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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics

Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Students on Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 requirements PHYSBA

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours (41 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Physics I. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
    • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
  2. Physics II. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
    • PHYS-P 222 Physics II
    • PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
  3. Physics III. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 301 Physics III
  4. Electives. Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements:
    • Any PHYS-P 300–399 except PHYS-P 301
    • Any PHYS-P 400–499
  5. Addenda Requirements*.
    • Calculus I. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
      • MATH-S 211
    • Calculus II. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 212 Calculus II
      • MATH-S 212 Honors Calculus II
    • Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications I. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 343
      • MATH-S 343 Honors Course in Differential Equations
  6. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

  • Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

    • Any course at the 100–499 level with the PHYS subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
    • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
    • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
  • NULL:
    Exclusions

    The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

    • PHYS-E 250
    • Any PHYS-P 100–199

    This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

    • Bachelor of Science in Physics (PHYSBS)
    • Minor in Physics (PHYSMIN)

    Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.