The Physics Major

                There are several introductory course sequences leading to the physics major.  For all of them it is highly desirable to complete Math 1310, 1320 or equivalent courses in calculus by the end of the first year.  If calculus is not taken during the first year, any of the sequences can be started in the second year and the requirements for the BA, but not the BS, completed in four years.

Requirements for the BA in Physics 

There are two options leading to the BA in physics, each having three components:

Option I

(1)  Prerequisites - Math 1310, 1320 and Phys 1610, 1620.

(2)  Math 2310 and Phys 2610, 2620, 2630, 2640.

(3)  Three courses chosen from PHYS 2660 and/or 3000-level physics courses.

Option II 

(1)  Prerequisites - Math 1310, 1320.

(2)  Math 2310 and Phys 2310, 2320, 2030, 2040, 2620.

(3)  Four courses chosen from PHYS 2660 and/or 3000-level physics courses.

            For either of the options, a year of chemistry may be substituted for one of the 3000-level physics courses in (3).  

            Students choosing Option II who want more extensive preparation in basic physics and particularly those planning to take physics courses numbered 3150 and higher should replace Phys 2030, 2040 in component (2) with the higher level laboratory sequence Phys 2630, 2640 to be taken after completing Phys 2310, 2320. 

            It is also possible to enter the physics major through Phys 1425.  Students desiring to use this route should consult one of the physics undergraduate advisors.

            For students electing the basic BA program, the courses, Physics 3110, 3120 - Widely Applied Physics, if elected in component (3), can be used to complete a strong preparation in basic physics.  These courses are designed to make use of the concepts learned in the introductory courses to understand some modern applications including fluid dynamics, aeronautics, musical sound, chaos, superconductivity and electronic communications. Either one (for Option I) or two (for Option II) additional courses complete the requirements of component (3). Phys 2660 Fundamentals of Scientific Computing and a year of introductory chemistry are good choices for completing this component. Students completing the basic BA program have an outstanding record of success in admission to medical, law, business and education schools.

            Math 3255 is not required for the BA degree, however it is a prerequisite for courses numbered 3210 and above, any of which can be chosen to complete component (3).

            Strong preparation for graduate study in physics and physics-related areas and for scientific and technical jobs is provided by the following programs:

BA with Distinguished Major Course Sequence

This sequence may be entered using components (1) and (2) of either Option I or II above. Component (3) is replaced by the following requirements:  Math 3255, Phys 2660, 3170, 3210, 3310, 3420, 3650, 3660, 3995 and one 3000-5000 level physics elective. If Option II is used, substitution of Phys 2630, 2640 for Phys 2030, 2040 is strongly recommended.

BS in Physics

The requirements for the BS in physics are the completion of the Distinguished Major Course sequence plus Math 5210, 5220  (or equivalent APMA courses) and Phys 3430. Except for Echols scholars, the requirements for the BS in Physics include completion of the standard College of Arts and Sciences competency and area requirements.

Two special concentrations can be pursued by students in either the BA or the BS progams: A Computational Physics Concentration (Phys 5630, 5640 Computational Physics I, II); An Optics Concentration (Phys 5310 Optics & Optics Laboratory and Phys 5320 Fundamentals of Photonics). A concentration in experimental physics can be obtained by taking Phys 3150 Electronics, Phys 3170 Intermediate Laboratory I and Phys 3180 Intermediate Laboratory II.

            A grade point average of at least 2.0 for all the required courses must be achieved for graduation as a physics major.

BA in Astronomy-Physics    This is an interdepartmental major administered jointly with the Astronomy Department.  This major prepares a student for graduate study in either astronomy or physics.  The requirements are Math 1310, 1320, 2310, 3255, 5210, 5220; Phys 1610, 1620, 2610, 2620, 2630, 2640, 2660, 3210, 3420, 3430, 3650; and ASTR 2110, 2120, 3130, 4993, 4998(Senior Thesis), and six additional credits of 3000-5000 level Astronomy courses.

           The course requirements for the BA, BA-DMP and BS are summarized (below), which also show the topics and credit hours. The Astronomy-Physics requirements are also listed below.

Some Additional Information about the Physics Program

            Physics majors are a relatively small but a very outstanding, enthusiastic and diverse group. During the last decade an average of 34 students has graduated each year with bachelors degrees in physics. An encouraging trend is that 24% of them are women. There is a wide diversity of interests, and many students have double majors. In the last several years second majors have included anthropology, biology, chemistry, economics, English, environmental science, French, German language and literature, government, history, mathematics, music, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, Slavic languages and literature, and studio art.

            Approximately half of our physics majors go on to graduate or professional schools, most at top-ranked universities, and they are very successful there. Recent graduates have attended the University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Santa Barbara, Cal Tech, Chicago, Colorado, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Yale. Many recent graduates have taken scientific or technical positions in industry or government immediately after graduating with a bachelors degree. Each year several go to professional schools in medicine, education, business and law. Others graduate with physics as a concentration in a broad liberal arts program and enter a variety of careers.

            Beginning the first year there are special courses for physics majors. The third and fourth year classes are small, and students have much interaction with faculty members. Since the Department has active research programs in all the major fields of physics that involve all 35 faculty members, there are many opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research on the frontiers of physics. During their third and fourth years, students in the Distinguished Majors and BS programs undertake independent research projects (Phys 3995), working on a tutorial basis with a faculty member and often working with a research group. The study culminates in a written and an oral report. Students find these projects among the most valuable and enjoyable parts of their programs. Also there are summer jobs and part-time jobs during the academic year with the various research groups.

            In addition to the undergraduate courses, many graduate courses in physics may be taken by advanced undergraduates. Undergraduate students are encouraged to take advantage of the weekly colloquia. These talks are given by eminent physicists from around the world. They provide further contact with research on the frontiers of physics.

            All physics majors are expected to become proficient in the use of computers by taking courses and by using computers for coursework and in the research labs. Phys 2660 Fundamentals of Scientific Computing introduces some programming concepts and numerical methods. We provide an introduction to data acquisition and analysis in the introductory laboratory courses, an introduction to microprocessors in Phys 3150-Electronics, more advanced data acquisition and analysis in the intermediate physics laboratory courses, and many class and laboratory exercises requiring use of computers. As mentioned above, there are courses providing a concentration in computational physics. In addition a wide variety of computer courses is available through the Computer Science Department and numerous workshops are presented by Information Technology and Communication staff.

            Personal computers and computer systems are widely available. A departmental computer facility is open to all majors, and there are computers in the undergraduate labs, as well as in research labs in which students participate. All are linked through local networks and to national and worldwide networks.

            Early declaration of major is encouraged: you do not have to wait until your fourth semester. A valued perquisite for physics majors is that all are provided keys to the Physics Building that give them access at any time to the Physics Library, two conference rooms and the departmental computer facility. Very frequently at night and on weekends one finds groups of physics majors gathered in one of the conference rooms or the library working together (as we encourage them to do) on quantum mechanics, statistical physics or other topics.

            Some very interesting facts about the skills physics graduates find most useful emerged from a recent survey by the American Institute of Physics. They queried some thousands of people with physics degrees (bachelors, masters and doctorates) working in industry, government, and secondary and higher education about the skills they used most frequently. At all degree levels and for all types of jobs, whether directly involving physics or not, almost 100% of respondents said that problem solving is their most frequently used skill. Computer skills were highly ranked by most of the respondents, but even more highly ranked were interpersonal skills and technical writing. These same skills have been identified as most important by many companies who hire physics graduates.

            We address the development of these skills explicitly in the physics major. Problem solving and computing are already strong components of the program. The upper-level physics laboratories and independent research courses are structured to provide excellent opportunities for developing skills in both oral and written communication of technical material. Spontaneous teamwork on solving problems in the upper-level courses has long been a part of being a physics major. Working with a variety of partners in the elementary and upper-level lab courses also helps develop skills in interpersonal relationships. These experiences are supplemented in physics classes by group problem solving, which has been shown to be an effective way of learning new concepts and has the added effect of teaching and encouraging teamwork.

            The local Society of Physics Students organizes weekly meetings with invited talks and pizza. The weekly SPS meetings offer special talks on topics related to physics by faculty members from Physics and other departments at the University. There are also presentations devoted to giving advice and commentary on graduate and professional schools, and talks about careers in science. At each meeting there are refreshments and time for students to talk to each other and to faculty members who are invited to attend. Membership in SPS is open to any student interested in physics. Membership in Sigma Pi Sigma recognizes special academic achievement.

            There are a number of activities each year intended to help students and faculty get to know each other and to recognize academic achievement. There is an annual reception in the Rotunda near the beginning of the fall semester to which all undergraduate majors, students who think they might like to major, and all physics faculty are invited. The annual Physics/Astronomy diploma ceremony is held on the lawn in front of Kent & Dabney Houses across Bonnycastle Dr. from the Physics Building. During this ceremony, various awards are presented, including an award to the graduate with the most outstanding academic record in physics and one for the most outstanding undergraduate research project that year.

Distinguished Major Program

This program provides recognition of outstanding academic performance in a challenging sequence of physics courses including an independent research project.  Students who complete the Distinguished Majors Course Sequence or the BS requirements with final grade point averages exceeding 3.4, 3.6, or 3.8, are given departmental recommendation to receive their degrees (BA or BS) with distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction, respectively.

Career Planning

In addition to the extensive resources available through University Career Services (UCS), the Physics Department offers assistance with career planning in a number of ways:

Discussions with undergraduate advisors and other physics faculty members

Talks about graduate schools and careers at SPS meetings

A brochure, “What can I do with a physics major”

Contacts with UVa alumni who are willing to offer career information

Pointers to information on the Internet: 

UCS web site, http://www.virginia.edu/~career/

The American Institute of Physics site,  http://aip.org/

*Students choosing Option II who want more extensive preparation in basic physics and particularly those planning to take physics courses numbered 3150 and higher should replace Phys 2030, 2040 with the higher level laboratory sequence Phys 2630, 2640 to be taken after completing Phys 2310, 2320.

Note that this program can be started in the second year, and completed by moving Phys 2630, 2640 to the fourth year.

If Option II is chosen, the four-semester introductory sequence, Phys 1610, 1620, 2610, 2620 and Phys 2620, 2630 Elem. Lab is replaced by Phys 2310, 2320. 2620 and Phys 2030, 2040 Physics Lab taken in the second or third year as preparation for the upper level physics courses. Students choosing Option II who want more extensive preparation in basic physics and particularly those planning to take physics courses numbered 3150 and higher should replace Phys 2030, 2040 in Component 2 with the higher level laboratory sequence Phys 2630, 2640 to be taken after completing Phys 2310, 2320.

If Math 3255 is taken, any of the 3000-level physics courses can be chosen to complete the BA.

            Students choosing Option II who want more extensive preparation in basic physics and particularly those planning to take physics courses numbered 3150 and higher should replace Phys 2030, 2040 in component (2) with the higher level laboratory sequence Phys 2630, 2640 to be taken after completing Phys 2310, 2320.

Although the four semester introductory sequence, Phys 1610, 1620, 2610, 2620, is recommended, it can be replaced by Phys 2310, 2320 taken in the second year as preparation for the upper level physics courses.

Although the four-semester introductory sequence, Phys 1610, 1620, 2610, 2620, is strongly recommended, it can be replaced by Phys 2310, 2320 taken in the second year as preparation for the upper level physics courses. Students choosing this option should meet with a physics major advisor to work out a schedule including Phys 2620, the introductory labs and the upper level courses.

^*Unless excused.

^**The electives in the first three years should be chosen to meet the general BA degree requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences.

⁺May be taken in first year with permission of instructor.