physics

The Bachelor of Arts Degree with Physics Major

(updated on October 26, 2010)

The B.A. degree in Physics is our most flexible degree program. It is possible under this program to take all of the courses needed for the physics B.S. (and more) but the actual requirements are much reduced; 25 fewer credits of physics courses and 3 fewer advanced laboratory courses. This makes the B.A. degree particularly attractive to students who wish to combine a study of physics with the pursuit of other interests. Often such students complete a second major in the arts, humanities or the social sciences. B.A. students are also frequently interested in following the B.A. with a professional degree in medicine, law or business. The empirical foundations of modern physics provide an interesting and coherent core for a diverse range of careers. The impact of science and technology on all areas of human activity is growing steadily. Understanding the realities of the scientific enterprise can be essential in business, finance, medicine, law, the media, literature, the arts, general education, government, and any number of other pursuits.

The 36 credits of required physics courses provide exposure to a broad range of physical phenomena as well as training in the scientific method, techniques of problem solving, data analysis, quantitative approaches to physical problems, and experimental methods. Although less intense than the B.S. program, the B.A. program can still provide an excellent preparation for graduate study in physics, comparable to undergraduate programs in physics at some of the best liberal art universities. At the same time a reduced requirements for technical courses in the physics B.A. program provides an opportunity to explore other disciplines in depth.

The freshman year is very similar for B.A. and B.S. students, the only differences being that the B.A. student has a wider choice of non-physics science electives and may choose to take the introductory physics and math courses designed for life science (usually pre-med) students. In the second year, the B.A. physics major has a course in modern physics and another course in mathematical physics and computing. In the junior and senior years, the student will have lecture courses in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics and two upper-level modern physics topics, the latter chosen from a set of six approved courses. A one-semester laboratory experience provides an introduction to experimental physics. In the senior year, each student works on an independent, two-semester, experimental or theoretical research project leading to a paper and a public presentation in the styles expected by the American Physical Society, the premier professional society of physicists.

(The material below describes the program in effect for the class entering in fall, 2011 and includes a change in advanced lab requirements for that class. Students who matriculated earlier should follow the regulations in effect for their entering class unless they make a formal switch to a newer curriculum. See the Handbook for Undergraduate Students that corresponds to your entering year for more information.)

* course usually taken in this year, offered only in F = fall, S = spring

** PHYS 303 + PHYS 352 satisfy the SAGES departmental seminar requirement. PHYS 351 is an approved SAGES capstone course.

*** Students may choose only one of these two courses to satisfy the requirements of the BA degree.

**** A two course science sequence chosen from : CHEM 105 and 106; CHEM 111 and ENGR 145; BIOL 214 and 215; or another two course sequence totaling 6 or more credits in a quantitative science (other than physics), with written approval of the Physics Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.  

***** or other approved computational course

****** The breadth requirements include 6 hours of Social Sciences and 6 hours of Arts and Humanities. This may increase by 3 credits if the required Global and Cultural Diversity course is not also one of the breadth requirement courses. Courses required for the BS in Physics satisfy the 6 credit GER for Natural Sciences and Mathematics Sciences as well as the Quantitative Reasoning course requirement

******* The BA degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours at the 300-400 level, of which only 22 are specified as PHYS courses. No more than 42 hours beyond the 100-level in any one department (the physics BA specifies 29 such credits) may be applied to the 120 credit total and at least 90 credits must be in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree with Physics Major - Typical Schedule

(* indicates options, 4-5 of the Open Electives are normally used to satisfy GER Breadth Requirements.)

Physics Credits - 36
Total Credits required for graduation 120

For more information, contact Prof. Gary Chottiner, gsc2@po.cwru.edu .

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