Bachelor of Science in Physics
(120 units)
Requirements
Lower Division:
Take all of the following courses:
- PHYS 151 Mechanics and Heat (4)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 122.
- PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 151;
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 123.
- PHYS 254 Modern Physics and Light (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 152 or EE 210;
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 224.
- PHYS 255 Laboratory on Light & Modern Physics (1)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: PHYS 254.
- MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 111 and MATH 113.
- MATH 123 Calculus II (4)
Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in MATH 122.
- MATH 224 Calculus III (4)
Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in MATH 123 or MATH 222.
- MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 123 or MATH 222.
Select one from the following three courses:
- BIOL 200 General Biology (4)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
or
- BIOL 211 Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.
or
- CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination.
Corequisite: MATH 109 or higher.
NOTE: BIOL 111, BIOL 111L are required if courses were taken prior to catalog year 2010-11.
Upper Division:
Take the following course:
- MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 222 or MATH 224, and prerequisite or corequisite MATH 247.
Take one other upper-division mathematics course
Note: students interested in completing a minor in mathematics or applied mathematics should consult the appropriate advisor.
Take all of the following:
- PHYS 310 Analytic Mechanics (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 151. Corequisite: MATH 364A or MATH 370A.
- PHYS 320 Thermodynamics (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 152. Prerequisite/Corequisite, PHYS 254.
- PHYS 340A Electricity and Magnetism I (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 152, PHYS 310. Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 370A or MATH 364A.
- PHYS 340B Electricity and Magnetism II (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 340A.
- PHYS 350 Modern Physics (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 310; MATH 370A or MATH 364A.
- PHYS 360 Physics with Symbolic Algebra Software (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 254. Prerequisite/Corerequisite: MATH 247.
- PHYS 380 Electronics (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 152.
- PHYS 450 Quantum Physics I (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 310, PHYS 340A, PHYS 350.
Take one laboratory course chosen from:
- PHYS 445, PHYS 446, PHYS 476 and PHYS 480
Take 6 units of upper-division physics electives.
Grade Requirements
Physics majors must have a "C" average in the major. Physics students must achieve a grade of "C" or better in each required course in the major. The following schedule is typical for a major who is a full-time student.
Sophomore Year
- Fall: PHYS 254, PHYS 255; MATH 224.
- Spring: PHYS 360, PHYS 380; MATH 247.
Junior Year
- Fall: PHYS 310, PHYS 320; MATH 364A.
- Spring: PHYS 340A, PHYS 350; Upper division MATH elective.
Senior Year
- Fall: PHYS 340B, PHYS 450.
- Spring: Three upper division physics electives (one of which is a laboratory).
