For information about the B.S. in Physics, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (an external, 5-year dual degree program with Stevens Institute of Technology), click here.
Unless otherwise noted, 120 credits of coursework is required for a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 24-27 | |
| Major Requirements | 71-75 | |
| Free Electives 1 | 24-17 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Graduate Swing Courses will count toward free electives for students in combined (UG/GR) programs.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Physics Required Courses | ||
| PHYS 191 | University Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 192 | University Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 198 | Introductory Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 210 | Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 220 | Oscillations, Waves, and Optics | 3 |
| PHYS 230 | Intermediate Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 300 | Junior/Senior Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 320 | Statistical and Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 330 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 340 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 464 | Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| Physics Elective Courses | ||
| Select 9-12 credits from the list below. | 9-12 | |
| Physics Collateral Courses | ||
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CSIT 104 | Python Programming I | 3 |
| MATH 122 | Calculus I | 4 |
| or AMAT 120 | Applied Calculus A | |
| MATH 221 | Calculus II | 4 |
| or AMAT 220 | Applied Calculus B | |
| MATH 222 | Calculus III | 4 |
| AMAT 350 | Applied Mathematics I | 3-4 |
| or MATH 325 | Ordinary Differential Equation | |
| or PHYS 377 | Mathematical Physics | |
| Total Credits | 71-75 | |
Major Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 180 | Astronomy for Everyone | 4 |
| PHYS 245 | Fundamentals of Electronics | 4 |
| PHYS 280 | Astronomy for Physicists | 4 |
| PHYS 310 | Advanced Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 325 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 341 | Electronics and Digital Circuits | 4 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Optics | 4 |
| PHYS 368 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 377 | Mathematical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 380 | Observational Astronomy | 4 |
| PHYS 399 | Special Topics in Physics | 1-4 |
| PHYS 451 | Radiation and Medical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 461 | General Relativity | 3 |
| PHYS 462 | Nuclear Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 470 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 480 | Astrophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 495 | Research or Independent Study in Physics | 1-4 |
New Student Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100. | ||
| Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor. | 1 | |
| Pathways to Success | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | ||
| Pathways to Adult Learning | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | ||
| Introduction to Nursing | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | ||
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing II course. | 3 | |
| Interactive Communication | ||
| Complete one Interactive Communication course. | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Fulfilled by AMAT 120 or MATH 122 in the major. | ||
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Complete one Political and Civic Life course. | 3 | |
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories: | 9 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Fulfilled by PHYS 191 in the major. | ||
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | PHYS 198 | 1 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | SEEDS: Effective Writing II | 3 |
| AMAT 120 or MATH 122 (Fulfills SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning) | 4 | AMAT 220 or MATH 221 | 4 |
| PHYS 191 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration 1 - Scientific Reasoning) | 4 | PHYS 192 | 4 |
| CSIT 104 | 3 | Major Elective | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 222 | 4 | AMAT 350, MATH 325, or PHYS 377 | 3 |
| PHYS 210 | 3 | PHYS 320 | 3 |
| PHYS 230 | 4 | PHYS 340 | 3 |
| SEEDS: World Language 1 | 3 | SEEDS: Interactive Communication | 3 |
| SEEDS: World Language 2 or Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Exploration 2 | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 3 | 3 |
| PHYS 220 | 3 | PHYS 360 | 3 |
| CHEM 120 | 4 | CHEM 121 | 4 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Physics Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 13 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 300 | 1 | PHYS 330 | 4 |
| PHYS 464 | 3 | Physics Elective | 3 |
| SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 4 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 2 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||