3

PHYS 305Atomic and Nuclear Physics

3

PHYS 314Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

3

Or

PHYS 318Optics

3

PHYS 361Classical Mechanics I

3

PHYS 401Electricity & Magnetism I

3

PHYS 410Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 489Physics Pre-Senior Thesis

1

PHYS 490Senior Project

3

Four courses in Mathematics

MATH 121Single Variable Calculus

4

MATH 235Adv Single Variable Calculus

3

MATH 233Multivariable Calculus

4

MATH 311Differential Equations

3

Two courses in Chemistry*

CHEM 107General Chemistry I

3

And

CHEM 108General Chemistry II

3

Or

CHEM 109Acceler Gen Chem-With 3 Hr Lab

4

Recommended for first year students interested in using the observatory:

PHYS 163General Astronomy

3

Recommended for students considering graduate work in Physics:

PHYS 362Classical Mechanics II

3

PHYS 402Electricity & Magnetism II

3

Suggested advanced Mathematics courses

MATH 220Linear Algebra

3

MATH 341Complex Variables

3

MATH 411Partial Differential Eqns

3

Physics Degree Pathway

First Year

Fall

MATH 121Single Variable Calculus

4

PHYS 1701-800-PHYSICS

3

Spring

MATH 233Multivariable Calculus

4

PHYS 160Light and Relativity

3

Second Year

Fall

PHYS 201General Physics I

3

Chemistry Courses

Spring

MATH 235Adv Single Variable Calculus

3

PHYS 202General Physics II

3

PHYS 271Mathematics for the Physical Sciences

3

Third Year

Fall

PHYS 265Electronics

3

PHYS 401Electricity & Magnetism I

3

Spring

MATH 311Differential Equations

3

PHYS 314Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

3

Or

PHYS 318Optics

3

Fourth Year

Fall

PHYS 305Atomic and Nuclear Physics

3

PHYS 361Classical Mechanics I

3

PHYS 489Physics Pre-Senior Thesis

1

Winter

PHYS 490Senior Project

3

Spring

PHYS 410Quantum Mechanics

3