At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
This major provides a sound program of technical and general education for students planning a career in physics and related fields.
- The General option provides broad coverage with the most physics and mathematics course requirements and is useful for students intending to pursue graduate study in Physics or similar disciplines.
- The Medical and Electronics options incorporate coursework in support of the application of physics and mathematics in various life-science or engineering related fields.
- A Computation option provides background in the application of physical principles and mathematical methods in the solution of scientific problems, simulations, or visualizations using computer and numerical techniques.
- The Nanotechnology/Material Science option provides students with background in the understanding of condensed matter physics at either the nano- or micro/macro- levels.
What is Physics?
Physicists study natural phenomena in the universe, from the smallest length scales to the largest in the cosmos, to discover the basic principles or laws which govern the physical world. Knowledge of physics is crucial to truly understanding the world around us, the world inside us, and the world beyond us. This degree will provide students with the fundamental conceptual, mathematical, computational, and experimental tools that are needed to attack the scientific and technological problems of today and in the future.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You are curious about how things work.
- You are fascinated by how the natural world is organized, how mathematics describes so much of it, how experiments can probe that understanding, and how one can predict new physical phenomena.
- You want to explore these connections via hands-on work in labs, mathematical reasoning and calculations, or using computers and programming.
- You want to solve sophisticated problems beyond standard pencil-and-paper examples using advanced mathematical and experimental technique or computational methods.
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Requirements for the Major | 90-97 |
| Electives | 0-3 |
16-18 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 7-9 credits of GN courses (9 credits only for Medical Physics Option); 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| CHEM 111 | Experimental Chemistry I  | 1 |
| CHEM 112 | Chemical Principles II | 3 |
| MATH 220 | Matrices | 2-3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CHEM 110 | Chemical Principles I | 3 |
| ENGL 202C | Effective Writing: Technical Writing | 3 |
| MATH 140 | Calculus With Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH 141 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS 211 | General Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 213 | General Physics: Fluids and Thermal Physics | 2 |
| PHYS 214 | General Physics: Wave Motion and Quantum Physics | 2 |
| PHYS 237 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3-4 |
| PHYS 400 | Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism | 3-4 |
| PHYS 410 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 3-4 |
| PHYS 419 | Theoretical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 420 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 444 | Topics in Contemporary Physics | 2 |
| PHYS 457W | Experimental Physics | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Introduction to Programming Techniques | ||
| Programming and Computation I: Fundamentals | ||
| Programming for Engineers with MATLAB | ||
| Programming for Engineers with C++ | ||
| Introduction to Computational Sciences Programming | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| MATH 230 | Calculus and Vector Analysis | 4 |
| or MATH 231 & MATH 232 | Calculus of Several Variables and Integral Vector Calculus | |
| MATH 251 | Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations | 4 |
| or MATH 250 & MATH 252 | Ordinary Differential Equations and Partial Differential Equations | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 3 credits of 400-level MATH from departmental list | 3 | |
| Requirements for the Option | ||
| Select an option | 24-27 | |
Requirements for the Option
Computation Option (24 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| MATH 455 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 456 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| CMPSC 122 | Intermediate Programming 1 | 3 |
| or CMPSC 132 | Programming and Computation II: Data Structures | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 9 credits from department list | 9 | |
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Computer Programming | ||
| Introduction to Computational Physics | ||
300-400-level CMPSC | ||
400-level MATH from departmental list | ||
400-level STAT | ||
- 1
CMPSC 122 has CMPSC 121 as a prerequisite and CMPSC 132 has CMPSC 131 as a prerequisite so care should be taken when choosing the 'programming requirement' under the Common Requirements for the Major.
Electronics Option (27 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| EE 210 | Circuits and Devices | 4 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select 8 credits from the following: | 8 | |
| Digital Design: Theory and Practice | ||
| Electronic Circuit Design I | ||
| Continuous-Time Linear Systems | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 9 credits from department list, a maximum of 6 credits may be from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Studies | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience I | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience II | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience III | ||
| Select 6 credits of EE 300- or 400-level courses | 6 | |
General Physics Option (25-26 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| PHYS 402 | Electronics for Scientists | 4 |
| or PHYS 458 | Intermediate Optics | |
| Select 6-7 credits from items A, B, and/or C: 1 | 6-7 | |
| A | ||
| Introduction to Quantum Information Science and Engineering | ||
| Subatomic Physics | ||
| Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II | ||
| Solid State Physics I | ||
| Solid State Physics | ||
| Introduction to Computational Physics | ||
| Physical implementation of qubits | ||
| Network analysis of biological systems | ||
| Elements of Nuclear Physics and its Applications to Medical Imaging and Treatments | ||
| Special and General Relativity | ||
| Independent Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| B | ||
| Electronics for Scientists 2 | ||
or PHYS 458 | Intermediate Optics | |
| C | ||
| Computational Astrophysics | ||
| Introduction to Astrophysics | ||
| Introduction to High-Energy Astronomy | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 12 credits from department list, with a maximum of 6 credits of the following: | 12 | |
| Independent Studies | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience I | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience II | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience III | ||
| Select 3 credits of 400-level MATH from department list | 3 | |
- 1
Only 3 credits of ASTRO courses may be used.
- 2
The course not selected above may be used.
Medical Physics Option (24-26 credits)
This option prepares students for graduate study in medical physics, medical school, or bioengineering.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select course set A or B: | 15-17 | |
| Set A | ||
| Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity | ||
| Biology: Molecules and Cells | ||
or BIOL 240W | Biology: Function and Development of Organisms | |
| Experimental Chemistry II | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Laboratory in Organic Chemistry | ||
| Set B | ||
| Introduction to Human Physiology | ||
or BIOL 472 | Human Physiology | |
9 credits of PHYS 472 or BME at the 300- or 400-level | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Biology: Molecules and Cells | ||
| Molecular and Cell Biology I | ||
| Fundamentals of Cells and Molecules | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Options | ||
| Select 9 credits from department list, a maximum of 6 credits may be from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Studies | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience I | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience II | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience III | ||
Nanotechnology/Material Science Option (24-25 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| PHYS 412 | Solid State Physics I | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select course set A or B: 1 | 12-13 | |
| Set A | ||
| Engineering Applications of Wave, Particle, and Ensemble Concepts | ||
| Introduction to Principles, Fabrication Methods, and Applications of Nanotechnology | ||
6 credits from ESC 400-level courses | ||
| Set B | ||
| Introduction to Materials Science | ||
| Materials Process Kinetics | ||
or MATSE 436 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | |
| Materials Characterization | ||
| Introductory Laboratory in Materials | ||
3 credits from 400-level MATSE courses | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 9 credits from department list, with a maximum of 6 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Studies | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience I | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience II | ||
| Science Co-op Work Experience III | ||
- 1
The courses in Set A help satisfy the requirements for the Nanotechnology minor.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Program Learning Objectives
- Physics majors will be informed of and take advantage of opportunities to engage in `hands-on’ out-of-class experiential learning, related to their choice of specialty in their chosen major/option.
- Physics majors will be knowledgeable about job search skills, graduate and/or professional programs, employment in industrial, lab positions, teaching careers, and other career paths.
- Physics majors will demonstrate both written and oral scientific communication skills.
- Physics majors will demonstrate mastery of commonly agreed on knowledge base expected of all Physics professionals in four basic core areas and demonstrate problem solving ability in each of these areas, across all options. Students will show mastery in each area by being able to define and explain principles, recognize their application in physical phenomena, and to choose and apply appropriate principles and mathematical tools to set up and solve physics problems.
- (a) mechanics,
- (b) electricity and magnetism,
- (c) thermodynamics and statistical mechanics,
- (d) quantum mechanics
- Physics majors will be knowledgeable about ethical issues, and demonstrate practice of professional ethics as they relate to their undergraduate experience including in the classroom and lab, the responsible conduct of research, the presentation of scientific results, and in their future profession.
- Physics majors will demonstrate mastery of advanced problem-solving ability, including high-level mathematical methods, estimations, and the ability to write computer code to accomplish a computational task.
- Physics majors will show competency in a variety of experimental techniques, lab safety, experimental measurement, data analysis, and results interpretation relevant to the discipline.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Michael T. Smitka
Associate Teaching Professor of Physics; Director of Undergraduate Physics Advising
Department of Physics
104 Davey Lab
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2658
mts56@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
General Option: Physics, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 211*# | 4 | PHYS 212*# | 4 |
| MATH 140*‡#† | 4 | MATH 141*‡#† | 4 |
| CHEM 110*‡#† | 3 | CHEM 112† | 3 |
| CHEM 111† | 1 | ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 |
| PSU 16 | 1 | ||
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 213 & PHYS 214* | 4 | PHYS 237* | 3 |
| MATH 230* | 4 | MATH 251* | 4 |
| MATH 220 | 2 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | CMPSC 101, 121, 131, 200, 201, or 204 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C‡ | 3 |
| 14.5 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400* | 4 | PHYS 410* | 4 |
| PHYS 419 or 402* | 3-4 | PHYS 419 or 458* | 3-4 |
| MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options)1 | 3 | MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options)1 | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| PHYS 444* | 2 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 15-16 | 16-17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 | PHYS 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| PHYS 420 or 457W2 | 3-4 | PHYS 420 or 457W2 | 3-4 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| ENGL 202C‡ | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| Elective2 | 3 | General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 |
| 15-16 | 13.5-14.5 | ||
| Total Credits 120-124 | |||
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
MATH 4xx can be taken from the following list: E SC 404 OR E SC 406 OR any Math 4XX course except PHYS/MATH 419 and PHYS/MATH 479.
- 2
PHYS 457W requires a grade of C or better.
Medical Option: Physics, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 211*# | 4 | PHYS 212*# | 4 |
| MATH 140*‡#† | 4 | MATH 141*‡#† | 4 |
| CHEM 110*‡#† | 3 | CHEM 112† | 3 |
| CHEM 111† | 1 | CHEM 113† | 1 |
| PSU 16 | 1 | ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 213 & PHYS 214* | 4 | PHYS 237* | 3 |
| MATH 230* | 4 | MATH 251* | 4 |
| BIOL 110 or 141† | 3-4 | BIOL 240W or BME 201† | 3-4 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C‡ | 3 | ||
| 14-15 | 16-17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400* | 4 | PHYS 419* | 3 |
| MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options)1 | 3 | CMPSC 101, 121, 131, 200, 201, or 204 | 3 |
| MATH 220 | 2 | CHEM 212 (or BME Elective) | 3 |
| CHEM 210 (or BME Elective) | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 |
| PHYS 444 | 2 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 410* | 4 | PHYS 420* | 3 |
| CHEM 213 (or BME Elective) | 2 | PHYS 457W* | 3 |
| ENGL 202C‡ | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 | ||
| 13.5 | 16.5 | ||
| Total Credits 120-122 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
MATH 4xx can be taken from the following list: E SC 404 OR E SC 406 OR any Math 4XX course except PHYS/MATH 419 and PHYS/MATH 479.
Electronics Option: Physics, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 211*# | 4 | PHYS 212*# | 4 |
| MATH 140*‡#† | 4 | MATH 141*‡#† | 4 |
| CHEM 110*‡#† | 3 | CHEM 112† | 3 |
| CHEM 111† | 1 | ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 |
| PSU 16 | 1 | ||
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 213 & PHYS 214* | 4 | PHYS 237* | 3 |
| MATH 230* | 4 | MATH 251* | 4 |
| MATH 220 | 2 | CMPEN 270 (or Electrical Engineering 300 level selection) | 4 |
| EE 210 | 4 | CMPSC 101, 121, 131, 200, 201, or 204 | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400* | 4 | PHYS 419* | 3 |
| CMPEN 270 (or Electrical Engineering 300 level selection) | 4 | Electral Engineering 300 or 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options)11 | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C‡ | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| PHYS 444* | 2 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 410* | 4 | PHYS 420* | 3 |
| Electral Engineering 300 or 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 | PHYS 457W* | 3 |
| ENGL 202C‡ | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Selection (GHW) | 1.5 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| GHA Elective | 1.5 | ||
| 14.5 | 16.5 | ||
| Total Credits 123 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
MATH 4xx can be taken from the following list: E SC 404 OR E SC 406 OR any Math 4XX course except PHYS/MATH 419 and PHYS/MATH 479.
Computational Option: Physics, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 211*# | 4 | PHYS 212*# | 4 |
| MATH 140*‡#† | 4 | MATH 141*‡#† | 4 |
| CHEM 110*‡#† | 3 | CHEM 112† | 3 |
| CHEM 111† | 1 | ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 |
| PSU 16 | 1 | ||
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 213 & PHYS 214* | 4 | PHYS 237* | 3 |
| MATH 230* | 4 | MATH 251* | 4 |
| CMPSC 131 | 3 | CMPSC 132 | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | MATH 220 | 2 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 15.5 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400* | 4 | PHYS 410* | 4 |
| PHYS 419 (or MATH 4xx)*1 | 3 | PHYS 419 (or MATH 400 level selection)*1 | 3 |
| MATH 455 | 3 | MATH 456 | 3 |
| CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C‡ | 3 | General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 |
| PHYS 444* | 2 | General Education Course | 3 |
| Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 420* | 3 | PHYS 457W | 3 |
| MATH 400 level or STAT 400 level or CMPSC 300/400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 | MATH 400 level or STAT 400 level or CMPSC 300/400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| ENGL 202C‡ | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 123 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
MATH 4xx can be taken from the following list: E SC 404 OR E SC 406 OR any Math 4XX course except PHYS/MATH 419 and PHYS/MATH 479.
Materials-Nanotechnology Option - Nanotechnology Track: Physics, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 211*# | 4 | PHYS 212*# | 4 |
| MATH 140*‡#† | 4 | MATH 141*‡#† | 4 |
| CHEM 110*‡#† | 3 | CHEM 112† | 3 |
| CHEM 111† | 1 | ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 |
| PSU 16 | 1 | ||
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 213 & PHYS 214* | 4 | PHYS 237* | 3 |
| MATH 230* | 4 | MATH 251* | 4 |
| MATH 220 | 2 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | CMPSC 101, 121, 131, 200, 201, or 204 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 14.5 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400* | 4 | PHYS 410* | 4 |
| PHYS 419 (or MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options))*1 | 3 | PHYS 419 (or MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic advier for options))* | 3 |
| PHYS 444* | 2 | ESC 313 | 3 |
| ESC 312 | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 420 | 3 | PHYS 457W* | 3 |
| PHYS 412 | 3 | ESC 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| ESC 400 Level Selection (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| ENGL 202C‡ | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 |
| 15 | 13.5 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
MATH 4xx can be taken from the following list: E SC 404 OR E SC 406 OR any Math 4XX course except PHYS/MATH 419 and PHYS/MATH 479.
Materials-Nanotechnology Option - Materials Track: Physics, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 211*# | 4 | PHYS 212*# | 4 |
| MATH 140*‡#† | 4 | MATH 141*‡#† | 4 |
| CHEM 110*‡#† | 3 | CHEM 112† | 3 |
| CHEM 111† | 1 | ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 |
| PSU 16 | 1 | ||
| General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 213 & PHYS 214* | 4 | PHYS 237* | 3 |
| MATH 230* | 4 | MATH 251* | 4 |
| MATH 220 | 2 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C‡ | 3 |
| MATSE 201 | 3 | CMPSC 101, 121, 131, 200, 201, or 204 | 3 |
| General Education (GHW) | 1.5 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 14.5 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 400* | 4 | PHYS 410* | 4 |
| PHYS 419 (or MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options))*1 | 3 | PHYS 419 (or MATH 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for options))*1 | 3 |
| PHYS 444* | 2 | MATSE 436 or 402 | 3 |
| MATSE 430 | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| MATSE 460 | 1 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 1.5 | ||
| 14.5 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 412* | 3 | PHYS 457W* | 3 |
| PHYS 420 (or MATSE 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for optoins))* | 3 | PHYS 420 (or MATSE 400 level selection (consult with an academic adviser for optoins))* | 3 |
| ENGL 202C‡ | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Supporting Course (consult with an academic adviser for options) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 121 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
MATH 4xx can be taken from the following list: E SC 404 OR E SC 406 OR any Math 4XX course except PHYS/MATH 419 and PHYS/MATH 479.
Career Paths
It’s often said that physicists are first and foremost problem solvers. With strong analytical skills in multiple areas, physicists are versatile and adaptable, and find career flexibility in many fields. A BS in Physics provides strong training for direct employment in a wide variety of careers or for further training at the graduate level in many STEM fields. Examples include jobs in private industries, national labs, and small companies involving basic or applied research, engineering applications, data analysis, or modeling, programming, and simulations.
Careers
Physics majors use their analytic and problem-solving skills in a wide variety of ‘real world’ jobs in both the public and private sector, from national laboratories, the aerospace industry, and advanced technology and communications industries to patent law.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE PHYSICS PROGRAM
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
About half of all Physics B.S. students pursue additional graduate education at some point. Many students proceed directly to a Physics Ph.D. program and the vast majority of students who are accepted into such programs receive both a stipend and have full tuition paid for by the institution. Some students find that their employers subsidize additional education in a technical field useful to the company. Physics majors have successfully pursued graduate degrees in all engineering fields, mathematics, statistics, and data science, law school and medical school, and other life science related areas, such as medical physics and neuroscience.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
- The American Physical Society
- The American Institute of Physics
- The National Society of Physics Students (SPS)
- The National Sigma Pi Sigma (ΣΠΣ) Physics honor society
- The National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
- The National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP)
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
104 Davey Lab
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7533
ewh10@psu.edu