The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences 23 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. This concentration is designed to provide the necessary foundation for the student who plans a career or further study in space sciences.
| Hours chosen from: | 15 credits |
| Upper-division aerospace engineering | credits |
| Twelve hours aerospace engineering and three hours upper-division physics | credits |
| 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: Biology, geological sciences, or astronomy (A course may not fulfill this requirement if it does not count toward major requirements in its department)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 427K | Advanced Calculus for Applications I | 4 |
| Total Concentration | 4 credits | |
Concentration
Hours chosen from: Upper-division in mathematics (M 340L, M 361, and M 362K; only courses at the level of calculus and above may be counted toward the total number of hours required for the degree)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 329 | Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHY 336K | Classical Dynamics | 3 |
| PHY 352K | Classical Electrodynamics I | 3 |
| PHY 353L | Modern Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHY 355 | Modern Physics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHY 362K | Quantum Physics II: Atoms and Molecules | 3 |
| PHY 369 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 373 | Quantum Physics I: Foundations | 3 |
| Total Concentration | 6 credits | |
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 | |
Click a course code or title to read the full course description.
Our subject experts help with essays, research papers, case studies, discussion posts, and capstone projects for these programs — written from scratch to your course requirements.
Program and course information is reproduced from each university's published academic catalog for informational purposes and may change. Always confirm current requirements with your university. We are an independent academic support service and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the universities listed.
Expert guides on essay writing, citation styles, study skills, and academic success.
View All Articles
Learn how to write a good research question for a paper. Narrow your topic, identify a research problem, and create a focused question with practical examples.
Learn how to choose a research topic you can actually research. Discover how to narrow broad ideas, find reliable sources, and develop a focused research question.
Learn how to cite sources in a research paper using APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, with in-text citation examples and reference-list tips.