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

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 Required”, “Subplan/Option Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 120 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)

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 2025. Students entering Cal Poly Pomona before Fall 2025 are not required to take the Graduation Writing Test.

Summer Sponsored Experience: 0 unit

CPU 3003 - Cal Poly Pomona Undergraduate Sponsored Summer Experience (0)