Bachelor of Arts in Physics
Pictured | Elizabeth Alters | Bachelor of Science in Physics | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)
Club Affiliations | Physics Club (President)
Bachelor of Arts in Physics
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) 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 BA degree would be a good option for students planning a career in patent law.
Academic Advising
Your academic advisor is a critical partner in fostering your success at IU South Bend and beyond. Your advisor will help you explore academic majors and careers, plan your degree, choose classes, learn about internships and study abroad, and much more. To see who is assigned as your advisor, visit your Student Online Advising Record in one.iu.edu. For more information about advising at IU South Bend, visit the website for the Undergraduate Advising Center.
Final responsibility for meeting degree requirements rests with the student.
Questions about advising? Email sbadvise@iu.edu or call (574) 520-4550.
Degree Requirements
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Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete 120 total credit hours including
- Quantitative Reasoning requirement is met by the required mathematics courses for the BA 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 (17 cr.)
- PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (5 cr.)
- PHYS-P 222 Physics 2 (5 cr.)
- PHYS-P 301 Physics 3
- PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
- 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 (0-13 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 301 Linear Algebra and Applications; OR
MATH-M 311 Calculus 3
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-A 201 Introduction to Programming I (4 cr.); OR
CSCI-B 100 Problem Solving Using Computers (4 cr.); OR
CSCI-C 101 Computer Programming I (4 cr.) - MATH-M 301 Linear Algebra and Applications; OR
MATH-M 311 Calculus 3 - MATH-M 312 Calculus 4
- MATH-M 343 Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications I
- MATH-M 344 Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications II