Physics, B.S.: 180 units

Required Core Courses for Major: 61 units

Required of all students. A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required in core courses, including subplan courses, in order to receive a degree in the major.

• PHY 131 - General Physics (3) and
• PHY 131L - General Physics Laboratory (1)

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• PHY 132 - General Physics (3) and
• PHY 132L - General Physics Laboratory (1)

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• PHY 133 - General Physics (3) and
• PHY 133L - General Physics Laboratory (1)

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• PHY 234 - Introduction to Electromagnetic Radiation and Special Relativity (3) and
• PHY 234L - Introductory Laboratory on Electromagnetic Radiation and Special Relativity (1)

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• PHY 235 - Introduction to Quantum Physics (3) and
• PHY 235L - Introductory Laboratory on Quantum Physics (1)

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• PHY 308 - Fundamentals of Mathematical Physics (4)
• PHY 309 - Fundamentals of Mathematical Physics (4)
• PHY 314 - Physics of Electric and Magnetic Phenomena (4)
• PHY 315 - Physics of Electric and Magnetic Phenomena (4)
• PHY 321 - Mechanics (4)
• PHY 322 - Mechanics (4)
• PHY 333 - Thermal Physics (4)
• PHY 401 - Quantum Mechanics (4)
• PHY 402 - Quantum Mechanics (4)
• PHY 430L - Advanced Physics Laboratory (1)
• PHY 431L - Solid State Physics Laboratory (1)
• PHY 432L - Nuclear Physics Laboratory (1)
• PHY 463 - Undergraduate Seminar (2)

Elective Core Courses for Major: 8 units

Students must selected 8 units of courses from the list below. A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required in core courses, including subplan courses, in order to receive a degree in the major.

• PHY 304/304L - Electronics for Scientists (3/1)
• PHY 400 - Special Study for Upper Division Students (1-2) (up to 4 units total)
• PHY 409 - Computational Physics (4)

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• PHY 417 - Optics (3) and
• PHY 417L - Optics Laboratory (1)

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• PHY 441 - Internship in Physics (2) (up to 4 units total)

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• PHY 461 - Senior Project (2) and
• PHY 462 - Senior Project (2)

Required Support Courses: 42-43 units

The following major support courses should be used to satisfy the indicated GE requirements. If these courses are not used to satisfy GE, the total units to degree may be more than 180 units.

• BIO 110/111L - Life Science (3/1) (B2, B3) or
• BIO 121/121L - Foundations of Biology: Energy and Matter - Cycles and Flows (3/2) (B2, B3)

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• CHM 121 - General Chemistry (3) (B1) and
• CHM 121L - General Chemistry Laboratory (1) (B3)

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• CHM 122 - General Chemistry (3) and
• CHM 122L - General Chemistry Laboratory (1)

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• CHM 123 - General Chemistry (3) and
• CHM 123L - General Chemistry Laboratory (1)

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• CS 128 - Introduction to C++ (4)
• MAT 114 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4) (B4)
• MAT 115 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4)
• MAT 116 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (4)
• MAT 214 - Calculus of Several Variables I (3)
• MAT 215 - Calculus of Several Variables II (3)
• MAT 216 - Differential Equations (4)

Elective Support Courses: 12 units

Advanced Electives
(To be chosen from upper division courses in Physics or related fields in consultation with advisor; at least 4 units of these must be in Physics)

Unrestricted Electives: 0-1 unit

Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Required Support”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 99 units.

General Education Requirements: 68 units

Students should consult the Academic Programs website https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/general-education-course-listings.shtml for current information regarding this requirement. Unless specific courses are stated under Support Courses, please refer to the list of approved courses under General Education Requirements, Areas A through E.

For an alternative and interdisciplinary way to complete some of their GE requirements, students may choose the Interdisciplinary General Education program, see below. 

Interdisciplinary General Education: 32 units

An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, D, and E available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program.  Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major.  Students must be exempt from or score at least 147 on the EPT to qualify for IGE.  Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.

How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:

American Institutions: 8 units

Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Area D1.

American Cultural Perspectives Requirement: 4 units

Refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for a list of courses that satisfy this requirement.  Course may also satisfy major, minor, GE, or unrestricted elective requirements.

Graduation Writing Test

All persons who receive undergraduate degrees from Cal Poly Pomona must pass the Graduation Writing Test (GWT).  The test must be taken by the quarter following completion of 120 units for undergraduates.