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Mathematics and Physics

This program is intended for students who desire additional mathematical background and preparation for graduate school or technical careers in the sciences, especially theoretical physics.

Major Requirements

Major: Mathematics & Physics

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A list of approved general education courses is available here .
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, should they apply.
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

 May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required.

College Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree – An additional 12 credits Humanities and Social Sciences and proficiency at the second year level in a modern foreign language. *12
Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree – An additional 6 credits in Humanities or Social Sciences *6
*

 Humanities and Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education courses in humanities and social sciences (general education categories A and B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student’s major.

Major Requirements

A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for all MATH, PHYS, and AST prefix courses.

Mathematics Major Requirements
MATH 129Basic Linear Algebra3
MATH 165Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R)4
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 265Calculus III4
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
MATH 270Introduction to Abstract Mathematics3
MATH 329Intermediate Linear Algebra3
MATH 346Metric Space Topology3
Select any two of the following:6
Abstract Algebra I
Real Analysis I
Complex Analysis
Partial Differential Equations
MATH 491Seminar2
Physics Major Requirements
PHYS 171Introductory Projects in Physics1
PHYS 251
251L
University Physics I
and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
5
PHYS 251RUniversity Physics I Recitation1
PHYS 252
252L
University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
5
PHYS 252RUniversity Physics II Recitation1
PHYS 350Modern Physics3
PHYS 355Classical Mechanics (or PHY 330: Intermediate Mechanics at MSUM)3
PHYS 360Modern Physics II3
PHYS 361Electromagnetic Theory (or PHY 370: Electromagnetic Theory at MSUM)3
PHYS 370Introduction to Computational Physics3
PHYS 462Thermal and Statistical Physics3
PHYS 485Quantum Mechanics I3
PHYS 486Quantum Mechanics II3
PHYS 489Senior Project II3
Physics Electives: Select 3 of the following:9
Research For Undergraduates
Optics for Scientists & Engineers
Lasers for Scientists and Engineers
Elements of Photonics
Condensed Matter Physics
MSUM AST
Astronomy courses (300/400-level) with departmental pemission
Related Required Courses
Computer Science:
CSCI 160Computer Science I4
Chemistry: Select one of the following (150/160 recommended):4
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
Select one of the following (151/161 recommended):4
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
Total Credits96

Program Notes

  • Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 1711PHYS 2514
MATH 1654PHYS 251L1
CHEM 1503PHYS 251R1
CHEM 1601MATH 1664
ENGL 110credit automatically granted if you earn a "C" in ENGL 1204COMM 1103
ENGL 120can enroll in ENGL 120 if ACT score > 173CHEM 1513
MATH 1293CHEM 1611
 19 17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 2524PHYS 3503
PHYS 252L1MATH 2663
PHYS 252R1CSCI 1604
MATH 2654Social/Behavioral Science Elective3
MATH 2703Wellness Elective2
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective3MATH 3293
 16 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 3603PHYS 3613
MATH 4203PHYS 3703
PHYS 3553ENGL 3243
MATH 4503Social/Behavioral Science Elective3
Social/Behavioral Science Elective3MATH 4523
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective3or MATH 483 Partial Differential Equations 
 MATH 3463
 18 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 4623PHYS 4863
PHYS 4853PHYS 4892
Physics Elective3Physics Elective 3
MATH 4XX Math Elective3MATH 4912
PHYS 4881Humanities/Fine Arts Elective3
 13 13
Total Credits: 132