Program Overview

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BA with a Major in Physics

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree with a major in Physics from the University of Illinois Chicago requires students to complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Physics degree requirements are outlined below.

Degree Requirements

To earn the degree, students must complete:

• Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses: 24 hours
• Major Requirements: 40 hours
• General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours: 56 hours
• Total Hours: 120 hours

General Education

Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements.

Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses

The following courses are required:

• MATH 180: Calculus I (4 hours)
• MATH 181: Calculus II (4 hours)
• MATH 210: Calculus III (3 hours)
• MATH 220: Introduction to Differential Equations (3 hours)
• CHEM 122: Matter and Energy (3 hours)
• CHEM 123: Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I (2 hours)
• CHEM 124: Chemical Dynamics (3 hours)
• CHEM 125: Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II (2 hours) Total Hours: 24

Major Requirements

The following courses are required:

• PHYS 141: General Physics I (Mechanics) (4 hours)
• PHYS 142: General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4 hours)
• PHYS 215: Computational and Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences (4 hours)
• PHYS 230: Fundamentals of Relativity (3 hours)
• PHYS 240: Fundamentals of Modern Quantum Theory (3 hours)
• PHYS 241: Experiments in Modern Physics (1 hour)
• PHYS 245: Introduction to Vibrations, Waves, and Thermal Physics (4 hours)
• PHYS 401: Electromagnetism I (4 hours)
• PHYS 411: Quantum Mechanics I (4 hours)
• PHYS 461: Thermal and Statistical Physics (4 hours)
• PHYS 481: Modern Experimental Physics I (4 hours)
• PHYS 499: Survey of Physics Problems (1 hour) Total Hours: 40

Recommended Plan of Study

The recommended plan of study is as follows:

First Year

• Fall Semester:
  • ENGL 160: Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts (3 hours)
  • MATH 180: Calculus I (4 hours)
  • PHYS 141: General Physics I (Mechanics) (4 hours)
  • Foreign Language (4 hours) Total Hours: 15
• Spring Semester:
  • ENGL 161: Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research (3 hours)
  • MATH 181: Calculus II (4 hours)
  • PHYS 142: General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4 hours)
  • Foreign Language (4 hours) Total Hours: 15

Second Year

• Fall Semester:
  • MATH 210: Calculus III (3 hours)
  • PHYS 215: Computational and Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences (4 hours)
  • PHYS 230: Fundamentals of Relativity (3 hours)
  • Foreign Language (4 hours) Total Hours: 14
• Spring Semester:
  • MATH 220: Introduction to Differential Equations (3 hours)
  • PHYS 240: Fundamentals of Modern Quantum Theory (3 hours)
  • PHYS 241: Experiments in Modern Physics (1 hour)
  • PHYS 245: Introduction to Vibrations, Waves, and Thermal Physics (4 hours)
  • Foreign Language (4 hours) Total Hours: 15

Third Year

• Fall Semester:
  • PHYS 411: Quantum Mechanics I (4 hours)
  • PHYS 461: Thermal and Statistical Physics (4 hours)
  • CHEM 122: Matter and Energy (3 hours)
  • CHEM 123: Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I (2 hours)
  • General Education Requirement course (3 hours) Total Hours: 16
• Spring Semester:
  • CHEM 124: Chemical Dynamics (3 hours)
  • CHEM 125: Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II (2 hours)
  • General Education Requirement course (3 hours)
  • Elective (4 hours)
  • Elective (3 hours) Total Hours: 15

Fourth Year

• Fall Semester:
  • PHYS 401: Electromagnetism I (4 hours)
  • PHYS 481 and PHYS 499 or PHYS 461: Modern Experimental Physics I or Thermal and Statistical Physics (5 hours)
  • Elective (3 hours)
  • General Education Requirement course (3 hours) Total Hours: 15
• Spring Semester:
  • Elective (3 hours)
  • Elective (3 hours)
  • Elective (3 hours)
  • General Education Requirement course (3 hours)
  • General Education Requirement course (3 hours) Total Hours: 15 Total Hours: 120