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Majors and Minors

Explore and Discover. Students in our undergraduate program have the opportunity to take part in the discoveries of new elements, exoplanets, and materials; to develop revolutionary models; and to push the limits of theories. As a physicist you will attack the scientific and technological challenges of the next millennium. With the experience our undergraduates gain in problem-solving, both in the classroom and in research, they are in high demand from a range of employers and top-ranked Ph.D. programs.

 

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Physics Majors | Physics Minor | Astronomy Minor | Major/Minor Declaration

Majors in Physics

The Physics Department offers both a B.A. and a B.S. degree. Both degrees provide a thorough grounding in the core areas of physics. The B.A. degree provides maximum flexibility and is suitable either as preparation for careers in science and engineering or as a springboard for applying technical knowledge in such fields as business, medicine, law, public policy, and education. The B.S. degree is designed for students seeking a more rigorous knowledge of the subject and is most suitable for students hoping to pursue a graduate degree in physics, astronomy, or a related field.  The B.A. in the Department of Physics and Astronomy consists of 31–32 credit hours of course work, and the B.S. consists of 40-41 credit hours, distributed as below. Students considering majoring in physics are strongly encouraged to consult with the director of undergraduate studies before registering for classes.

B.A. in Physics

  • Core courses covering the major subdisciplines of physics — Students must complete four of the following (12 credit hours): Modern Physics and the Quantum World (2255); Classical Mechanics (2275); Electricity, Magnetism, and Electrodynamics I (2290); Statistical Physics (3200); Quantum Mechanics I (3651).
  • Laboratory work — Students may not use AP credit to satisfy any portion of the laboratory sequence requirement (3–4 credit hours): a. Laboratory Principles I (1912L), Laboratory Principles II (2255L), and Introduction to Experimental Research (2953L); or b. 1501L or 1601L, 1502L or 1602L, 2255L, and 2953L if the student has entered the major by taking the Page 468 of 1443 introductory physics course sequence 1501 or 1601, 1501L or 1601L, 1502 or 1602, and 1502L or 1602L. Students considering majoring in physics who begin in 1501 or 1601 and 1501L or 1601L in the fall semester are encouraged to take the combination 1502 + 1912L or 1602 + 1912L in the spring semester.
  • Electives (9 credit hours) — Pedagogical course work in physics and/or astronomy; research hours (3850, 3851, 4998) do not count toward this requirement. The course electives may be taken from any 2000-level or higher PHYS or ASTR courses not used to satisfy any other requirement of the major. Other courses may count as electives, such as courses offered by the engineering school (or other departments and schools) that are particularly relevant, such as a course in environmental studies, health physics, optics, or materials science. Such exceptions must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
  • Capstone (7 credit hours) — Computational Physics (3790), 3 credit hours of research (3850, 3851, or 4998) taken across one or more semesters, and the Seminar in Presenting Physics Research (3600). Physics-related research done in other departments and programs, supervised by Vanderbilt faculty and pre-approved by the director of undergraduate studies, is also permitted in satisfaction of the research requirement.

Summary of B.A. requirements

Core CoursesLab CoursesElectivesCapstone:
Students choose 4 of the following 5 courses:

PHYS 2255 (Modern Physics) – a gateway to all of our other physics courses
PHYS 2275 (Intermediate Classical Mechanics)
PHYS 2290 (Intermediate E&M, first semester)
PHYS 3200 (Statistical Physics/Thermodynamics)
PHYS 3651 (Quantum Mechanics, first semester)
Either 1601L and 1602L, or 1912L, followed by
PHYS 2255L
PHYS 2953L
Three courses in physics or astronomy at the 2000 or above level.PHYS 3790 (Computational Physics)
Three credit hours of research (may be spread out over more than one semester)
PHYS 3600 (Undergraduate seminar – one credit hour)

B.S. in Physics

  • Core courses covering the major subdisciplines of physics — Students must complete six of the following (18 credit hours): Modern Physics and the Quantum World (2255); Classical Mechanics (2275); Electricity, Magnetism, and Electrodynamics I (2290); Electricity, Magnetism, and Electrodynamics II (2290); Statistical Physics (3200); Quantum Mechanics I (3651); Quantum Mechanics II (3651); Mathematical Methods for Physicists (4005).
  • Laboratory work — Students may not use AP credit to satisfy any portion of the laboratory sequence requirement (3–4 credit hours): a. Laboratory Principles I (1912L), Laboratory Principles II (2255L), and Introduction to Experimental Research (2953L); or b. 1501L or 1601L, 1502L or 1602L, 2255L, and 2953L if the student has entered the major by taking the Page 468 of 1443 introductory physics course sequence 1501 or 1601, 1501L or 1601L, 1502 or 1602, and 1502L or 1602L. Students considering majoring in physics who begin in 1501 or 1601 and 1501L or 1601L in the fall semester are encouraged to take the combination 1502 + 1912L or 1602 + 1912L in the spring semester.
  • Electives (9 credit hours) — Pedagogical course work in physics and/or astronomy; research hours (3850, 3851, 4998) do not count toward this requirement. The course electives may be taken from any 2000-level or higher PHYS or ASTR courses not used to satisfy any other requirement of the major. Other courses may count as electives, such as courses offered by the engineering school (or other departments and schools) that are particularly relevant, such as a course in environmental studies, health physics, optics, or materials science. Such exceptions must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
  • Capstone (10 credit hours) — Computational Physics (3790), 6 credit hours of research (3850, 3851, or 4998) taken across two or more semesters, and the Seminar in Presenting Physics Research (3600). Physics-related research done in other departments and programs, supervised by Vanderbilt faculty and pre-approved by the director of undergraduate studies, is also permitted in satisfaction of the research requirement.

Summary of B.S. requirements

Core CoursesLab CoursesElectivesCapstone:
Students will take six of the following eight core courses:

PHYS 2255 (Modern Physics) – a gateway to all of our other physics courses
PHYS 2275 (Intermediate Classical Mechanics)
PHYS 2290 (Intermediate E&M, first semester)
PHYS 2291 (Intermediate E&M, second semester)
PHYS 3200 (Statistical Physics/Thermo)
PHYS 3651 (Quantum Mechanics, first semester)
PHYS 3652 (Quantum Mechanics, second semester)
PHYS 4005 (Mathematical Methods for Physicists)
Either 1601L – 1602L or 1912L, followed by
PHYS 2255L
PHYS 2953L
Three courses in physics or astronomy at the 2000 or above level.PHYS 3790 (Computational Physics)

Six credit hours of research (no more than three per semester)

PHYS 3600 (Undergraduate seminar – one credit hour).

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Minor in Physics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a minor for students who wish to combine some study of physics with other majors. You do not have to be bound for a career in the physical sciences to benefit from a minor in physics. In addition to the option for graduate study in a scientific field, physics minors build on their problem solving, mathematical, and computational skills to pursue careers in law, medicine, pharmacology, business, consulting, teaching, military leadership, and (increasingly) computer programming. The minor in physics requires the completion of 17-19 credit hours, as distributed below.

Requirements

  1. Any first-semester physics class – PHYS 1501, PHYS 1601, PHYS 1911, or PHYS 2051 (3-4 hours)
  2. Any first-semester physics laboratory – PHYS 1501L, PHYS 1601L, PHYS 1912L, or PHYS 2052 (1 hour)
  3. Any second-semester physics class – PHYS 1502, PHYS 1602, PHYS 1912, or PHYS 2053 (3-4 hours)
  4. Any second-semester physics laboratory – PHYS 1502L, PHYS 1602L, PHYS 2255L, or PHYS 2054 (1 hour)
  5. PHYS 2255 or PHYS 3651 (3 hours)
  6. Six credit hours of electives. These may be selected from any 2000-level or higher-level PHYS courses not used to satisfy the above requirements, or from 3 credit hour non-PHYS courses. The latter must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and may include up to three credit hours of research – PHYS 3850, PHYS 3851, or PHYS 4998.

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Minor in Astronomy

The minor in astronomy is designed for non-physics majors who wish to pursue their interest in astronomy. Students interested in scientific careers in astronomy should pursue a major in physics, supplemented with advanced astrophysics courses. The minor in astronomy requires the completion of 16 credit hours, as distributed below.

Requirements

  1. ASTR 1010 and either ASTR1010L or ASTR 1020L; or ASTR 1210 (4 hours)
  2. ASTR 2110 (3 hours)
  3. ASTR 3000 (3 hours)
  4. Two other astronomy courses, one of which may be a 3 credit hour, one-semester research project: ASTR 3850, ASTR 3851 or ASTR 4998. Note that only physics majors pursuing Honors in astronomy are eligible to enroll in ASTR 4998. (6 hours)

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Declaring a Major or Minor

A student wishing to declare a major or minor should download and complete the Major/Minor Declaration/Change Form. The Director of Undergraduate Studies will assign an adviser to you. Email your signed form, with your new adviser’s name and signatures/emailed approvals, in one email to the Arts and Science Office of Academic Services. For students with multiple majors/minors, the email and form sent to the OAS must have the signatures/email permissions of all major/minor advisers.

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