Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics, Biophysics and Soft 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 [41-44 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 Requirement [4-5 Units]


All students are required to complete a senior thesis usually based on 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.

Alternatively, students with an industry focused career in mind may choose to complete this requirement with the Engineering Capstone Design Courses where the student will work in multidisciplinary teams on completing design projects presented by industrial partners.

OR

Requirements for Biophysics and Soft Matter Emphasis [16-18 Units]


Biophysics and Soft Matter focuses on the application of physics to biological and strongly deformable materials, often at the interface of physics, biology, and chemistry. This emphasis prepares students to explore new frontiers in biology, medicine and materials science with applications ranging from novel drugs and diagnostic devices to metamaterials and soft robotics.

Required Biophysics and Soft Matter Courses [12-13 units]


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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