This information is part of the .
Major Requirements
Required Courses
- PHYS 125聽-聽How Physics Sees the World (taken first term of first-year)
- PHYS 201聽-聽Mathematical Methods for Physics
- PHYS 205聽-聽Mathematical Methods of Physics (usually taken concurrently with 聽in the fall of the sophomore year)
- PHYS 232聽-聽Introduction to Mechanics
- PHYS 233聽-聽Intro Electricity & Magnetism (usually taken concurrently with )
- PHYS 334聽-聽Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity (usually taken concurrently with 聽in spring term of sophomore year)
- PHYS 336聽-聽Electronics (usually taken concurrently with 聽in spring term of sophomore year)
- PHYS 410聽-聽Advanced Topics and Experiments (taken in the fall term of senior year)
- Three additional upper-level courses (300 or 400 level, excluding , , ,听,听, , and聽)
These courses must be taken as soon as possible:
Minimum Grade and GPA requirement
To be eligible to graduate with a major in any of the programs of this department, a student is expected to achieve a grade of C鈥� or better in聽each聽of the courses offered in the department that are聽required for the major. There are no exceptions to this policy. Additionally, a student's cumulative GPA for all courses counted toward the major must be at least 2.00.
Honors and High Honors
To qualify for graduation with honors, physics and astronomy-physics students must be invited by the department chair, in consultation with department faculty, to do an honors thesis. Normally, this invitation is extended only after exceptional performance in the capstone course聽.听
The following are also required:
The completion (with a grade of C- or better) of at least two additional 300- or 400-level physics or astronomy courses beyond the minimum needed for the major.听
,听,听,听,听,听, and聽聽do not count towards this requirement. With the permission of the chair, a 300- or 400-level course in another NASC department may substitute for one of these courses.
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in all 300- and 400-level classes taken to satisfy the upper-level course requirements for the major and for honors.
The completion, defense, and public presentation of an honors thesis.听This thesis, to be evaluated by department faculty and an external reviewer, is normally a significant extension of the work completed in聽. A presentation is strongly encouraged.
聽Students normally enroll in聽听辞谤听聽during the spring semester of their senior year to complete the work.
The department faculty will subsequently determine whether to award honors or high honors.听Neither is guaranteed. High honors will be given only for truly extraordinary work.
Physics and Astronomy department
For more information about the department, including Faculty,听transfer credit, awards, etc.,听please visit the聽听肠补迟补濒辞驳听辫补驳别.