Physics and Mathematics
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: Physics & Mathematics
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 39 | |
| * | 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Major Requirements | ||
| MATH 129 | Basic Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R) | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 265 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 270 | Introduction to Abstract Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 329 | Intermediate Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 346 | Metric Space Topology | 3 |
| Select any two of the following: | 6 | |
| Abstract Algebra I | ||
| Real Analysis I | ||
| Complex Analysis | ||
| Partial Differential Equations | ||
| MATH 491 | Seminar | 2 |
| Physics Major Requirements | ||
| PHYS 171 | Introductory Projects in Physics | 1 |
| PHYS 251 & 251L | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 251R | University Physics I Recitation | 1 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 252R | University Physics II Recitation | 1 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | Classical Mechanics (or PHY 330: Intermediate Mechanics at MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 361 | Electromagnetic Theory (or PHY 370: Electromagnetic Theory at MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 462 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 486 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 489 | Senior Project II | 3 |
| 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 160 | Computer Science I | 4 |
| 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 Credits | 96 | |
Program Notes
- Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 171 | 1 | PHYS 251 | 4 |
| MATH 165 | 4 | PHYS 251L | 1 |
| CHEM 150 | 3 | PHYS 251R | 1 |
| CHEM 160 | 1 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| ENGL 110credit automatically granted if you earn a "C" in ENGL 120 | 4 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| ENGL 120can enroll in ENGL 120 if ACT score > 17 | 3 | CHEM 151 | 3 |
| MATH 129 | 3 | CHEM 161 | 1 |
| 19 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 252 | 4 | PHYS 350 | 3 |
| PHYS 252L | 1 | MATH 266 | 3 |
| PHYS 252R | 1 | CSCI 160 | 4 |
| MATH 265 | 4 | Social/Behavioral Science Elective | 3 |
| MATH 270 | 3 | Wellness Elective | 2 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | MATH 329 | 3 |
| 16 | 18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 360 | 3 | PHYS 361 | 3 |
| MATH 420 | 3 | PHYS 370 | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | 3 | ENGL 324 | 3 |
| MATH 450 | 3 | Social/Behavioral Science Elective | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Elective | 3 | MATH 452 | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | or MATH 483 Partial Differential Equations | |
| MATH 346 | 3 | ||
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 462 | 3 | PHYS 486 | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | 3 | PHYS 489 | 2 |
| Physics Elective | 3 | Physics Elective | 3 |
| MATH 4XX Math Elective | 3 | MATH 491 | 2 |
| PHYS 488 | 1 | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| 13 | 13 | ||
| Total Credits: 132 | |||
