The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences 35 courses 126 total credits
All aspects of the physical universe are of interest to the physicist, who seeks to understand not only the smallest forms of matter and the rich phenomena present in our everyday lives but also the universe itself. Physics has played a critical role in human technological and intellectual development during the twentieth century. The tools of the physicist—observation, imagination, model building, prediction, and deduction—will enable physics to continue this influence into the new century. The Bachelor of Science in Physics degree program is designed to provide the skills, understanding, and outlook required for participation in the discovery of new knowledge about nature. The Bachelor of Science in Physics program is balanced and broad. It is designed to give the student a strong foundation for graduate study or work in physics and, with additional training, for work in a variety of other areas, such as astronomy, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, engineering, geophysics, mathematics, medicine, physics teaching, and space sciences. Students who end their formal training with the bachelor’s degree may seek employment in industry, in national laboratories, or in teaching; they should consider the options in computation, radiation physics, space sciences, biophysics, and teaching, which augment the broad instruction provided by the basic Bachelor of Science in Physics. The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | credits |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | credits |
| General University Requirements | credits |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | credits |
| First course in a foreign language and a three-semester-hour course in the culture of the same language area | credits |
Concentration
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CH 301 or CH 301C | Principles of Chemistry I or Foundations of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 302 or CH 302C | Principles of Chemistry II or Foundations of Chemistry II | 3 |
Concentration
Hours chosen from a single sequence below:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO X11C | Introductory Biology I | |
| BIO X11D | Introductory Biology II | |
| BIO X25 | Genetics | |
| BIO X15H | Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | |
| BIO X25H | Genetics: Honors | |
| BIO 206L | Introductory Laboratory Experiments in Biology | 2 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| Total Concentration | 6 credits | |
Concentration
Hours chosen from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| M X27K | Advanced Calculus for Applications I | |
| M X27L | Advanced Calculus for Applications II | |
| Total Concentration | 4 credits | |
Concentration
Upper-division coursework in mathematics (The following courses are recommended: M 340L, M 361, M 362K)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 336K | Classical Dynamics | 3 |
| PHY 345 | Biophysics | 3 |
| PHY 352K | Classical Electrodynamics I | 3 |
| PHY 353L | Modern Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHY 355 | Modern Physics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHY 369 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 373 | Quantum Physics I: Foundations | 3 |
| CH 320M or CH 328M | Organic Chemistry I or Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BCH 369 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 |
| Total Concentration | 6 credits | |
Concentration
Developmental Biology:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBS 350 | Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology | 3 |
Major-Physics (BSPhy)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 301 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 101L | Laboratory for Physics 301 | 1 |
| PHY 316 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHY 116L | Laboratory for Physics 316 | 1 |
| PHY 315 | Wave Motion and Optics | 3 |
| PHY 115L | Laboratory for Physics 315 | 1 |
| Total Major-Physics (BSPhy) | 12 credits | |
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