Physics Major

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Major Requirements

The physics curriculum emphasizes fundamental concepts, problem analysis and solving skills, and laboratory techniques. Physics majors possess a wide variety of interests and goals. To ensure that students are adequately prepared for a variety of directions, the course offerings reflect a core set of content destined to give the student a basic understanding of contemporary experimental and theoretical physics concepts. Advanced courses explore these concepts further with a tighter focus on the problems and solutions particular to the area.

Many courses in a physics major possess prerequisites. Students who are unsure of their direction within the sciences are strongly encouraged to begin in their first year with general physics so that choices remain open for further study within the time spent pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Computers, computational methods, modeling, simulation, and data acquisition and analysis are essential to an operational understanding of physics and engineering. To begin an understanding of the concepts employed, students must complete at least one programming course in C, FORTRAN or PASCAL such as CSCI 1250. This requirement should be completed in the student’s first or second year.

All physics majors must complete the following core courses:

In addition

In addition, students must complete three additional physics courses at the 3000 or 5000 level. One of these courses must be PHYS 3520: Physical Optics or PHYS 3800: Electronics and Instrumentation. PHYS 5960 cannot be used as one of the electives.

Consequently, students pursuing a physics major must take:

Mathematics is fundamental for an understanding of all areas in science and engineering.

These courses nearly satisfy the mathematics minor; see the appropriate mathematics department pages for full math minor requirements.

Note

Students interested in postgraduate work in physics, astrophysics, or astronomy should take (beyond the core courses): 3250: Physical Optics; 3750: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics; 3800: Electronics and Instrumentation; and 5950: Quantum Mechanics.

Students pursuing a career in electrical engineering or computer science, either in postgraduate work or as part of Hamline’s 3-2 engineering program (see below) should take (beyond the core courses): 3750: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics; and 3800: Electronics and Instrumentation. Other areas of engineering such as mechanical, aerospace, civil, mineral, environmental, or biomedical engineering would suggest a program consisting of (beyond the core courses): 1610/1620: Engineering Mechanics: Statistics and Dynamics; 3750: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics; and 3800: Electronics and Instrumentation.