Physics (PHYS) Major

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Requirements for Physics Major

Bachelor of Science in Arts and Science for Physics

System General Education Requirements*: 33

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
, and
ENGL 201
or
ENGL 277
¹ Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101*
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 123
Credits: 4
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
PHYS 111-111L
and
PHYS 113-113L
Credits: 8
or
PHYS 211-211L
and
PHYS 213-213L
Credits: 8

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar:
PHYS 109**
Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility Credits: 3

College Requirements: 12

Bachelor of Science

Social Sciences Credits: 3
Humanities:
PHIL 200
or
PHIL 331
Credits:3
Natural Sciences - Biological Sciences Credits: 6

See the College of Arts and Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts Specifications and Bachelor of Science Specifications

Major Requirements: 36

PHYS 316-316L - Measurement Theory and Experiment Design and Lab (AW)
Credits: 2
PHYS 331 - Introduction to Modern Physics (COM)
Credits: 3
PHYS 490-590 - Seminar (COM)
Credits: 1-3 Only (1 credit required for program.)
MATH 125 - Calculus II * (COM)
Credits: 4
MATH 225 - Calculus III * (COM)
Credits: 4
MATH 321 - Differential Equations (COM)
Credits: 3
CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
OR
CHEM 106-106L - Chemistry Survey and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 3,1
CHEM 114-114L - General Chemistry II and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
OR
CHEM 120-120L - Elementary Organic Chemistry and Lab*
Credits: 3, 1
CSC 150-150L - Computer Science I (COM)
Credits: 3
OR
CSC 218 - Introduction to C/C++/Unix for Engineers
Credits: 3
PHYS 421-521 - Electromagnetism (COM)
Credits: 4
PHYS 341 - Thermodynamics (COM)
Credits: 2 and
PHYS 343 - Statistical Physics (COM)
Credits: 2
OR
PHYS 451-551 - Classical Mechanics (COM)
Credits: 4
OR
PHYS 471-571 - Quantum Mechanics (COM)
Credits: 4

Electives: 34

Select one elective group based on career objectives

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.