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Syracuse University, College of Arts and Sciences

B.S. in Physics

Degree Program Information

The Bachelor of Science program is an excellent preparation for many fields and careers. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in physics requires 40 credit hours of physics coursework, including at least 31 credit hours of upper division courses (numbered 300 or above). An additional 12 credit hours of mathematics is required. See the Course Catalog link elsewhere on this page.

Standard Curriculum for B.S. in Physics

The following sample curriculum meets the requirements for the BS. The specific required courses can be modified by petition to the department. Please email the physics department to obtain the department checklist: Physics-BS-Checklist-2022_final.pdf

Bachelor of Science Degree Program
 

Fall

Spring

Physics Credits Per Year

Freshman

PHY 215†(*) (3)
 Mechanics
PHY 225† (2)
 Lab

MAT 295† (4)
Calc I

PHY 216†(*) (3)
Electromagnetism

 PHY 226† (2)
Lab

MAT 296† (4)
Calc II

 



10 Credits

Sophomore

PHY 307† (3)
 Computational Physics

PHY 360† (3)
 Vibrations, Waves, and Optics

 MAT 397† (4)
Calc III

PHY 344† (4)
Laboratory

PHY 361† (3)
Modern Physics

 PHY 302† (3)
Math Methods¶

 


16 Credits

Junior

PHY 524† (3)
Advanced Electromagnetism

PHY 531† (3)
Statistical Physics

PHY523† (3)
Advanced Mechanics




10 Credits

Senior

PHY 567† (3)
 Quantum Mechanics I

PHY Elective (2)

PHY Elective (3)


8 Credits

Total PHY Credits:    

  
19 Credits 		 
21 Credits

40 Credits

Key: † Required Courses
* PHY 211 can be taken in place of PHY 215, and PHY 212 can be taken in place of PHY 216.
¶ MAT 485 can substitute in place of MAT 313 and MAT 441.
* PHY 221 can be taken in place of PHY 225, and PHY 222 can be taken in place of PHY 226.

Want to sign up for the physics major? Come see us! Email the department chair: Jenny Ross: jlross@syr.edu

The Directors of Undergraduate Studies:
Joey Paulsen: jdpaulse@syr.edu
Matt Rudolph: msrudolp@syr.edu

Or, talk to a physics department faculty member who is an undergraduate advisor: Physics Advising.

B.S. With Distinction:

A B.S. with distinction is awarded to students who complete the B.S. program with 36 credit hours or more of upper-division physics courses and who achieve a 3.4 grade point average in their physics coursework. A B.S. with distinction is noted on a student’s official transcript.