Requirements listed on this web page may be useful as a convenient summary but they are not authoritative. Consult the Undergraduate Course Catalog corresponding to your year of admission for authoritative information.
Major Requirements
Bachelor of Science
Lower Division
Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab), and 60
Math 27, 38, and 39
Upper Division
Physics 102, 105, 110, 115, 125, 181, and three elective upper-division physics courses, and Math 134.
Bachelor of Arts
Lower Division
Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab), and 60
Math 27, 38, and 39
Upper Division
Physics 102, 105, 110, 115, 125, 181, and two elective upper-division physics courses.
Minor Requirements
Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab), and 60; Mathematics 27, 38, and 39; and three elective upper-division physics courses.
Prerequisite Grade
Any course listed in this department with a prerequisite assumes a grade of C− or better in the prerequisite course.
Modern Physics in the Liberal Arts
Modern physics is a complex endeavor building upon many centuries of experimentation and theory. It is stimulated by hopes and purposes that are universal: to understand and describe nature in its most elementary form. Physics can inspire greater reverence, wonder, and awe of the natural world. It also provides a continuous stream of remarkable insights into the nature of reality across a wide range of domains, giving rise to astonishing transformations that can change both our world and our worldviews. Physics and astronomy courses train students to carefully observe physical phenomena and to interpret the phenomena using synthesis, mathematical modeling and analysis. These methods represent a way of knowing that is central to the scientific method. The Department is dedicated to teaching students with majors in science as well as general science education in the liberal arts tradition. The physics major is designed both for students who wish to pursue graduate study or gain employment in industry or government service.
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with a major in physics will be able to analyze complex and subtle physical phenomena and systems. The successful student will be able to identify the physical and mathematical principles relevant to a system — even principles that are addressed in separate courses and disciplines. Using the principles they identify, students will be able to carry out the necessary analysis and synthesis to model the system accurately, and will be able to effectively communicate their results.
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