Physics and Astronomy

Undergraduate Programs

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.
CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination and a "C" or better in MATH 113 or 117 or 119A or 122. One year of high school chemistry is strongly recommended.
CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.
MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 111 and 113, or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 117.
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 222.
MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 123 or 222.

Select one from the following:

BIOL 200 General Biology (4)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
BIOL 211 Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.

NOTE: BIOL 111, 111L are required if courses were taken prior to catalog year 2010-11.

Upper Division:

Take the following courses:

ENGL 317 Technical Writing (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, upper-division standing, and a previous composition course, i.e., ENGL 100, 101, 102, 300, or equivalents.
MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 222 or 224, and prerequisite or corequisite MATH 247.

Take one other upper-division mathematics course

Take all of the following:

PHYS 310 Analytic Mechanics (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 151. Corequisite: MATH 364A or 370A.
PHYS 320 Thermodynamics (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 152. Prerequisite/Corequisite, PHYS 254.
PHYS 340A Electricity and Magnetism I (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 152, 310. Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 370A or 364A.
PHYS 340B Electricity and Magnetism II (3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 340A.
PHYS 350 Modern Physics (3)
Prerequisites: PHYS 310; MATH 370A or 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, 340A, 350.

Take one laboratory course chosen from:

PHYS 445, 446, 476 and 480

The remaining (up to 8) units are to be chosen from any upper-division physics courses.

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