The Major and Minor
Charting Your Courses
Flowchart of Prerequisites
Recommended Course Sequences
Note that these are simply suggestions; any sequence consistent with the prerequisites shown above can be done. We've marked the elective as PHY360 for simplicity, but it could be any approved elective. We've likewise marked PHY117, but you could substitute PHY115. The two-credit course PHY399 would typically be taken senior year in whichever semester it's offered that year.
Note that the three-year schedule (labeled Beginning Spring of Second Year) would also work for a student who starts physics her first year and choses not to take physics courses during a junior year abroad.
Beginning Fall of First Year
First Year
Fall semester
PHY 117 Introductory Mechanics
Spring semester
PHY 118 General Physics II
Second Year
Fall semester
PHY 210 Math Methods I
PHY 240 Electronics
Spring semester
PHY 215 Modern Physics I
PHY 317 Classical Mechanics
Third Year
Fall semester
PHY 315 Modern Physics II
PHY 318 Electricity & Magnetism
Spring semester
PHY 350 Advanced Lab
PHY 327 Quantum Mechanics
Fourth Year
Fall semester
PHY 319 Thermal Physics
PHY 399 Topics in Physics
Spring semester
PHY 360 (or any approved elective)
Beginning Spring of First Year
First Year
Fall semester
Spring semester
PHY 117 Introductory Mechanics
Second Year
Fall semester
PHY 118 General Physics II
PHY 210 Math Methods I
Spring semester
PHY 215 Modern Physics I
PHY 317 Classical Mechanics
Third Year
Fall semester
PHY 315 Modern Physics II
PHY 318 Electricity & Magnetism
Spring semester
PHY 350 Advanced Lab
PHY 327 Quantum Mechanics
Fourth Year
Fall semester
PHY 240 Electronics
PHY 319 Thermal Physics
Spring semester
PHY 360 (or any approved elective)
PHY 399 Topics in Physics
Beginning Spring of Second Year
Second Year
Fall semester
PHY 117 Introductory Mechanics
Spring semester
PHY 118 General Physics II
PHY 210 Math Methods
Third Year
Fall semester
PHY 240 Electronics
PHY 318 Electricity & Magnetism
Spring semester
PHY 215 Modern Physics I
PHY 317 Classical Mechanics
Fourth Year
Fall semester
PHY 315 Modern Physics II
PHY 319 Thermal Physics
PHY 360 (or any approved elective)
Spring semester
PHY 350 Advanced Lab
PHY 327 Quantum Mechanics
PHY 399 Topics in Physics
