Bachelor of Arts in Physics
The Bachelor of Arts in Physics curriculum introduces students to the study of matter and energy, including their nature and properties. Students learn theoretical and experimental approaches including Newtonian mechanics, oscillations, and waves, bulk properties of matter and thermodynamics. Upper-level courses focus modern, environmental and theoretical physics, materials science, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, radiation science, analog and digital electronics. At all levels, physics courses combine lectures and labs, and majors gain hands-on experience using advanced instruments and computing systems, gaining the skills necessary for successful research and industry careers.
Requirements
- Physics I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
- PHYS-P 221 Physics I
- PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
- Physics II. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
- PHYS-P 222 Physics II
- PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
- Physics III. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 301 Physics III
- Electives. Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements:
- Any PHYS-P 300–399 except PHYS-P 301
- Any PHYS-P 400–499
- 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
- Calculus I. One (1) course:
- 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.
- 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
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
- 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)
The Bachelor of Arts 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 42 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
- CASE Critical Approaches: 1 course
- CASE Foreign Language: Proficiency in a single foreign language through the second semester of the second year of college-level coursework
- CASE Intensive Writing: 1 course
- CASE Public Oral Communication: 1 course
- CASE Sustainability Literacy: 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.