Physics, B.S. - General Subplan/Option: 120 units

Offered by: College of Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Major Required
Subplan/Option Required
Subplan/Option Electives

Unrestricted Electives
General Education Requirements

The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here. The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program.

Major Required: 41 units

Note(s):

* Effective November 30, 2022: Three-unit version of PHY 2530 (3) is an acceptable substitution for the two-unit version of PHY 2530 (2) and PHY 2530A (1) .

** Effective November 30, 2022: Three-unit version of PHY 2540 (3) is an acceptable substitution for the two-unit version of PHY 2540 (2) and PHY 2540A (1) .

Subplan/Option Required: 16 units

Subplan/Option Electives: 14-18 units

Any combination of courses listed below will satisfy the required 14-18 units. Emphases are listed to provide guidance for helping students to choose courses of interest that best fit your career goals, but there is no requirement for choosing a specific emphasis for fulfilling these units.

Astrophysics Emphasis: 18 units

Emphasis Recommended: 11 units

Emphasis Other: 7 units

3 units from the following list:
CS 1260 - Python for Beginners (3)
OR
MAT 2010 - Introduction to Computational Methods in Mathematics (2) and
MAT 2010L - Introduction to Computational Methods in Mathematics Laboratory (1)
An additional 4 units must be selected from the following list, with the proviso that students must take AT LEAST 2 units from PHY 4510A /PHY 4510L /PHY 4520A /PHY 4520L . Pairs of courses that must be taken together or in sequence are indicated with “and”.
PHY 3040 - Electronics for Scientists (2) and
PHY 3040L - Electronics for Scientists Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 4090 - Computational Physics (2) and
PHY 4090A - Computational Physics Activity (1)
OR
PHY 4170 - Wave Optics (2) and
PHY 4170L - Wave Optics Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 4410 - Internship in Physics (1-2)
OR
PHY 4510A - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Advanced Instrumentation Recitation Activity (1) and
PHY 4510L - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 4520A - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Contemporary Experiments Recitation Activity (1) and
PHY 4520L - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Contemporary Experiments Laboratory (1)

General Emphasis: 14 units

3 units from the following list:
CS 1260 - Python for Beginners (3)
OR
MAT 2010 - Introduction to Computational Methods in Mathematics (2) and
MAT 2010L - Introduction to Computational Methods in Mathematics Laboratory (1)
A minimum of 7 units must be selected from the following list, with the proviso that students must take AT LEAST 2 units from PHY 4510A /PHY 4510L /PHY 4520A /PHY 4520L . Pairs of courses that must be taken together or in sequence are indicated with “and”.
AST 3240 - Observational Astronomy (2) and
AST 3240A - Observational Astronomy Computer Activity (1)
OR
PHY 3040 - Electronics for Scientists (2) and
PHY 3040L - Electronics for Scientists Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 4090 - Computational Physics (2) and
PHY 4090A - Computational Physics Activity (1)
OR
PHY 4170 - Wave Optics (2) and
PHY 4170L - Wave Optics Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 4410 - Internship in Physics (1-2)
OR
PHY 4610 - Senior Project I (1) and
PHY 4620 - Senior Project II (2)
Select 2 units (one pair of lab/activity courses) from the following list:
PHY 4510A - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Advanced Instrumentation Recitation Activity (1) and
PHY 4510L - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 4520A - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Contemporary Experiments Recitation Activity (1) and
PHY 4520L - Advanced Laboratory Physics - Contemporary Experiments Laboratory (1)
The remaining elective units may be selected from any upper-division PHY or AST courses (except AST 3050 , AST 3420 , PHY 3010 , and PHY 3020 ) or other upper-division math, science, and engineering courses approved by the department.

Unrestricted Electives: 0-7 units

Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Major Required”, “Subplan/Option Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 104 units.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

Students should view their Degree Progress Report (DPR) for information regarding their General Education requirements. Unless specific GE courses are required for their major, please refer to the list of approved courses in the General Education Program in the University Catalog, https://catalog.cpp.edu. When viewing the catalog, students should select the catalog year associated with the GE requirements listed in their Degree Progress Report.

Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Oral Communication
2. Written Communication
3. Critical Thinking

Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (12 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Physical Sciences
2. Life Sciences
3. Laboratory Activity
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
5. Science and Technology Synthesis

Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area and 3 additional units from sub-areas 1 and/or 2
1. Visual and Performing Arts
2. Literature, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Civilization
3. Arts and Humanities Synthesis

Area D. Social Sciences (9 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. U.S. History and American Ideals
2. U.S. Constitution and California Government
4. Social Science Synthesis

Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Area F. Ethnic Studies (3 units)

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: 18 units

An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, and D available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program. Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major. Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.

How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:

GE Area	Courses
A2	IGE 1100 and IGE 1200 Category II students are eligible to enroll in IGE 1100 (Fall) and IGE 1200 (Spring) as a two-course sequence to fulfill GE Area A2. Students who choose this sequence will also satisfy GE Area C2. Category III and IV students need to enroll in English composition courses in the A2 GE course list.
C1	IGE 2350
C2	IGE 1100 , IGE 1200 , IGE 2150 , or IGE 2250
C3	IGE 3100 (cannot double count for both C3 and D4)
D1	IGE 2150 or IGE 2250 Also satisfy American Institutions Part A
D4	IGE 3100 (cannot double count for both C3 and D4)

A single course cannot be double-counted across multiple GE Areas.

revised 07/12/2024

American Institutions: 6 units

Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Areas D1 and D2.

Graduation Writing Test

The Graduation Writing Test (GWT) is suspended until Fall 2023. Students entering Cal Poly Pomona before Fall 2023 are not required to take the Graduation Writing Test.