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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics

Program I: Physics (Bachelor of Science in Physics)

Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 requirements PHYSICSTRK

Requirements

The major requires at least 35 credit hours (64 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Physics I. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
  2. Physics II. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
    • PHYS-P 222 Physics II
  3. Physics III. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 301 Physics III
  4. Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I
  5. Analytical Mechanics I. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics I
  6. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
  7. Modern Physics Laboratory. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
  8. Experiments in Modern Physics I. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
    • PHYS-P 460 (with permission of department)
  9. 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
  10. Addenda Requirements*.
    1. Mathematics and Computer Science. 20 credit hours:
      1. Calculus I. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
        • MATH-S 211
      2. Calculus II. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 212 Calculus II
        • MATH-S 212 Honors Calculus II
      3. Calculus III. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 311 Calculus III
        • MATH-S 311 Honors Course in Calculus III
      4. Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications I. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 343
        • MATH-S 343 Honors Course in Differential Equations
      5. Electives. Additional Mathematics or Computer Science courses, as needed, to fulfill the requirement.
    2. 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
  11. 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.

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
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.