Physics

Physics Tracks

This track outlines the path through the physics major.  The core and lab requirements apply to all tracks.  Students who are considering physics graduate school are recommended to follow this track and to take upper-level courses beyond the minimal major requirements, potentially including graduate courses and upper-level math courses.

Gateway Courses:

One or more gateway courses may be omitted by students who have appropriate preparation prior to coming to Wesleyan, usually in the form of AP credit.

Core Course Requirements:

The following is the list of required courses for completing the physics core:

Lab Requirements:

PHYS 342 (Experimental Optics) and PHYS 345 (Electronics Lab) are required labs.  One of these two labs may be substituted by any one of the following four options: 

1. Computational Physics (PHYS 340)
2. A thesis tutorial with a physics faculty member
3. A 1.0 credit research tutorial (which may be taken as two 0.5-credit research tutorials) with a physics faculty member
4. A lab substitution specifically listed in one of the tracks below

Electives:  

Students who wish to pursue graduate studies are encouraged to seek research opportunities and complete as many physics courses as possible; in addition, MATH 226 (Complex Analysis) and MATH 229 (Differential Equations) are recommended.

Astrophysics
Biophysics
Computational Physics
Econophysics
Engineering Physics
Geophysics
Mathematical Physics
Physics Education