Program Overview

Physics Major

The Physics Major is a Bachelor of Arts degree program offered by the College of Science at Virginia Tech.

Program Curriculum

The program curriculum includes the following courses:

• Degree Core Requirements:
  • PHYS 2504: Math Methods in Physics 1 (3 credits)
  • PHYS 3314: Intermediate Laboratory (3 credits)
  • PHYS 3324: Modern Physics 1 (4 credits)
  • PHYS 3355: Intermediate Mechanics 1 (3 credits)
  • PHYS 3405: Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism 1 (3 credits)
  • PHYS 3704: Thermal Physics 1 (3 credits)
  • PHYS 4315: Modern Experimental Physics 1 (2 credits)
• Option Required Courses:
  • PHYS 2325 & PHYS 2326: Seminar for Physics Majors and Seminar for Physics Majors 1 (2 credits)
  • MATH 2114: Introduction to Linear Algebra 1 (3 credits)
  • MATH 2204: Introduction to Multivariable Calculus 1 (3 credits)
  • MATH 3214: Calculus of Several Variables 1 (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following:
    • CS 1064: Introduction to Programming in Python
    • CS 1114: Introduction to Software Design
    • ECE 2514: Computational Engineering
    • AOE/ESM 2074: Computational Methods 1
• Restricted Electives:
  • Select two of the following:
    • PHYS 3655: Introduction to Astrophysics 1
    • PHYS 3656: Introduction to Astrophysics 1
    • PHYS 4254: Quantum Information Technologies 1
    • PHYS 4264: Quantum Optics and Qubit Processors 1
    • PHYS 4514: Introduction to Nuclear Physics 1
    • PHYS 4524: Intro Particle Physics
    • PHYS 4534: Quantitative Analysis of Physics Experiments
    • PHYS 4554: Introduction to Solid State Physics 1
    • PHYS 4564: Polymer Physics 1
    • PHYS 4574: Nanotechnology 1
    • PHYS 4614: Optics 1
    • PHYS 4634: Modern Classical Physics 1
    • PHYS 4654: Modern Cosmology 1
    • PHYS 4664: Astroparticle Physics 1
    • PHYS 4674: Introduction to General Relativity 1
    • PHYS 4714: Introduction to Biophysics 1
    • PHYS 4724: Soft Matter Physics 1
    • PHYS 4755: Introduction to Computational Physics 1
    • PHYS 4774: Intro to Physics of Galaxies 1
• Free Electives:
  • Select 31 credits
• Pathways to General Education:
  • Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse:
    • ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing (1F) (3 credits)
    • ENGL 1106: First-Year Writing (1F) (3 credits)
    • Select three credits in Pathway 1a
  • Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities:
    • Select six credits in Pathway 2
  • Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences:
    • Select six credits in Pathway 3
  • Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences:
    • PHYS 2305 & PHYS 2306: Foundations of Physics and Foundations of Physics 1 (8 credits)
  • Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking:
    • MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) (4 credits)
    • MATH 1226: Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) (4 credits)
    • MATH 2214: Introduction to Differential Equations (5A) 1 (3 credits)
  • Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts:
    • Select 6 credits
  • Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States:
    • Select three credits in Pathway 7

Graduation Requirements

• A minimum of 120 credit hours must be completed for graduation.
• A minimum overall and in-major GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.
• Each student is required to participate in the department’s Outcomes Assessment procedures.

Acceptable Substitutions

• PHYS 3355 Intermediate Mechanics may be substituted with AOE 3154 Astromechanics or ESM 3124 Dynamics II- Analytical and 3-D Motion
• PHYS 3405 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism may be substituted with ECE 3105 Electromagnetic Fields
• PHYS 3314 Intermediate Laboratory may be substituted with AOE 3054 Experimental Methods or ECE 2214 Physical Electronics & ECE 2274 Electronic Networks Laboratory I or ESM 3444 Mechanics Laboratory

Foreign Language Requirement

Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six credits of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the credits required for graduation.