Undergraduate Program

The Department of Physics offers both an undergraduate major and minor in physics. The major in physics includes a strong emphasis on experiment and covers the broad fundamentals necessary for graduate study in physics and related fields. The minor in physics offers a slate of courses that provides a firm grounding in the basics with sufficient flexibility to accommodate the needs and interests of those likely to pursue this line of study.

For more details concerning our undergraduate major, including sample programs, please consult the College Catalog or contact either Stuart Gazes, the Undergraduate Program Chair, or David Reid, the Executive Officer.

How to Apply

If you are a high-school student (or equivalent), you must first apply for admission to the undergraduate college. Once you become a matriculated student at the University of Chicago, there is no special selection process for majoring in physics. To declare your major in physics, begin by meeting with your College adviser and following his or her instructions.

The Major

The degree requirements for the B.A. in physics include introductory and advanced physics and mathematics courses, as well as physics electives. There is also an option to major in physics with a specialization in astrophysics. Students who plan to major in physics are encouraged to start course work in their first year. However, the program can be completed in three years, so one could start physics in the second year and still complete the major.

Entering students will be given a placement for General Physics I based on performance on the mathematics or calculus placement test. Students majoring in physics either start their program with the honors sequence PHYS 14100-14200-14300 or the regular sequence PHYS 13100-13200-13300.

Mathematics

The mathematics requirement is a calculus sequence (MATH 15100-15200-15300 or 16100-16200-16300) followed by Mathematical Methods in Physics (PHYS 22100). As an alternative to PHYS 22100, students taking an Analysis sequence (MATH 20300-20400-20500 or 20700-20800-20900) may substitute MATH 20500 or 20900 for PHYS 22100, though they will subsequently need to acquire certain math tools on their own. However, students interested in pursuing further study in both physics and mathematics should consider taking both PHYS 22100 and an Analysis sequence. For students starting their program with the PHYS 13100-13200-13300 sequence, MATH 15300/16300 should be replaced by MATH 22000.

Note that entering students placing out of MATH 15100-15200 have the option of taking MATH 15300-20000-20100 in their first year. This will satisfy the mathematics requirements for the major (with MATH 20100 substituting for PHYS 22100).

Summary of Requirements

General PHYS 13100-13200 or 14100-14200*
Education MATH 15100-15200* or 16100-16200
Major 1 PHYS 13300 or 14300*
  1 MATH 15300* or 16300 or 22000
  1 PHYS 22100 or MATH 20500 or 20900
  1 PHYS 15400
  1 PHYS 18500
  2 PHYS 23400-23500
  1 PHYS 21100
  2 PHYS 22500, 22700
  1 PHYS 19700
  3 electives
  14  

*Credit may be granted by examination.

Electives

In addition to specified course work, the physics major requires three electives. These electives may be selected from the following courses:

  • all 20000-level physics courses except Thesis (29100-29200-29300) and Research (29700)
  • ASTR 24100†, 24200†; BIOS 29326; CHEM 26300, 26800; GEOS 23100, 23200
  • MATH 20400-20500‡ or 20800-20900‡, 27000, 27200, 27300, 27400, 27500 (no more than two to be used as program electives)
  • other courses approved by the Undergraduate Program Chair for physics

† Cannot be counted toward electives if used to satisfy requirements for the specialization in astrophysics.

‡ Neither MATH 20500 nor 20900 can be counted toward electives if substituted for PHYS 22100.

Specialization in Astrophysics

For this program, candidates must complete all requirements for the B.A. degree in physics, plus a two-quarter sequence in astrophysics (ASTR 24100-24200), plus either a third course in astrophysics (ASTR 28200 or ASTR 30500) or a senior thesis project in physics (PHYS 29100-29200-29300) on a topic in astrophysics. A grade of at least C- must be obtained in each course.

The Minor

The minor in physics is designed to present a coherent program of study to students from others areas with a strong interest in physics. The courses required for the minor are: PHYS 13300/14300, 15400, 18500, 22100, 23400, and MATH 15300/16300/22000, plus two electives. At least one of these electives must be either PHYS 19700 or 22500 or 23500, while the other elective can be any course required by the major or acceptable as an elective for the major. The mathematics requirement for the minor is identical to the requirement for the major. Note that MATH 22000 and PHYS 22100 may be replaced by equivalent courses, as approved by the Undergraduate Program Chair. Note also that the PHYS 13300/14300, PHYS 22100, and MATH 15300/16300/22000 requirements will be waived for those courses being used to satisfy the requirements of a major or another minor.