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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 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 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.
  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 Modern Optics (with permission of department)
  9. Physics Electives. Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements:
    • PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics
    • PHYS-P 314 Introduction to Medical Physics
    • PHYS-P 317 Signals and Information Processing in Living Systems
    • PHYS-P 318 Scattering Methods in Materials Science
    • PHYS-P 321 Techniques in Theoretical Physics
    • PHYS-P 325 Computing Skills for Physical Scientists
    • PHYS-P 332 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II
    • PHYS-P 340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
    • PHYS-P 350 Applied Physics Instrumentation Laboratory
    • PHYS-P 371 Radiation Science Fundamentals
    • PHYS-P 400 Analog and Digital Electronics
    • PHYS-P 408 Current Research in Physics
    • PHYS-P 410 Computing Applications in Physics
    • PHYS-P 411 Computing Applications in Physics II
    • PHYS-P 425 Introductory Biophysics
    • PHYS-P 442 Analytical Mechanics II
    • PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
    • PHYS-P 454 Modern Physics
    • PHYS-P 455 Quantum Computing I
    • PHYS-P 456 Quantum Computing II
    • PHYS-P 460 Modern Optics
    • PHYS-P 470 Introduction to Accelerator Physics
    • PHYS-P 472 Radiation Oncology Physics
    • PHYS-P 478 Radiation Biophysics
    • PHYS-X 473 Applied Physics Internship
    • PHYS-X 490 Readings in Physics
    • PHYS-X 498 Research Project
  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
  • PHYS-P 101 Physics in the Modern World
  • PHYS-P 105 Basic Physics of Sound
  • PHYS-P 108 Audio Technology Acoustics Laboratory
  • PHYS-P 109 Introductory Acoustics Laboratory
  • PHYS-P 110 Energy
  • PHYS-P 111 Physics of Extraterrestrial Life
  • PHYS-P 120 Energy and Technology
  • PHYS-P 125 Energy in the 21st Century
  • PHYS-P 133 Physics for Future Leaders
  • PHYS-P 150 How Things Work
  • PHYS-P 151 21st Century Physics
  • PHYS-P 199 Physical Science through Inquiry
  • PHYS-Q 202

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.