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 281-1,2,3 or 290-1,2,3).
Specifically, physics and astronomy majors must pass these courses or the equivalent:
Basic Courses (6 units)
Math 220 and 224 or 212, 213, and 214
Math 230
Phyx 125-1,2,3 or 135-1,2,3
Students with advanced credit can place out of all or part of these six courses.
Core Sequence (9 units)
Math 234, 240, and 250 or 290-1,2,3 and 250 or 281-1,2,3
Math 351
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 other 300-level physics or astronomy courses other than Phyx 335,
398, 399 or Astr 398, 399
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 other 300-level Astr other than 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)
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 300-level Phyx or Astr course other than 335, 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)
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