Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, Physics

The curriculum in physics is designed to give the student a thorough understanding of the fundamentals and modern applications of physics. The Bachelor of Science program prepares the student for graduate school, a career in scientific research and development, or industrial work. It is also intended for those students who wish to prepare for interdisciplinary studies on the graduate level in fields such as astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric science, biophysics, engineering, environmental science, geophysics, or physical oceanography. The Bachelor of Arts degree program is designed for students seeking to enter professions requiring a moderate training in physics.

The lower-division requirements of both degree programs can also be used to prepare for study in engineering. After completion, the student can transfer to engineering programs for upper-division course work and study in engineering.

Requirements

1. Complete University requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree (51 units minimum).

2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major (32-35 units):

• a. Required courses in major field:
• PHYS 2250, 2260 General Physics I, II, 8 units
• PHYS 2252, 2262 General Physics Laboratory I, II, 2 units

• b. Required courses in supporting fields:
• CHEM 1100, 1110 Principles of Chemistry I, II, 10 units
• MATH 1410, 1420 Calculus I, II, 8 units
• MATH 2410 Multivariate Calculus, 4 units
• Bachelor of Arts students complete additionally:
• PHYS 2600 Computer Programming with Applications, 2 units, or
• CS 1500 Computer Programming I, 3 units

3. Complete the major of not less than 25 upper-division units as specified for the Bachelor of Arts degree, or 34 upper-division units as specified for the Bachelor of Science degree. No courses graded CR may be counted towards the major except for eight units graded exclusively CR/NC.

4. Completion of a minor is not required.

The Bachelor of Arts Major (24 units)

1. Complete the following courses (21 units):

• PHYS 3010 Introduction to Mathematical Physics I, 3 units
• PHYS 3100 Classical Mechanics, 4 units
• PHYS 3320, 3330 Electricity & Magnetism I, II, 6 units
• PHYS 3520 Modern Physics & Quantum Mechanics, 3 units
• PHYS 4102 Advanced Physics Laboratory, 2 units
• PHYS 4250 Analog and Digital Electronics, 4 units

2. Complete at least three credit hours from the following courses:

• PHYS 4300 Microprocessor Electronics, 3 units
• PHYS 4302 Microprocessor Laboratory, 1 unit
• PHYS 4560 Solid State Physics, 3 units
• PHYS 4900 Modern Optics & Lasers, 3 units

The Bachelor of Science Major (35 units)

1. Complete the following courses (32 units):

• PHYS 3010 Introduction to Mathematical Physics I, 3 units
• PHYS 3100 Classical Mechanics, 4 units
• PHYS 3320, 3330 Electricity and Magnetism I, II, , 6 units
• PHYS 3520 Modern Physics and Quantum Mechanics, 3 units
• PHYS 4102 Advanced Physics Laboratory, 2 units
• PHYS 4250 Analog and Digital Electronics , 4 units
• PHYS 4510 Quantum Mechanics I, 3 units
• PHYS 4520 Quantum Mechanics II, 3 units
• PHYS 4530 Thermal and Statistical Physics, 4 units

2. Select three units of upper-division electives in physics and physical sciences. Note: The department recommends the following electives:

• PHYS 3020 Introduction to Mathematical Physics II, 3 units
• PHYS 4300 Microprocessor Electronics, 3 units
• PHYS 4302 Microprocessor Laboratory, 1 unit
• PHYS 4370 Relativity and Cosmology, 3 units
• PHYS 4450 Nuclear and Particle Physics, 3 units
• PHYS 4560 Solid State Physics, 3 units
• PHYS 4900 Modern Optics & Lasers, 3 units
• PHYS 4930 Lasers and Holography, 4 units
• ASTR 3000 Contemporary Astronomy, 3 units