Every Physics B.S. degree option requires completion of a selection of courses plus fulfilment of a capstone requirement involving activities outside a typical classroom. Continuation in the major requires maintaining satisfactory progress. For further information on the range of activies which may be used to satisfy the capstone requirement for each degree track, and on satisfactory progress criteria, refer to:
The course requirements for a Physics B.S. degree begin with a common set of course options, applicable to all degree tracks, followed by a selection of additional option-specific courses. Note that any single course may satisfy at most one physics-specific degree requirement.
- Common requirements, all tracks
- Comprehensive track
- Applied physics track
- Biological physics track (No longer accepting new students as of Spring 2024)
- Teaching physics track
- Comprehensive & Applied Physics Track Electives
BS Degree Requirements Before Autumn 2021
Common Requirements, All Tracks (52 credits)
| Courses | Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level: | Phys 121 or Phys 141 | Mechanics (5) |
| Phys 122 or Phys 142 | Electromagnetism (5) | |
| Phys 123 or Phys 143 | Waves, Optics & Heat (5) | |
| Math 124 or Math 134 | Differential Calculus (5) | |
| Math 125 or Math 135 | Integral Calculus (5) | |
| Math 126 or Math 136 | Multivariate Calculus (5) | |
| 200-level: | Phys 224 | Thermal & Statistical Physics (3) |
| Phys 225 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3) | |
| Phys 227 | Mathematical Methods of Physics I (4) | |
| Phys 294 | Introduction to Research: Frontiers of Physics (1) | |
| 300-level: | Phys 321 | Electromagnetism I (4) |
| Phys 322 | Electromagnetism II (4) | |
| Phys 334 | Electronics Lab: Analog (3) |
Comprehensive Track (addl. 38-46 credits)
| Courses | Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Physics: | Phys 226 | Particles & Symmetries (3) |
| Phys 228 | Mathematical Methods of Physics II (4) | |
| Phys 324 | Quantum Mechanics I (4) | |
| More Physics, 3 courses from: |
Phys 323 | Electromagnetism III (4) |
| Phys 325 | Quantum Mechanics II (4) | |
| Phys 328 | Statistical Physics (3) | |
| Phys 329 | Classical Mechanics (3) | |
| Astr 321* | Solar System (3) | |
| Astr 322* | Our Galaxy (3) | |
| Astr 323* | Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology (3) | |
| More Math (3-5 credits), 2 courses from: |
Math 207 or AMath 351 | Ordinary Differential Equations (3) |
| Math 208 or AMath 352 | Linear Algebra (3) | |
| Math 209 or AMath 353 | Partial Differential Equations (3) | |
| Math 224 | Advanced Multivariable Calculus (3) | |
| AMath 401 | Vector Calculus & Complex Variables (4) | |
| Math 334 or 335 or 336 | Accelerated Advanced Calculus (5) | |
| Advanced Laboratory (6-8 credits), 2 courses from: |
Phys 331 | Optics Lab (3) |
| Phys 335 | Electronics Lab: Digital (3) | |
| Phys 431 | Modern Physics Lab: Condensed Matter (3) | |
| Phys 432 | Modern Physics Lab: Atomic (3) | |
| Phys 433 | Modern Physics Lab: Nuclear & Particle (3) | |
| Phys 434 | Computers in Data Acquisition (3) | |
| Astr 480 or Astr 481 ‡ | Astronomical Data Analysis/Acquisition (5) | |
| Electives, 6 credits from: |
Additional physics or cognate electives | |
| Capstone, 3 to 5 credits from any combination of: |
Phys 494, 495 or 496 | Senior Seminar (1) |
| Phys 485, 486 or 487 | Honors Seminar (1) | |
| Phys 499 or Astr 499 § | Undergraduate Research (1-6) | |
| Astr 481 | Astronomical Observation (5) | |
* At most two of Astr 321, 322 and 323 may be used to satisfy this Physics requirement.
‡ Students taking other advanced labs may petition the UFA to have them substitute for Astr 480.
§ Students receiving credit for physics-related research or independent project work in another department may petition the UFA to have it meet the capstone requirement by writing a paper describing how they applied physics to their independent project.
Applied Physics Track (addl. 34-43 credits)
| Courses | Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| Data Acquisition & Analysis: |
Phys 231 | Introductory Experimental Physics (3) |
| AMath 301* | Beginning Scientific Computing (4) | |
| More Physics, 1 course from: |
Phys 226 | Particles & Symmetries (3) |
| Phys 323 | Electromagnetism III (4) | |
| Phys 324 | Quantum Mechanics I (4) | |
| Phys 328 | Statistical Physics (3) | |
| Phys 329 | Classical Mechanics (3) | |
| More Math, 3 courses from: |
Phys 228 | Mathematical Methods of Physics II (4) |
| Math 207 or AMath 351 | Ordinary Differential Equations (3) | |
| Math 208 or AMath 352 | Linear Algebra (3) | |
| Math 209 or AMath 353 | Partial Differential Equations (3) | |
| Math 224 | Vector Calculus (3) | |
| AMath 401 | Vector Calculus & Complex Variables (4) | |
| Math 334 or 335 or 336 | Accelerated Advanced Calculus (5) | |
| Advanced Laboratory, 2 courses from: |
Phys 331 | Optics Lab (3) |
| Phys 335 | Electronics Lab: Digital (3) | |
| Phys 431 | Modern Physics Lab: Condensed Matter (3) | |
| Phys 432 | Modern Physics Lab: Atomic (3) | |
| Phys 433 | Modern Physics Lab: Nuclear & Particle (3) | |
| Phys 434 | Computers in Data Acquisition (3) | |
| Astr 480‡ or Astr 481 | Astronomical Data Analysis/Acquisition (5) | |
| Electives, 9 credits from: |
Additional physics or cognate electives | |
| Capstone, 3 credits from: |
Phys 494, 495 or 496 | Senior Seminar (1) |
| Phys 485, 486 or 487 | Honors Seminar (1) | |
| Phys 498 | Direct Reading in Physics (2) | |
| Phys 499 or Astr 499 § | Undergraduate Research (1-6) | |
| Astr 481 | Astronomical Observation (5) | |
* Astronomy students may substitute Astr 300 or 427 for AMath 301; contact the undergraduate faculty advisor (UFA) to have this entered into your DARS. Students may petition the UFA for other upper-division data science, computing or statistics classes to substitute for AMath 301, note however that STAT 311, CS 142, and CS 143 do not meet this requirement.
‡ Students taking other advanced labs may petition the UFA to have them substitute for Astr 480.
§ Students receiving credit for physics-related research or independent project work in another department may petition the UFA to have it meet the capstone requirement by writing a paper describing how they applied physics to their independent project.
Biological Physics Track (addl. 48-56 credits)
No longer accepting new students as of Spring 2024
| Courses | Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Physics: | Phys 228 | Mathematical Methods of Physics II (4) |
| Phys 324 | Quantum Mechanics I (4) | |
| Phys 328* | Statistical Physics (3) | |
| Phys 429 | Biological Physics (3) | |
| Introductory Biology (10 credits) |
Biol 180 | Evolution & Ecology (5) |
| Biol 200 | Cellular & Developmental Biology (5) | |
| Introductory Chemistry, 12-15 credits from the following options: |
||
| a) Chem 142 (or Chem 145), 152 (or Chem 155), 162 (or Chem 165) | General Chemistry | |
| b) Chem 143 and CHEM 153 | Accelerated General Chemistry | |
| More Physics, 1 course from: |
Phys 226 | Particles & Symmetries (3) |
| Phys 323 | Electromagnetism III (4) | |
| Phys 325 | Quantum Mechanics II (4) | |
| Phys 329 | Classical Mechanics (3) | |
| More Math, 1 course from: |
Math 207 or AMath 351 | Ordinary Differential Equations (3) |
| Math 208 or AMath 352 | Linear Algebra (3) | |
| Math 209 or AMath 353 | Partial Differential Equations (3) | |
| Math 224 | Vector Calculus (3) | |
| AMath 401 | Vector Calculus & Complex Variables (4) | |
| Math 334 or 335 or 336 | Accelerated Advanced Calculus (5) | |
| Biology & Chemistry (6-10 credits), 2 courses from: |
Chem 223 (or 237 or 335) | Organic Chemistry I (4) |
| Chem 224 (or 238 or 336) | Organic Chemistry II (4) | |
| Chem 428 | Biomolecular Analysis (3) | |
| Chem 452 (or 456) | Physical Chemistry for Biochemists I | |
| Chem 453 | Physical Chemistry for Biochemists II | |
| Chem 454 | Biomolecular Spectroscopy (3) | |
| Chem 455 (or 456) | Physical Chemistry I & II (3) | |
| Biol 220 | Introductory Biology (5) | |
| Biol 340 | Genetics & Molecular Ecology (5) | |
| Biol 350 | Foundations in Physiology (3) | |
| Biol 355 | Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology (3) | |
| Biol 401 | Advanced Cell Biology (3) | |
| Biol 404 | Animal Physiology: Cellular Aspects (3) |
|
| Biol 427 | Biomechanics (5) | |
| Biol 461 | Neurobiology (3) | |
| Biol 467 | Comparative Animal Physiology (3) | |
| BioC 405 or 440 | Biochemistry (3-4) | |
| Capstone, 3 credits from any combination of: |
Phys 499 or BioC 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6) |
| Biol 499 or Chem 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6) | |
| P Bio 499 or BioE 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6) | |
| Neusci 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6) | |
| Genome 499 or MicroM 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6) | |
| Biophysics-related projects in Phys 498 | Direct Reading in Physics | |
| Biophysics-related projects in Phys 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6) |
* Chem 457 plus an additional upper-division physics course may substitute for the Phys 328 requirement with permission from the undergraduate faculty advisor (UFA). Most students should not take both Phys 328 and Chem 457.
‡ Chem 143 + 153, Accelerated General Chemistry, may substitute for Chem 142+152+162; see the UFA to allow this.
Teaching Physics Track (addl. 41-43 credits)
| Courses | Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Physics: | Phys 226 | Particles & Symmetries (3) |
| Phys 228 | Mathematical Methods of Physics II (4) | |
| Phys 324 | Quantum Mechanics I (4) | |
| Phys 407 + 408 + 409 | Physics by Inquiry (15) | |
| More Physics, 1 course from: |
Phys 323 | Electromagnetism III (4) |
| Phys 328* | Statistical Physics (3) | |
| Phys 329 | Classical Mechanics (3) | |
| More Math, 1 course from: |
Math 207 or AMath 351 | Ordinary Differential Equations (3) |
| Math 208 or AMath 352 | Linear Algebra (3) | |
| Math 209 or AMath 353 | Partial Differential Equations (3) | |
| Math 224 | Vector Calculus (3) | |
| AMath 401 | Vector Calculus & Complex Variables (4) | |
| Math 334 or 335 or 336 | Accelerated Advanced Calculus (5) | |
| Advanced Laboratory, 1 course from: |
Phys 331 | Optics Lab (3) |
| Phys 335 | Electronics Lab: Digital (3) | |
| Phys 431 | Modern Physics Lab: Condensed Matter (3) | |
| Phys 432 | Modern Physics Lab: Atomic (3) | |
| Phys 433 | Modern Physics Lab: Nuclear & Particle (3) | |
| Phys 434 | Computers in Data Acquisition (3) | |
| Astr 480 or Astr 481 ‡ | Astronomical Data Analysis/Acquisition (5) | |
| Capstone, 3 credits from: |
Phys 401 or Phys 402 or Phys 403 | Physics Pedagogy (3) |
| Phys 499, working on a project that involves teaching |
Undergraduate Research (1-6) |
‡ Students taking other advanced labs may petition the UFA to have them substitute for Astr 480.