Program Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate a good understanding of both the theoretical concepts and mathematical techniques of the major fields of physics: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum physics.
- Work safely with modern laboratory equipment to carry out measurements and analyze data.
- Use computers to perform numerical computations, to simulate physical phenomena, and to collect and analyze data in the laboratory.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Move successfully into graduate school or industry.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 60 units of upper-division courses
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- 2.0 GPA
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No Major course with a lab component may be selected as credit/no credit.1
Note: Students intending to double major must consult the physics department chair, preferably prior to sophomore year.
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| PHYS 141 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 142 | General Physics II (B1 & B3) 1,2 | 4 |
| PHYS 143 | General Physics III 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 202 | Physics on the Computer | 4 |
| PHYS 206 | Electronics and Instrumentation 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 211 | Modern Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | Modern Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 301 | Thermal Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 305 | Classical Mechanics I (Upper-Division B) 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 320 | Methods of Theoretical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 321 | Methods of Theoretical Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 340 | Quantum Physics Laboratory I 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 341 | Quantum Physics Laboratory II 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 405 | Quantum Mechanics I | 4 |
| PHYS 408 | Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I | 4 |
| PHYS 461 | Senior Project I | 2 |
| PHYS 462 | Senior Project II | 2 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry for Physical Science and Engineering I | 4 |
| CHEM 125 | General Chemistry for Physical Science and Engineering II | 4 |
| MATH 141 | Calculus I (B4) 2 | 4 |
| MATH 142 | Calculus II (GE Electives) 2 | 4 |
| MATH 143 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 206 | Linear Algebra I | 4 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus IV | 4 |
| MATH 242 | Differential Equations I | 4 |
| Technical Electives | ||
| Select from the following: | 20 | |
| Physics Electives 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 | ||
| Select 11 units from the following: | ||
Any 300-400 level PHYS course or ASTR 444; | ||
And two courses must be labs selected from: | ||
| Observational Astronomy | ||
| Optics | ||
| Quantum Physics Laboratory III | ||
| Advanced Instrumentation in Experimental Physics | ||
| Polymer Electronics Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Optics | ||
| Solid State Physics Laboratory | ||
| Nonlinear Dynamical Systems | ||
| Breadth Electives 1, 3, 4, 5 | ||
| Select 9 units from the following: | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below.) | 56 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 7 | 12 | |
| Total units | 180 | |
| 1 | Major courses with lab component may not be taken as CR/NC grading: PHYS 142, PHYS 143, PHYS 206, PHYS 323, PHYS 340, PHYS 341, PHYS 342, PHYS 357, PHYS 422, PHYS 423, PHYS 426, PHYS 428, or ASTR 444. |
| 2 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
| 3 | For students anticipating an industrial career PHYS 323, PHYS 357, PHYS 423, PHYS 425, PHYS 426, and PHYS 427 are suggested. |
| 4 | For students anticipating graduate work in physics, PHYS 306, PHYS 401, PHYS 406, PHYS 409, and MATH 410 are suggested. PHYS 357 is suggested for students who anticipate becoming experimental physicists. |
| 5 | Total combined elective credit in PHYS 400, PHYS 404, ASTR 400, ASTR 404, GEOL 400, and GEOL 404 limited to 8 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. |
| 6 | Excess units will count towards Breadth Elective units. |
| 7 | At least 9 units must be upper-division (300-400 level). |
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 72 units required, 16 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 56 units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: A1 (Oral Communication), A2 (Written Communication), A3 (Critical Thinking), and B4 (Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning).
| Area A | English Language Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| A1 | Oral Communication | 4 |
| A2 | Written Communication | 4 |
| A3 | Critical Thinking | 4 |
| Area B | Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| B1 | Physical Science (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| B2 | Life Science | 4 |
| B3 | One lab taken with either a B1 or B2 course | |
| B4 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Upper-Division B (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 | |
| Area C | Arts and Humanities | |
| Lower-division courses in Area C must come from three different subject prefixes. | ||
| C1 | Arts: Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theater | 4 |
| C2 | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 4 |
| Lower-Division C Elective - Select a course from either C1 or C2 | 4 | |
| Upper-Division C | 4 | |
| Area D | Social Sciences - Select courses in Area D from at least two different prefixes | |
| D1 | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 4 |
| D2 | Lower-Division D | 4 |
| Upper-Division D | 4 | |
| Area E | Lifelong Learning and Self-Development | |
| Lower-Division E | 4 | |
| Area F | Ethnic Studies | |
| F | Ethnic Studies | 4 |
| GE Electives in Areas B, C, and D | ||
| Select courses from two different areas; may be lower-division or upper-division courses. | ||
| GE Electives (4 units in Major plus 4 units in GE) 1 | 4 | |
| Total units | 56 | |
| 1 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
San Luis Obispo, California 93407