Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Duluth Campus
Physics B.A.UMD-Physics & Astronomy
Swenson College of Science and Engineering
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics is a liberal arts degree that allows considerable freedom in the planning of upper-level courses and can easily be combined with other majors and interests. The physics courses emphasize conceptual foundations, problem-solving skills, and experimental techniques.
Honors requirements: To graduate with honors, students must complete and present a research project, and are suggested to maintain a GPA above 3.50 overall and in the major. They are also expected to attend department colloquia. Interested students should contact the physics honors program coordinator.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
Program Requirements
For students not choosing to complete an optional sub-plan
Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
Required credits within the major: 55
1. A second field of study (e.g. minor, major, degree) is required for this major.
2. A sub-plan is not required.
a. Students interested in broadening analytical thinking through computer science may consider the Computational Physics sub-plan (see SCSE Advising to declare this sub-plan).
b. Students interested in develops skills in analytical thinking, and data analysis are encouraged to add a Business Administration minor (see LSBE Advising to declare this minor).
c. Student who do not chose a sub-plan are required a second field of study (either a minor or another major).
3. Students interested in teaching 9-12 physics may enroll concurrently in secondary licensure requirements in the Department of Education and apply for admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program.
4. Taking the "Honors" General Physics I course and General Physics II is recommended but not required for physics majors.
Learning In Community (1 cr)
The Learning in Community requirement will be waived for transfer students with at least 30 credits taken post-high school and for UMD students who started in a UMD program where this was not required. First-year students who have completed 30 PSEO credits may request a waiver to the student’s primary college.
UST 1000 - Learning in Community
(1.0-2.0 cr)
or
EHS 1000 - Into the World
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
or
ES 1000 - Global Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
or
LING 1000 - Language and Culture in the U.S. What does it Mean to Speak American
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
or
PSY 1100 - Living Your Best Life: Applying Positive Psychology
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
Advanced Writing (3 cr)
Physics (22 cr)
Topics in Physics
PHYS 1021 - Exploring Current Topics in Physics
(1.0 cr)
General Physics I
PHYS 2013 - General Physics I
[LE CAT, NAT SCI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 2017 - Honors: General Physics I
[NAT SCI]
(4.0 cr)
General Physics I lab
PHYS 2014 - General Physics Lab I
[NAT SCI]
(1.0 cr)
General Physics II
PHYS 2015 - General Physics II
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 2018 - Honors General Physics II
(4.0 cr)
General Physics II lab
PHYS 2016 - General Physics Lab II
(1.0 cr)
Physics
PHYS 2021 - Relativity and Quantum Physics
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 2022 - Classical Physics
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 2033 - Classical and Quantum Physics Lab
(2.0 cr)
Physics Seminar
PHYS 4090 - Undergraduate Physics Seminar
(1.0 cr)
Electives (11 cr)
Students who add the Computational Physics sub plan need to complete PHYS 4052 as one of the electives.
Take 11 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
LIM 5101 - Physical Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
AST 3xxx
·
AST 4xxx
·
PHYS 3xxx
·
PHYS 4xxx
·
PHYS 5xxx
Mathematics (18 cr)
Calculus I
MATH 1296 - Calculus I
[LE CAT, LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
Calculus II
MATH 1297 - Calculus II
[LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
Program Sub-plans
A sub-plan is not required for this program.
Computational Physics
Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
Required credits within the major: 77
This sub-plan is ideal for students who seek a strong grounding in physics and the computational techniques used in physics research. Computational physics connects physics, computer science, and applied mathematics to provide scientific solution to realistic and other complex problems. Students who will find this sub-plan valuable are interested in moving directly into a quantitative career after graduation and students double majoring with another science or engineering major and considering graduate school.
Computational Physics (22 cr)
Computer Science I
CS 1511 - Computer Science I
[LE CAT]
(5.0 cr)
or
CS 1581 - Honors: Computer Science I
[LE CAT]
(5.0 cr)
Computer Science II
CS 1521 - Computer Science II
(5.0 cr)
Additional Computer Science
CS 2511 - Software Analysis and Design
(4.0 cr)
CS 2531 - Discrete Structures for Computer Science
(4.0 cr)
or
MATH 3355 - Discrete Mathematics
(4.0 cr)
Mathematics
MATH 4810 - Applied Mathematics: Numerical Methods
(4.0 cr)
Business Administration
Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
Required credits within the major: 82
By adding a sub-plan in Business Administration, students can apply practical computing, data analysis, and logical thinking learned through physics to enhance their foundation of business knowledge.
An overall UM GPA of 2.60 is required for automatic admission to this specialty, along with completion of the Pre-Sub-plan core.
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Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PHYS 2033/2031 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | LIM 5101/5001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math1290/1296/1596 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1597/1297 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CS 1511/1581 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CS 1511/1581 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | FMIS 2201/1201/3201/CS 1011 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |