Physics Curriculum Sequence

First Year (Semester One): 16 Credits

• ENGL 101 - Freshman Composition I 3 credits EC

•  

• CHEM 105 - Principles of General Chemistry I 3 credits BP*

• And

• CHEM 105L - Principles of General Chemistry I 1 credits BP*

• OR

• CHEM 111 - General Chemistry (Honors) 3 credits BP*

• And

• CHEM 111L - General Chemistry (Honors) 1 credits BP*

•  

• MATH 241 - Calculus I 4 credits MQ*
• ORNS 106 - Freshman Orientation for Majors in the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences 1 credits
• XXXX - HH General Education Req. 3 credits HH
• XXXX - PHYS. ED. Activity or FIN 101  or MIND 101 or DSVG 101 or FACS 102  1 credit

First Year (Semester Two): 16 Credits

• ENGL 102 - Freshman Composition II 3 credits EC

•  

• CHEM 106 - Principles of General Chemistry II 3 credits BP*

• And

• CHEM 106L - Principles of General Chemistry II 1 credits BP*

• OR

• CHEM 112 - General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis (Honors) 3 credits BP*
• CHEM 112L - General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis (Honors) 1 credits BP*

•  

• MATH 242 - Calculus II 4 credits

•  

• PHYS 205 - University Physics I 4 credits

• And

• PHYS 205L - University Physics I Laboratory 1 credits

Second Year (Semester One): 15-16 Credits

• MATH 243 - Calculus III 4 credits
• XXXX - AH General Education Req. 3 credits AH

•  

• PHYS 206 - University Physics II 4 credits

• And

• PHYS 206L - University Physics II Laboratory 1 credits

•  

• COSC 111 - Introduction to Computer Science I 4 credits IM*

• OR

• COSC 150 - Computational Science and Data Analysis 3 credits IM*

Second Year (Semester Two): 15 Credits

• MATH 340 - Introduction to Differential Equations 3 credits
• XXXX - SB General Education Req. 3 credits SB
• PHYS 300 - Modern Physics I 3 credits
• PHYS 305 - Mathematical Physics I 3 credits
• PHYS 308 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 credits

Third Year (Semester One): 15 Credits

• PHYS 301 - Analytical Mechanics I 3 credits
• PHYS 303 - Electricity and Magnetism I 3 credits

• XXXX - SB General Education Req. 3 credits SB

• PHYS 406 - Mathematical Physics II 3 credits
• PHYS 306 - Electronics for the Experimental Physicist 3 credits

Third Year (Semester Two): 15 Credits

• PHYS 302 - Analytical Mechanics II 3 credits
• PHYS 304 - Electricity and Magnetism II 3 credits
• PHYS 412 - Laboratory Use of Microcomputers 3 credits
• XXXX - AH General Education Req. 3 credits AH
• XXXX - Science Elective 3 credits⁴

Fourth Year (Semester One): 15 Credits

• PHYS 408 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3 credits
• XXXX - PHYS Elective 3 credits²
• XXXX - Free Elective 3 credits³
• PHYS 409 - Experimental Physics 3 credits

•  

• PHIL 109 - Introduction to Critical Thinking 3 credits CT

• OR

• COMM 300 - Communication and the Black Diaspora 3 credits CT

Fourth Year (Semester Two): 12 Credits

• PHYS 401 - Optics 3 credits
• XXXX - Science Electives 3 credits⁴
• XXXX - Free Elective 3 credits³
• XXXX - CI General Education Req. 3 credits CI
• PHYS 001 Senior Comprehensive Exam 0 credits

Total Credits: 120

* denotes a department required supporting//major course which may fulfill a general education requirement and must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher

Please see General Education Requirements Distribution Areas  for courses that satisfy General Education Requirements where not specified by the department

1 Strongly recommend FIN 101

2 PHYS Elective must be one course chosen from PHYS 300-499

3 Free Elective must be two courses completed with a grade of “C” or higher

4 Science Elective must be two courses chosen from the following: MATH 312 ,  MATH 341 , EASC 201 , EASC 301 , EASC 302 , CHEM 203  and CHEM 203L , CHEM 205  and CHEM 205L , CHEM 204  and CHEM 204L , CHEM 206  and CHEM 206L ,PHYS 310 , PHYS 311 ,  PHYS 312 .  Please note that courses with a lab must be taken together and count as one elective.