Requirements To major in physics, you must complete Physics 116 by the end of your sophomore year; if you can complete it by the end of your first year, it will give you more flexibility to construct your major. You should also have completed MATH121, 122, 221 and 222 by the end of the sophomore year. Note that MATH222 is a prerequisite for the core course PHYS324 (see below). It is desirable for those who are considering graduate work in physics, or who wish to pursue an intensive major, also to complete Physics 213, 214, 215, and 316 by the end of the sophomore year. You should note that a few of the advanced courses are not offered every year and you should plan your program of study accordingly. To fulfill the major in physics, a student must complete the following: Eight lecture courses, including: (a) four core physics courses, PHYS213, 214, 324, and 316; and (b) at least four other course credits at the 200, 300, or 500 level, not including the laboratory courses or MATH221 or 222 . For most majors, the department strongly recommends PHYS315 , followed in importance by 313, and 358. Two laboratory courses: PHYS342 Experimental Optics and PHYS 345 Electronics Lab. PHYS 340 Computational Physics or a research or thesis tutorial with a physics faculty may be substituted for one of these. Students planning graduate study in physics should take a minimum of 14 credits, at the 200 level or higher, in physics, mathematics, and computer science. PHYS215, 313, 315 and 358 are essential. In addition, the department strongly recommends MATH222 , MATH226 or PHYS565 , and MATH229 . Graduate physics courses may be elected with permission, and experience in computer programming is also extremely valuable. Students not planning graduate study in physics, and who are interested in applying their knowledge of physics to other areas of the curriculum, may choose up to four courses from other departments to satisfy requirement 1(b) above. This must be done in consultation with the physics major advisor, and the selections must constitute a coherent, coordinated program of study.