Mathematics and Physics

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.

Major Requirements

Major: Mathematics & Physics

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

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

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.

 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 major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

  •  A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

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 252
252L
University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
5
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 488Senior Project I1
PHYS 489Senior Project II2
Physics Electives: Select 3 of the following:9
Research For Undergraduates
Optics for Scientists & Engineers
Lasers for Scientists and Engineers
Elements of Photonics
Materials 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 Credits94

Program Notes

  • Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.