Mathematics and Physics
Major Requirements
Major: Mathematics & Physics
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 122
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- 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
| 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.
- †
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
| 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 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| 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 488 | Senior Project I | 1 |
| PHYS 489 | Senior Project II | 2 |
| 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 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 | 94 | |
Program Notes
- Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.