Dec 02, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics, Atomic/Molecular/Optical/Condensed Matter Emphasis, B.S.


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Requirements for the Physics Major


To receive the B.S. in Physics, students must adhere to General Education   and School of Natural Sciences Requirements . The Physics program consists of 79-89 units with a minimum of 23 courses (11 lower division and 12 upper division) designed to give all students a common foundation of core knowledge specific to the discipline, plus breadth in an application area.

Lower Division Major Requirements [41-42 Units]


Chemistry Requirement [4 units]


Complete the following course:

Computer Science Requirement [2 units]


Complete one of the following courses:

Physics Requirement [12 units]


Complete the following three lower division physics courses. Note that registration is PHYS 008 and PHYS 009 also requires registration in a corresponding Lab and Discussion. 

Lower-Division Natural Sciences or Engineering Course Requirement [3-4 units]


Complete one breadth science or engineering elective (any School of Natural Sciences or School of Engineering course, excluding physics or math).

Senior Thesis Research [4 Units]


All students are required to complete a senior thesis consisting of independent research performed under the tutelage of a faculty advisor. Typically, this research is the culmination of a student’s emphasis track (see below). The thesis advisor may be a faculty member in either physics or another discipline, allowing for the possibility of cross-disciplinary research projects. To complete the thesis, a student must take (at least) 2 units of PHYS 195  and 2 units of PHYS 196 , typically in the fall and spring, respectively, of the senior year. Note that PHYS 196  can only be taken once, and PHYS 195  can be repeated.

Requirements for Atomic/Molecular/Optical/Condensed Matter (AMO/CM) Physics Emphasis [13-19 Units]


Additional Upper Division Physics [11-12 units]


Complete three of the following courses:

Transfer Students


To be admitted to the Physics major transfer students must meet the following requirements:

Applicants will, at the time of admission have completed at minimum each of the following courses (or their equivalent) with a “C-” or better:

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