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Introduction Students majoring in physics or astronomy normally take Phyx 135-1,2,3 in their freshman year. Qualified students may take Phyx 125-1,2,3 (Physics for ISP) with consent of the department. Depending on their high school preparation, physics and astronomy majors normally also take calculus in their freshman year (Math 220, 224, 230). However, students taking Phyx 125-1,2,3 must be enrolled in one of the advanced mathematics sequences (Math 281-x, 290-x, 291-x). Major in Physics The physics major is designed to help students acquire a broad background in physics and related fields. The three basic steps toward completing the physics major are: (1) fulfilling prerequisites in introductory physics and calculus; (2) taking a core sequence of courses in classical physics, modern physics, and mathematics; and (3) completing a course concentration in one of the approved areas. Specifically, physics and astronomy majors must pass these courses or the equivalent: Basic Courses (6 units) Math 220, Math 224, Math 230 (Calculus) Phyx 125-1,2,3 or 135-1,2,3 (General Physics) Students with advanced credit can place out of all or part of these six courses (see below). Core Sequence (9 units) Math 234 (Multiple Integration, Vector Calculus) Math 240 (Linear Algebra) Math 250 (Elementary Differential Equations) Math 351 (Fourier Analysis, Boundary Value Problems) Phyx 330-1 (Classical Mechanics) Phyx 332-0 (Statistical Mechanics) Phyx 333-1 (Electricity & Magnetism) Phyx 339-1 (Quantum Mechanics) Phyx 359-3 (Physics Laboratory) Concentrations Beyond the required basic and core courses, majors must also select at least one of the following concentrations and complete all the course requirements in that concentration: Advanced Physics (6 units) Phyx 330-2 (Classical Mechanics) Phyx 333-2 (Electricity & Magnetism) Phyx 339-2 (Quantum Mechanics) Phyx 359-1 (Electronics Laboratory) Two upper-level Phyx or Astr courses except 398 or 399 (Independent Study) Astronomy (6 units) Phyx 330-2 (Classical Mechanics) Phyx 333-2 (Electricity & Magnetism) Phyx 339-2 (Quantum Mechanics) Astr 220-0 (Introduction to Astrophysics) Two upper-level Astr classes except 398 or 399 (Independent Study) Biomedical Physics (8 units) Chem 101, 102 or 171, 172 (General Chemistry) Phyx 359-1 (Electronics Laboratory) Biomed Engr 301, 302 (Systems Physiology) Biomed Engr 320 (Biomedical Signals and Imaging) Two courses selected from: Biomed Engr 321 (Control of Biological Systems), Biomed Engr 323 (Visual Science), or Biomed Engr 327 (MRI) Computational Physics (7 units) Prerequisite: Knowledge of Fortran, C or C++, or equivalent Appl Math 311-1 (Methods of Applied Mathematics) or 346-0 (Modeling and Computation in Science and Engineering) Math 310-1 (Probability and Stochastic Processes) Phyx 252-0 (Introduction to Computational Physics) Phyx 359-1 (Electronics Laboratory) Three electives chosen from the following: At least one upper-level Phyx or Astr course except 398 or 399 Appl Math 311-2,3 (Methods of Applied Mathematics) Appl Math 322-0 (Applied Dynamical Systems) Comp Sci 310 (Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science) Comp Sci 336 (Design and Analysis of Algorithms) Math 310-2,3 (Probability and Stochastic Processes) Math 354-1,2 (Chaotic Dynamical Systems) Math 374-0 (Theory of Computability and Turing Machines) Stat 330-1,2 (Applied Statistics for Research) Materials Physics (8 units) Chem 101, 102 or 171, 172 (General Chemistry) Phyx 337-0 (Solid State Physics) Phyx 339-2 (Quantum Mechanics) Materials Sci & Engr 316-1,2 (Microstructural Dynamics) Two courses chosen from: Mat Sci 332-0 (Kinetics of Heterogeneous Reactions) Mat Sci 355-0 (Electronic Materials) Mat Sci 360-0 (Introduction to Electron Microscopy) Mat Sci 361-0 (Crystallography and Diffraction) Mat Sci 380-0 (Introduction to Surface Science and Spectroscopy) Nanoscale Physics 6 units) Phyx 333-2 (Electricity & Magnetism) Phyx 337-0 (Introduction to Solid-State Physics) Phyx 339-2 (Quantum Mechanics) Phyx 358-0 (Nanolithography) Two electives chosen from: Phyx 359-1 (Electronics Laboratory), BME 320-0 (Biomedical Signals and Imaging), BME 343-0 (Biomaterials and Medical Devices), EECS 389-0 (Superconductivity and Applications), Mat Sci 360-0 (Introduction to Electron Microscopy), Mat Sci 370-0 (Biomaterials), Mat Sci 376-0 (Nanomaterials), Mech Eng 319-0 (Applications of Surface Science to Nanomechanics and Nanotribology), Mech Eng 381-0 (Introduction to Microelectromechanical Systems), Mech Eng 382-0 (Experiments in Micro- and Nanoscience Engineering), Mech Eng 385-0 (Nanotechnology). Preparation for Graduate Study Students who intend to go to graduate school to continue their study of physics and/or astronomy at the PhD level should also consider taking some or all of the following:
Minor in Physics The minor in physics gives students a basic understanding of the most essential concepts in the field. It carries the same prerequisites as the physics major, a somewhat lighter core, and two physics electives. Basic courses (6 units) Math 220, 224, 230 (Calculus) Phyx 125-1,2,3 or 135-1,2,3 (General Physics) Minor sequence (8 units) Math 234 (Multiple Integration, Vector Calculus) Math 240 (Linear Algebra) Math 250 (Elementary Differential Equations) Phyx 330-1 (Classical Mechanics) Phyx 333-1 (Electricity & Magnetism) Phyx 339-1 (Quantum Mechanics) or 335-0 (Modern Physics) Two other upper-level Phyx or Astr courses except 398 or 399 Advanced Placement Freshmen who have taken physics in high school may have parts of the introductory physics sequence waived in the following ways:
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