Sample 4-Year Course Schedules for Physics Major
Sample Course Schedule: Physics Major – Bachelor of Science (BS)
| FALL―Semester 1 | |
| PHYS 145 Physics Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 198 Calculus l | 5 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Courses | x |
| Total 15-17 | |
| SPRING―Semester 2 | |
| PHYS 195 Physics with Calculus ll | 5 |
| MATH 263 Calculus ll | 5 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Courses | x |
| Total 15-17 | |
| FALL―Semester 3 | |
| PHYS 196 Physics ll | 5 |
| MATH 264 Calculus lll | 3 |
| STAT 290 Statistics | 3 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Courses | x |
| Total 13-16 | |
| SPRING―Semester 4 | |
| PHYS 250 Modern Physics l | 3 |
| PHYS 310 Intermediate Lab | 2 |
| MATH 365 Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 375 Vibrations and Waves | 3 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Course | x |
| Total 15-16 | |
| FALL―Semester 5 | |
| PHYS 251 Modern Physics ll | 3 |
| MATH 357 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 320 Electronics | 3 |
| PHYS 382 Mathematical Physics | 3 |
| Junior Interdisciplinary Writing-Enhanced Seminar (JINS) | 3 |
| Total 15 | |
| SPRING―Semester 6 | |
| PHYS 386 Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 345 Junior Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 446 Advance Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 441 Physics Research l | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Course | x |
| Total 12-14 | |
| FALL―Semester 7 | |
| PHYS 580 Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 518 Advanced Topics | 3 |
| PHYS 442 Physics Research ll | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Courses as needed | x |
| Total 14 | |
| SPRING―Semester 8 | |
| PHYS 486 Thermo & Stat Mech | 3 |
| PHYS 482 Electricity and Magn. | 3 |
| PHYS 492 Capstone Seminar Rsrc | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Courses as needed | x |
| Total 13 | |
| For students not beginning with either Precalculus or Calculus I: The Physics programs require a high level of mathematics; students starting with Algebra should expect their degree program to require more than 8 regular semesters. Such students might consider gaining some mathematics credits in summer school and they may consider taking PHYS 100, "Concepts in Physics" (which can only be used as a general elective for Physics majors) to prepare better for future physics courses within the major. | |
| If a student begins with Calculus II: If a student has credit for Calc. I and will be starting in Calc. II in the fall of the freshman year, he or she should take PHYS 195 in the fall but will need to wait until the following fall to take PHYS 196. The spring of his or her freshman year the student should take PHYS 275, Vibrations and Waves, and MATH 264, Calc. III. Each Math course can be taken a semester earlier than on this plan. |
Sample Course Schedule: Physics Major – Bachelor of Arts (BA)
| FALL―Semester 1 | |
| PHYS 145 Physics Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 198 Calculus l | 5 |
| LSP Courses x | x |
| Total 15-17 | |
| SPRING―Semester 2 | |
| PHYS 195 Physics with Calculus ll | 5 |
| MATH 263 Calculus ll | 5 |
| LSP Courses | x |
| Total 15-17 | |
| FALL―Semester 3 | |
| PHYS 196 Physics with Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 264 Calculus lll | 3 |
| STAT 290 Statistics | 3 |
| LSP Courses | x |
| Total 13-16 | |
| SPRING―Semester 4 | |
| PHYS 250 Modern Physics l | 3 |
| PHYS 310 Intermediate Lab | 2 |
| MATH 365 Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 375 Vibrations and Waves | 3 |
| LSP Courses | x |
| Total 15-16 | |
| FALL―Semester 5 | |
| PHYS 251 Modern Physics ll | 3 |
| PHYS 382 Mathematical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS elective | 3 |
| LSP Courses | 42800 |
| Total 12-16 | |
| SPRING―Semester 6 | |
| PHYS Elective | 3 |
| PHYS Elective | 3 |
| PHYS 345 Junior Seminar | 1 |
| LSP Courses | x |
| Learning Plan (1) | 3 |
| Total 13 | |
| FALL―Semester 7 | |
| Learning Plan (2) | 3 |
| Learning Plan (3) | 3 |
| Electives & LSP Courses | x |
| Total 12-15 | |
| SPRING―Semester 8 | |
| PHYS 495 Physics Capstone | 1 |
| Learning Plan (4) | 3 |
| Learning Plan 53) | 3 |
| LSP courses | x |
| Total 12-15 | |
| For students not beginning with either Precalculus or Calculus I: The Physics programs require a high level of mathematics; students starting with Algebra should expect their degree program to require more than 8 regular semesters. Such students might consider gaining some mathematics credits in summer school and they may consider taking PHYS 100, "Concepts in Physics" (which can only be used as a general elective for Physics majors) to prepare better for future physics courses within the major. | |
| Pre‐Engineering course requirements: | |
| Writing and Speech: | |
| ENG 190 Writing as Critical Thinking | 3 |
| COMM 170 Public Speaking | 3 |
| Social Science/Humanities: | |
| ECON 200 Macroeconomics OR ECON 201 Microeconomics | 3 |
| HIST 104 U. S. History I OR HIST 105 U.S. History II | 3 |
| Math and Computer Science: | |
| MATH 198 Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 263 Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 264 Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 357 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 365 Ordinary Differential Equ. | 3 |
| STAT 290 Statistics | 3 |
| CS 180 Foundations of Computer Sci. I | 3 |
| Science: | |
| CHEM 130 Chemical Principles I | 4 |
| PHYS 145 Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 195 Physics with Calculus I | 5 |
| PHYS 196 Physics with Calculus II | 5 |
| PHYS 387 Statics | 3 |
| NOTE: Students in the pre‐engineering program should be aware of special requirements of various programs at engineering schools and prepare accordingly in consultation with their Truman advisor. |
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate class offerings for this major. The Office of the Registrar is responsible for certifying completion of degree requirements based on requirements specified in Truman’s Official Catalog.