Four year plan for a physics/astronomy double major

Assumes the student starts with second-semester calculus.

Semester 1

PHYS 161H (Intro Mechanics) 4
MATH 129 (Calculus II) 3
ENGL 101 3
Tier 1 Gen Ed 3
Tier 1 Gen Ed 3
  16

 

Semester 2

PHYS 162H (Thermo, Optics) 4
PHYS105A (Intro Computing) 1
ASTR 250 (Fund of Astr) 3
ASTR 296 (odd years only) 1
MATH 223 (Vector Calc) 4
ENGL 102 3
  15 / 16

 

Semester 3

PHYS 261H (Intro Elec & Magn) 4
PHYS 204 (Math Meth) 3
MATH 254 (Diff Eqns) 3
Tier 1 Gen Ed 3
Tier 1 Gen Ed 3
  16

 

Semester 4

PHYS 263H (Modern Phys) 3
PHYS 321 (Theor Mech I) 3
ASTR 302 (Intro Observ Astr) 3
Tier 2 Gen Ed 3
Tier 2 Gen Ed 3
ASTR 296 (odd years only) 1
  15 / 16

 

Semester 5

PHYS 305 (Comp. Phys) 3
PHYS 331 (E & M I) 3
ASTR 300A (Astr & Astrophys) 3
PHYS 320 (Optics) 3
Tier 2 Gen Ed 3
  15

 

Semester 6

PHYS 381 (Advanced Lab I) 2
PHYS 332 (E & M II) 3
PHYS 371 (Quantum I) 3
ASTR 300B (Astr & Astrophys) 3
Elective 3
  14

 

Semester 7

PHYS 472 (Quantum II) 3
PHYS 426 (Thermo/Stat Mech) 3
ASTR 400A (Theor Astrophys) 3
ASTR 499 (Ind Study) 3
Elective 3
  15

 

Semester 8

PHYS research elective 3
PHYS 382 (Advanced Lab II) 2
PHYS elective 3
ASTR 400B (Theor Astrophys) 3
Elective 3
  14

 

Notes

  • Second-semester proficiency in a foreign language is required;.normally this is fulfilled with high school language.
  • The physics department recommends that its majors take Chem 151 and 152.
  • Care must be taken to meet the requirement for 42 units of upper-division credit.
  • Phys 381 and 382 and Astr 302 are writing-emphasis courses.
  • Use one of the Tier 2 GenEds to satisfy the diversity requirement.