Department of Physics
Program I: Physics (Bachelor of Science in Physics)
Students on Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 requirements PHYSICSTRK
Students planning to continue on in physics, either by pursuing a graduate degree (Ph.D.) in the field or by performing research at a national laboratory, are strongly encouraged to obtain a B.S. degree in Physics. The required coursework provides the high level of theoretical understanding of physical laws needed in order to succeed in these career paths, along with a solid background in practical laboratory techniques and skills.
Requirements
The major requires at least 35 credit hours (64 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
- Physics I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
- PHYS-P 221 Physics I
- Physics II. One (1) course:
- PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
- PHYS-P 222 Physics II
- Physics III. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 301 Physics III
- Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I
- Analytical Mechanics I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics I
- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- Modern Physics Laboratory. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
- Experiments in Modern Physics I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
- PHYS-P 460 (with permission of department)
- Physics Electives. Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements:
- Any PHYS-P 300–399 except PHYS-P 301; PHYS-P 309; PHYS-P 331
- Any PHYS-P 400–499 except PHYS-P 441; PHYS-P 453
- Any PHYS-X 100–499
- Addenda Requirements*.
- Mathematics and Computer Science. 20 credit hours:
- 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
- Calculus III. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 311 Calculus III
- MATH-S 311 Honors Course in Calculus III
- Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications I. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 343
- MATH-S 343 Honors Course in Differential Equations
- Electives. Additional Mathematics or Computer Science courses, as needed, to fulfill the requirement.
- Calculus I. One (1) course:
- Biological and Physical Sciences. Nine (9) credit hours in the biological and physical sciences, other than physics, with at least six (6) credit hours in the same department:
- Animal Behavior
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Human Biology
- Neuroscience
- Mathematics and Computer Science. 20 credit hours:
- Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- 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.
- 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.
- Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- 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.
Notes
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
PHYSsubject 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
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
Exclusions
The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements:
- PHYS-E 250
- Any PHYS-P 100–199
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in Physics (PHYSBA)
- Minor in Physics (PHYSMIN)
- Program II: Applied Physics (Bachelor of Science in Physics) (PHYAPPLTRK)
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.
The Bachelor of Science degree requires at least 120 credit hours, to include the following:
- College of Arts and Sciences Credit Hours. At least 100 credit hours must come from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines.
- Upper Division Courses. At least 36 credit hours (of the 120) must be at the 300–499 level.
- College Residency. Following completion of the 60th credit hour toward degree, at least 36 credit hours of College of Arts and Sciences coursework must be completed through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- College GPA. A College grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.000 is required.
- CASE Requirements. The following College of Arts and Sciences Education (CASE) requirements must be completed:
- CASE Foundations
- CASE Breadth of Inquiry
- CASE Culture Studies
- Diversity in the United States: 1 course
- Global Civilizations and Cultures: Not required
- CASE Critical Approaches: 1 course
- CASE Foreign Language: Proficiency in a single foreign language through the first semester of the second year of college-level coursework
- CASE Intensive Writing: 1 course
- CASE Public Oral Communication: 1 course
- Major. Completion of the major as outlined in the Major Requirements section above.
Most students must also successfully complete the Indiana University Bloomington General Education program.