Physics - Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The undergraduate degree in physics emphasizes knowledge and awareness of:

• the basic subfields of physics (classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics), as well as at least one specialty area of application (e.g., solid state physics or optics);
• the major principles of physics, their historical development and the roles they play in the various subfields of physics;
• the interrelations between theory and observation, the role of systematic and random experimental errors and methods used to analyze experimental uncertainty and compare experiment with theory;
• physical phenomena and experience in the use of basic experimental apparatus and measuring instruments;
• mathematics sufficient to facilitate the acquisition and application of physical principles; and
• the importance of physics in other fields such as chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine and in society at large.

In addition, students completing the degree in physics are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:

• apply physical principles to new situations;
• construct and assemble experimental apparatus, conduct and analyze measurements of physical phenomena, analyze experimental uncertainty and make meaningful comparisons between experiment and theory; and
• communicate results of scientific inquiries verbally and in writing.

Plans of Study

Three different plans are available to students in physics. Because there is some flexibility within each plan, the department encourages students to pursue their own interests in setting up their curriculum. The final responsibility for fulfilling the requirements for the degree rests with the student. 

Note: Students may not earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from the College of Arts & Sciences as well as a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from the College of Engineering & Applied Science. Furthermore, the physics minor may not be earned with either of these two baccalaureate programs.

Plan I

This plan is primarily for students planning graduate work in physics.

Plan II

This plan is for students desiring an interdisciplinary physics program.

The interdisciplinary program includes a combination of a physics major with a focus in another area such as astrophysics, atmospheric sciences, applied mathematics, biophysics, biotechnology, chemical physics, computer science, electronic devices, environmental sciences, geophysics, optics, philosophy and history of science, and pre-medicine.

Plan III

This plan is for students intending to become secondary school teachers.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Students who have declared physics as a major are required to consult with a physics faculty mentor at least once per semester. First-year students considering physics as a major, are strongly encouraged to visit the physics academic advisor and discuss the situation. Because most of the advanced physics courses have various prerequisites, failure to settle on an appropriate plan of study early in the college career can result in delay and complications later. Students must receive a "C-" or better in all major courses, as well as in ancillary courses. These courses cannot be taken pass/fail. If a course is a pre-requisite for another course, the student may not register for the subsequent course until the grade in the pre-requisite is a "C-" or better. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate, and no more than 45 credits in PHYS may be applied to overall graduation requirements. 

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below.

Plans of Study

Plan I

This plan includes 45 credit hours of physics courses.

Required Courses and Credits

Ancillary Mathematics & Chemistry Coursework 

Ancillary Programming Requirement

The programming requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

1. Complete PHYS 2600, ASTR 2600, CSCI 1300 or APPM 1650. (PHYS 2600 will count toward the 45 required PHYS credit hours while the other programming courses will not.)
2. By documentation of programming experience (i.e., a letter from a job or internship, or evidence of substantial contributions to an open-source code base). Approval by a physics department faculty mentor is required for this option and no academic credit is earned under this option.

Research Activity Requirement

The research activity may be completed in one of the following ways:

1. Between 3 and 6 credit hours may be earned from: PHYS 4430, PHYS 4610/PHYS 4620/PHYS 4630, PHYS 4700, PHYS 4710 or PHYS 4840.
2. By documentation of your accomplishments as an intern with a research activity within the physics department or a suitable cognate department, institute or external entity such as NCAR, NIST, NOAA, etc.
   • Approval by a physics department advisor is required for option (2) and should be obtained in advance.
   • No academic credit is earned under the internship option (2), so if an internship is taken, students must still earn 9 credit hours of physics electives.

Plan II

For the interdisciplinary program, 33 credit hours of physics courses, plus 12 credit hours of interdisciplinary courses are required. Courses in the interdisciplinary subjects may not be double-counted with the required 33 credit hours of physics courses. Students may not double-major in Astrophysics (though the APS department) and Physics Plan 2 with an astrophysics concentration.

Interdisciplinary courses must be approved by the physics department, either by the pre-approved list of courses in each discipline or by a physics department mentor on a course-by-course basis. It is therefore imperative that students in Plan II be in close contact with the physics department advisor.

Required Courses and Credits

Ancillary Mathematics & Chemistry Coursework 

Ancillary Programming Requirement

The programming requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

1. Complete PHYS 2600, ASTR 2600, CSCI 1300 or APPM 1650. (PHYS 2600 could count as the 3-credit PHYS elective in the interdisciplinary program.)
2. By documentation of programming experience (i.e., a letter from a job or internship, or evidence of substantial contributions to an open-source code base). Approval by a physics department faculty mentor is required for this option and no academic credit is earned under this option.

Plan III

This plan involves a minimum of 30 credit hours of physics and a minimum of 6–7 credit hours in education courses. To earn a Secondary Science teacher license from the School of Education, students must complete additional education courses as well as courses in biology and earth/space science. Students should check with an advisor in the School of Education for the most updated teacher licensure requirements.

Required Courses and Credits

Ancillary Astronomy, Mathematics, and Chemistry Coursework 

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in physics plans I and II, students should meet the following requirements:

• In the first semester, declare the physics major.
• By the end of the second semester, complete the following courses: PHYS 1110 or PHYS 1115; PHYS 1120 or PHYS 1125; PHYS 1140, MATH 1300 or APPM 1350, and MATH 2300 or APPM 1360.
• By the end of the fourth semester, complete the following courses: PHYS 2150, PHYS 2170, PHYS 2210, CHEM 1113, MATH 2400 or APPM 2350; and APPM 2360. MATH 2130 and MATH 3430 can substitute for APPM 2360.
• Before the fifth semester, meet with the physics advisor to get approval for completion plan (FSACP). In addition to completing PHYS 4230 and PHYS 4410, Plan I students must get approval to complete 9 credit hours in physics electives, with a research participation component. In addition to completing PHYS 4230, interdisciplinary Plan II students must complete 12 credit hours of interdisciplinary courses. 
• By the end of the sixth semester, complete PHYS 3210, PHYS 3220, PHYS 3310, PHYS 3320 and PHYS 3330.
• Early in the seventh semester, meet with the physics advisor to have the statement of major status filled in. This includes a plan for completing the requirements of the major during the senior year and must be signed by the student and the advisor. Further details concerning the execution of the guarantee can be obtained from the department.

Sample Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement, including the Lab requirement, and the QRMS component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement. See the department for Plan-specific Four-Year Plans of Study.

Learning Outcomes 

Upon completing the program, students will have acquired:

• Knowledge of the basic subfields of physics (classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics), as well as at least one specialty area of application (e.g., condensed matter physics or optics).
• The ability to apply major principles of physics towards solving problems in various subfields of physics, including the use of mathematical and computational tools as appropriate.
• Skills in assembling and using experimental apparatus to conduct and analyze measurements of physical phenomena.
• Knowledge of the role of systematic and random experimental errors, along with methods used to analyze experimental uncertainty and compare experiment with theory.
• Skills in collaborating effectively and communicating results of scientific inquiries verbally and in writing.

Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees, students receive a master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master's degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor's–accelerated master's program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.

BA and MS in Physics

The BAM program in physics aims to provide new opportunities for undergraduate physics majors. The program is specifically addressed to the students in the Plan 1 Major Program of the Department of Physics. The Plan 1 physics major gives students a thorough grounding in theoretical physics so that they are well prepared either to proceed with graduate work or with professional employment. For students interested in graduate studies, this program in physics allows for participation in graduate coursework and research in a broad range of areas. For students interested in immediate professional employment, this program would serve as a terminal degree program that qualifies students for a higher level of employment.

Admissions Requirements

In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher and a physics major GPA of 3.30 or higher.
• Have completed a minimum of 75 credit hours of coursework.
• Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours at CU Boulder.
• Have a letter of support from a faculty advisor to complete master's level research.

Program Requirements

Students may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program which can later be used toward the master’s degree. However, only 6 credit hours may be double counted toward the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor’s degree, and apply to continue with the master’s degree, early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.

If you are interested in the BAM degree program, please see the Department of Physics website.