Major & Minor Requirements
The Physics Major
For the Bachelor of Arts degree
14 units, including
- PHYS 127 General Physics I or 131 General Physics with Calculus I
- One unit, chosen from
- PHYS 128 General Physics II
- PHYS 132 General Physics with Calculus II
- PHYS 133 Atomic and Sub-Atomic Physics
- PHYS 134 Biological Physics
- PHYS 205 Introduction to Modern Physics
- PHYS 221 Intermediate Laboratory
- PHYS 397-398 Junior Seminar
- PHYS 497-498 Senior Seminar
- Three additional units in PHYS
- MATH 212 Calculus II or MATH 232 Scientific Calculus II
- Five additional units in courses approved by the department
This degree is offered primarily for students who wish to prepare for interdisciplinary or medical sciences studies, or to earn a cultural degree.
For the Bachelor of Science degree
13.5 units, including
- PHYS 127 General Physics I or 131 General Physics with Calculus I
- One unit, chosen from
- PHYS 128 General Physics II
- PHYS 132 General Physics with Calculus II
- PHYS 133 Atomic and Sub-Atomic Physics
- PHYS 134 Biological Physics
- PHYS 221 Intermediate Laboratory
- PHYS 301 Mathematical Methods in Physics
- PHYS 303 Classical Mechanics
- PHYS 305 Electromagnetism
- PHYS 308 Statistical Physics
- PHYS 309 Quantum Mechanics I
- PHYS 397-398 Junior Seminar
- PHYS 497-498 Senior Seminar
- ½ unit of experimental work in addition to PHYS 221
- One unit, chosen from
- CHEM 141 Introductory Chemistry: Structure, Dynamics and Synthesis
- CMSC 155 Introduction to Scientific Computing
- MATH 235 Multivariate Calculus
- MATH 245 Linear Algebra
- Two additional units, chosen from
- PHYS 205 Modern Physics
- PHYS 215 Computational Methods
- PHYS 216 Electronics I
- PHYS 217 Electronics II
- PHYS 306 Electromagnetism
- PHYS 310 Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 404 Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 479 Special Topics
Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major. Prerequisites do not count toward the major unless otherwise noted.
The Interdisciplinary Physics Major for the Bachelor of Science Degree
NOTE: Students cannot major in both physics and interdisciplinary physics.
15 units, including
- PHYS 127 General Physics I or 131 General Physics with Calculus I
- One unit, chosen from
- PHYS 128 General Physics II
- PHYS 132 General Physics with Calculus II
- PHYS 133 Atomic and Sub-Atomic Physics
- PHYS 134 Biological Physics
- PHYS 205 Introduction to Modern Physics
- PHYS 221 Intermediate Laboratory
- PHYS 301 Mathematical Methods in Physics
- PHYS 397-398 Junior Seminar
- PHYS 497-498 Senior Seminar
- MATH 211-212 Calculus I-II or MATH 231-232 Scientific Calculus I-II
- Three additional units in physics at the 200 level or above
- One of the concentrations described below. All concentrations require 4-5 additional units beyond those listed above.
- Biology Concentration
- BIOL 201 Genetics
- CHEM 141 Introductory Chemistry: Structure, Dynamics, and Synthesis
- Three additional units in biology
- Biochemistry Concentration
- CHEM 141 Introductory Chemistry: Structure, Dynamics and Synthesis
- CHEM 205-206 Organic Chemistry
- BIOL/CHEM 326 Biochemistry or BIOL/CHEM 327 Biochemistry with Lab
- Chemistry Concentration
- CHEM 141 Introductory Chemistry: Structure, Dynamics and Synthesis
- CHEM 309-310 Physical Chemistry
- One additional unit in chemistry
- Computer Science Concentration
- CMSC 150 Introduction to Computing or CMSC 155 Introduction to Scientific Computing
- CMSC 221 Data Structures with Lab
- Three additional units in computer science
- Mathematics Concentration
- MATH 235 Multivariate Calculus
- MATH 245 Linear Algebra
- MATH 312 Differential Equations
- Two additional units in mathematics at the 300 level or above
- Engineering Concentration: 5 units of engineering courses
- This concentration is intended for students participating in the 3-2 engineering program.
- The required units will be earned at another institution.
The Physics Minor
5 units, including
- Three units numbered above 200, excluding 397-398 and 497-498
- Two additional units in PHYS