Sample Course Schedules

For B.S. Program in Physics started in fall of first year

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year
  • PHYSICS 161D+164L
  • MATH 212: Intermediate Calculus
  • Programming course (suggested)
  • PHYSICS 162D+165L
  • MATH 221: Linear Algebra and Applications
Second Year
  • PHYSICS 264L: Optics and Modern Physics
  • MATH 356: Elementary Differential Equations
  • PHYSICS 361: Intermediate Mechanics
Third Year
  • PHYSICS 362: Electricity and Magnetism
  • Physics elective
  • PHYSICS 363: Thermal Physics
  • Physics elective
Fourth Year
  • PHYSICS 464: Quantum Mechanics I
  • PHYSICS 417S: Advanced Lab
  • Research Independent Study

 

For B.S. Program in Physics started in spring of first year

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year
  • Intro math course 
  • PHYSICS 151L
  • Intro math course
  • PHYSICS 164L* or programming course (suggested)
Second Year
  • PHYSICS 152L
  • MATH 212: Intermediate Calculus
  • PHYSICS 165L* (suggested)
  • PHYSICS 264L: Optics and Modern Physics
  • PHYSICS 361: Intermediate Mechanics
  • MATH 221: Linear Algebra and Applications
Third Year
  • PHYSICS 362: Electricity and Magnetism
  • MATH 356: Elementary Differential Equations
  • PHYSICS 363: Thermal Physics
  • Physics elective
Fourth Year
  • PHYSICS 464: Quantum Mechanics I
  • PHYSICS 417S: Advanced Lab
  • Research Independent Study
  • Physics elective

 

For B.S. Program in Physics started as sophomore

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year
  • Intro math course
  • Intro math course
Second Year
  • PHYSICS 161D+164L
  • MATH 212: Intermediate Calculus
  • Programming course (suggested)
  • PHYSICS 162D+165L
  • MATH 221: Linear Algebra and Applications
Third Year
  • PHYSICS 264: Optics and Modern Physics
  • MATH 356: Elementary Differential Equations
  • PHYSICS 361: Intermediate Mechanics
  • Physics elective (or thermal physics)
Fourth Year
  • PHYSICS 362: Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYSICS 464: Quantum Mechanics I
  • PHYSICS 417S: Advanced Lab
  • PHYSICS 363: Thermal Physics
  • Physics elective
  • Research Independent Study

 

For B.S. Program in Physics started in fall of first year, with fall of junior year abroad

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year
  • PHYSICS 161D+164L
  • MATH 212: Intermediate Calculus
  • Programming course (suggested)
  • PHYSICS 162D+165L
  • MATH 221: Linear Algebra and Applications
Second Year
  • PHYSICS 264L: Optics and Modern Physics
  • MATH 356: Elementary Differential Equations
  • PHYSICS 361: Intermediate Mechanics
Third Year
  • Study Abroad
  • Possible physics courses
  • PHYSICS 363: Thermal Physics
  • Physics elective
Fourth Year
  • PHYSICS 362: Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYSICS 464: Quantum Mechanics I
  • PHYSICS 417S: Advanced Lab
  • Research Independent Study
  • Physics elective