Pictured | Alexandria Weesner | B.A. in Physics / Minor in Spanish | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)
Club Affiliations | Physics Club (vice president); Honors Program
Volunteer Activity | St. Joseph County Humane Society
Bachelor of Arts in Physics
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in physics is a traditional liberal arts degree, with greater emphasis on breadth of study and somewhat less emphasis on depth of study. Consequently, fewer credit hours are required in physics and in the supporting mathematics coursework, and beyond the Fundamental Core there is complete flexibility in the physics major courses chosen to complete the required 30 credit hours. The B.A. degree would be a good option for students planning a career in patent law.
Academic Advising
College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s enrollment. Advising holds are reset following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see One.IU.
Degree Requirements
Degree Map >>
Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree must complete 120 total credit hours including
- Quantitative Reasoning requirement is met by the required mathematics courses for the B.A. in Physics
- The laboratory science requirement is fulfilled by required physics courses.
- Required Minor taken in any campus school or interdisciplinary program (15-18 cr.)
- Major (Physics) Requirements (30 cr.)
- Major (Mathematics) Requirements (13 cr.)
- Free Electives (balance of credits needed to equal 120 credit requirement)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300– or 400–level.
- In addition, major and minor requirements must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.
- All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise stated.
Physics Requirements (30 cr.)
Fundamental Core (20 cr.)
- PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
- PHYS-P 222 Physics 2 (5 cr.)
- PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
- PHYS-P 323 Physics 3
- PHYS-P 324 Physics 4
- PHYS-S 106 Contemporary Physics Seminar (1 cr.)
Advanced Core (0-12 cr.)
- PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS-P 340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics I
- PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Physics Electives (0-11 cr.)
- AST-A 453 Topical Astrophysics
- AST-N 390 The Natural World
- PHYS-P 303 Digital Electronics (4 cr.)
- PHYS-P 321 Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS-P 334 Fundamentals of Optics
- PHYS-P 410 Computing Applications in Physics
- PHYS-P 473 Introduction to String Theory
- PHYS-S 405 Readings in Physics (1-3 cr.)
Research (0-3 cr.)
- PHYS-S 406 Research Project (0-3 cr.)
Mathematics Requirements (13 cr.)
- MATH-M 215 Calculus I (5 cr.)
- MATH-M 216 Calculus II (5 cr.)
- MATH-M 343 Introduction to Differential Equations I
Free Electives
Recommended Courses
- CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I
- CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II
- CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.)
- CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.)
- CSCI-C 101 Computer Programming I (4 cr.)
- MATH-M 301 Linear Algebra and Applications
- MATH-M 311 Calculus 3 (5 cr.)
- MATH-M 344 Introduction to Differential Equations