Department ofPhysics and Astronomy

An example of the immediate-start version of the Physics major, the “Traditional” Physics major:

1. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any three of those four courses will satisfy the requirements of the Traditional Physics Major.

Study Abroad is possible with this schedule, especially in the junior year and first semester of the senior year. Students are usually able to take a 300-level equivalent course abroad, or double-up on physics courses when they return home.

An example of the immediate-start version of the Astrophysics major:

1. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any three of those four courses will satisfy the requirements of the Astrophysics Major.
2. The major requires any two 300-level Astrophysics courses, so it doesn’t have to be these two.

Study Abroad is possible with this schedule, especially in the junior year and first semester of the senior year. Students are usually able to take a 300-level equivalent course abroad, or double-up on physics/astro courses when they return home.

An example of a First-year-start version of the physics major with a chemistry focus:¹

In this case, the student is doing an Interdisciplinary Physics Major major with Chemistry being the Related Field, but you could substitute in any related field instead of Chemistry. With one more course this schedule meets the requirements for a Chemistry Minor (see note below.) Taking physics, chemistry and math in your first year is not common, but possible.

1. This schedule satisfies the pre-health Core STEM requirements if you add a year of BIOL (200/201).
   Instead of CHEM H301, you could take CHEM H302 or CHEM H303.
   This schedule satisfies the requirements of the Chemistry Minor with the addition of one semester of physical chemistry (304 or 305) and one year of Organic Chemistry (H222 and H225). Note that the Chemistry Minor does not require CHEM H301, but the Interdisciplinary Physics Major requires a 300-level lab in a related field, so that’s why CHEM H301 appears on this schedule.
   PHYS H211 could be moved to the fall semester of the junior year.
2. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any two of those courses will satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Physics Major, plus you need another 300-level course.

Study Abroad is possible with this schedule, especially in the junior year and first semester of the senior year. Students are usually able to take a 300-level equivalent course abroad, or double-up on physics/astro courses when they return home.

An example of a First-year-start version of the physics major with a environmental studies focus

Here is one possible way to do the Physics Major (Interdisciplinary version) starting Physics in your first year. In this case, the student is doing an Interdisciplinary Physics major with Environmental Studies being the Related Field, but you could substitute in any related field instead of Environmental Studies.

1. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any two of those courses will satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Physics Major.
2. This course can be replaced by any 300-level ENVS course.
3. This can be any 300-level physics course (or course cross-listed in physics)

Note that with the addition of one other Environmental STEM elective course, one other Environmental Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts course, and one final Environmental Studies elective that is 300-level or above, the schedule above completes the Environmental Studies Minor.

An example of a Sophomore-start version of the Physics Major with an Astronomy focus

Here is one possible way to do the Physics Major (Interdisciplinary version) starting physics in your Sophomore Year. In this case, the student is doing an Interdisciplinary Physics major with Astronomy being the Related Field, but you could substitute in any related field instead of Astronomy. This also meets the criteria for an Astronomy Minor.

1. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any two of those courses will satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Physics Major.
2. Many astrophysics courses are cross-listed in Physics, and any of those would satisfy this requirement as well.

Study Abroad is possible in the spring of your junior year, but you have to go someplace that has Intro to Quantum Mechanics and Multivariable Calculus. It’s a bit of a squeeze, unfortunately.

An example of a Sophomore-start version of the physics major with a biology focus¹

Here is one possible way to do the Physics Major (Interdisciplinary version) starting in your Sophomore Year. In this case, the student is doing an Interdisciplinary Physics major with Biology being the Related Field, but you could substitute in any related field instead of Biology.

1. For premedical preparation, CHEM H114, two semesters of organic chemistry and a social science course can be added to this schedule.
2. If a student places into MATH H118 they may take MATH H118 fall semester of their first year and move the other math classes earlier.
3. This intro chem class (CHEM H113) is one way to satisfy the BIOL 200 pre-requisite, but it can also be satisfied with an intro physics course such as PHYS B122 at BMC each spring.
4. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any two of those courses will satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Physics Major.

Note that with the addition of CHEM H112 or CHEM H114 the schedule above completes the Physics Major with the Biophysics Area of Concentration.

An example of a Sophomore-start version of the physics major with a chemistry focus¹

Here is one possible way to do the Physics Major (Interdisciplinary version) starting in your Sophomore Year. In this case, the student is doing an Interdisciplinary Physics major with Chemistry being the Related Field, but you could substitute in any related field instead of Chemistry. With one more course this schedule meets the requirements for a Chemistry minor (see note below.) Taking physics, chemistry and math in your first year is not common, but possible.

1. This schedule satisfies the pre-health Core STEM requirements.
   Instead of CHEM H301, you could take CHEM H302 or CHEM H303.
   This schedule satisfies the requirements of the Chemistry Minor with the addition of one semester of physical chemistry (CHEM H304 or CHEM H305). Note that the Chemistry Minor does not require BIOL 200/201, or CHEM H301, but the Interdisciplinary Physics Major requires a 300-level lab in a related field, so if you want to satisfy the Physics Major lab requirement using Chemistry you need BIOL 200/201 and CHEM H301 or CHEM H302 or CHEM H303.
   PHYS H211 could be moved to the fall semester of the junior year.
2. If a student places into MATH H118 they may take MATH H118 fall semester of their first year and move the other math classes earlier.
3. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any two of those courses will satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Physics Major.

An example of a Sophomore-start version of the physics major with a environmental studies focus

Here is one possible way to do the Physics Major (Interdisciplinary version) starting in your Sophomore Year. In this case, the student is doing an Interdisciplinary Physics major with Environmental Studies being the Related Field, but you could substitute in any related field instead of Environmental Studies.

1. If a student places into MATH H118 they may take MATH H118 fall semester of their first year and move the other math classes earlier.
2. This course can be replaced by any 300-level ENVS course.
3. PHYS H308 and PHYS H302 are offered in alternate years with PHYS H303 and PHYS H309. Any two of those courses will satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Physics Major.
4. This can be any 300-level physics course (or course cross-listed in physics).

Note that with the addition of one other Environmental STEM elective course, one other Environmental Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts course, and one final Environmental Studies elective that is 300-level or above, the schedule above completes the Environmental Studies Minor.