Degree: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Major: Physics
Program Overview
The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Physics degree program is to develop professional physicists by providing majors a comprehensive undergraduate education in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermal physics/statistical mechanics, and laboratory, data analysis and computational skills. Majors learn how to communicate professionally and reason quantitatively and ethically. They are prepared for employment or graduate study in physics and aligned technical disciplines and have a solid foundation for other professional career paths.
This degree is traditionally pursued by students interested in a career in physics research in government or industry, or in college- and university-level teaching and research. Approximately three-quarters of our graduates continue their studies in physics, engineering or another professional area. Others choose immediate employment in a variety of technical fields in industry and government. CWRU physics majors have been remarkably successful at winning prestigious national and international fellowships and earning admission to top graduate programs and professional schools.
An important component of the program is the senior capstone. B.S. physics students who choose to do their capstone project through the Department of Physics have a year-long research experience with a research mentor and project chosen by the student.
Majors have the option to pursue one of two modifications of the standard BS in physics degree program; a mathematical physics or a biophysics concentration.
The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Physics with a Mathematical Physics Concentration is to develop professional physicists whose interests are focused on theoretical physics. This undergraduate program provides an enhanced, graduate-level education in electromagnetism and quantum mechanics as well as experience in mathematical methods used in theoretical physics. This program is based on the B.S. in Physics, with mathematical methods courses replacing two upper-level physics laboratory courses and some undergraduate lecture courses replaced by graduate-level courses on the same topics. This program is distinct from the B.S. in Mathematics and Physics, which is a parallel education in both mathematics and physics administered jointly by both departments.
The biophysics oncentration offers an ideal preparation for biological research in physics graduate schools and industry, and is also appropriate for careers in biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering, as well as medical school. Select courses in the regular B.S. degree program are replaced by a "biogroup" of five courses (generally chosen from available biology, biophysics, biochemistry, and biomedical engineering courses), and a technical elective. The biogroup and technical elective courses are chosen by the student in consultation with the biophysics academic advisor.
Undergraduate Policies
For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Office of Undergraduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.
Accelerated Master's Programs
Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the latter set of requirements.
The Bachelor of Science in physics requires completion of the courses listed in the table below as well as the Arts and Sciences General Education Requirements, for a total of 12 credits. Many courses may be taken at times other than those shown in the "Typical Schedule" tables below.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics | 4 |
or PHYS 123 | Physics and Frontiers I - Mechanics |
PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
or PHYS 124 | Physics and Frontiers II - Electricity and Magnetism |
PHYS 203 | Analog and Digital Electronics | 4 |
PHYS 204 | Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory | 4 |
PHYS 221 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
PHYS 250 | Computational Methods in Physics | 3 |
PHYS 301 | Advanced Laboratory Physics I | 3 |
PHYS 302 | Advanced Laboratory Physics II | 4 |
PHYS 303 | Advanced Laboratory Physics Seminar | 1 |
PHYS 310 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 313 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 324 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
PHYS 325 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
PHYS 331 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
PHYS 332 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Solid State Physics | |
| Introduction to Biological Physics | |
| Physical Optics | |
| Laser Physics | |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics | |
| Cosmology and the Structure of the Universe | |
| Modern Cosmology | |
| General Relativity | |
CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3-4 |
or CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry for Engineers |
CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3-4 |
or ENGR 145 | Chemistry of Materials |
ENGR 131 | Elementary Computer Programming | 3 |
or CSDS 132 | Programming in Java |
MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | 4 |
MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II | 4 |
or MATH 124 | Calculus II |
MATH 223 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III | 3 |
or MATH 227 | Calculus III |
MATH 224 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| 10 |
1 | 2-3 |
2 | 3-4 |
3 | 12 |
4 | 16-12 |
| 0 |
Total Hours | 120 |
Concentration Requirements
Mathematical Physics Concentration
Students who are interested in theoretical physics and who have a strong background in mathematics may consider this concentration. The program is based on the BS in physics, but with certain substitutions in the course requirements. Several of the laboratory courses are replaced by advanced mathematics courses, and some of the undergraduate physics courses are replaced by graduate courses.
This program is not the same as the BS program in mathematics and physics, which provides a coherent and parallel education in both mathematics and physics.
The following table shows the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in physics with mathematical physics concentration.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics | 4 |
or PHYS 123 | Physics and Frontiers I - Mechanics |
PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
or PHYS 124 | Physics and Frontiers II - Electricity and Magnetism |
PHYS 203 | Analog and Digital Electronics | 4 |
PHYS 221 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
PHYS 250 | Computational Methods in Physics | 3 |
PHYS 301 | Advanced Laboratory Physics I | 3 |
PHYS 303 | Advanced Laboratory Physics Seminar | 1 |
PHYS 310 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 313 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 349 | Methods of Mathematical Physics I | 3 |
PHYS 350 | Methods of Mathematical Physics II | 3 |
PHYS 481 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| 3 |
| Classical Electromagnetism | |
| Electricity and Magnetism I | |
| Electricity and Magnetism II | |
PHYS 482 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
1 | 9 |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Solid State Physics | |
| Introduction to Biological Physics | |
| Physical Optics | |
| Laser Physics | |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics | |
| Cosmology and the Structure of the Universe | |
| Modern Cosmology | |
| General Relativity | |
CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3-4 |
or CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry for Engineers |
CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3-4 |
or ENGR 145 | Chemistry of Materials |
ENGR 131 | Elementary Computer Programming | 3 |
or CSDS 132 | Programming in Java |
MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | 4 |
MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II | 4 |
or MATH 124 | Calculus II |
MATH 223 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III | 3 |
or MATH 227 | Calculus III |
MATH 224 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| 10 |
2 | 2-3 |
3 | 3-4 |
4 | 12 |
5 | 12-8 |
| 0 |
Total Hours | 120 |
Biophysics Concentration
This concentration is directed towards students interested in the combined study of biology and physics. The degree is a track within the standard BS in physics, in which four physics courses and certain open electives are replaced by a “biogroup” of five courses and a technical elective.
The following table illustrates the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in physics with biophysics concentration.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics | 4 |
or PHYS 123 | Physics and Frontiers I - Mechanics |
PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
or PHYS 124 | Physics and Frontiers II - Electricity and Magnetism |
PHYS 203 | Analog and Digital Electronics | 4 |
PHYS 204 | Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory | 4 |
PHYS 221 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
PHYS 250 | Computational Methods in Physics | 3 |
PHYS 301 | Advanced Laboratory Physics I | 3 |
PHYS 303 | Advanced Laboratory Physics Seminar | 1 |
PHYS 310 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 313 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 324 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
PHYS 325 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
PHYS 331 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
1 | 3 |
CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3-4 |
or CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry for Engineers |
CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3-4 |
or ENGR 145 | Chemistry of Materials |
CHEM 113 | Principles of Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
ENGR 131 | Elementary Computer Programming | 3 |
or CSDS 132 | Programming in Java |
MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | 4 |
MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II | 4 |
or MATH 124 | Calculus II |
MATH 223 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III | 3 |
or MATH 227 | Calculus III |
MATH 224 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
2 | 3-4 |
2 | 3-4 |
2 | 3 |
2 | 3 |
2 | 3-4 |
| 10 |
3 | 2-3 |
4 | 3-4 |
5 | 12 |
6 | 9-2 |
| 0 |
Total Hours | 120 |