Undergraduate Degree Roadmaps

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 320, 330, 385. Students who take MATH 225 & 376 will only need one more math class to complete the Minor in Mathematics.
• Python programming should be completed within first two years; MATH 209 is offered in fall semesters and CSC 309 is offered in spring semesters.
• B.S. Physics requires 8-11 units of upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields.  Students who take MATH 245 will need to take 11 units of major electives, while students who take both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 8 units of major electives.  Maximum 5 units of 600-level units. Maximum 3 units in related fields outside PHYS/ASTR.
• PHYS 457 can be taken earlier, in any spring semester after PHYS 230/232.  Acceptable substitution for PHYS 457 is ENGR 205 & 206 (offered in fall and spring).
• PHYS 480 may be substituted for PHYS 460.

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 320, 330, 385. Students who take MATH 225 & 376 will only need one more math class to complete the Minor in Mathematics.
• Python programming should be completed within first two years; MATH 209 is offered in fall semesters and CSC 309 is offered in spring semesters.
• While ASTR 115 is not required for the B.S. Physics/Astrophysics degree, students are strongly encouraged to take it in their first year to give them a broad overview of all of astronomy. However, units do not count towards the B.S. degree.
• B.S. Physics/Astrophysics requires 3-6 units of upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields.  Students who take MATH 245 will need to take 6 units of major electives, while students who take both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 3 units of major electives.  Minimum 3 units of 400-level units. Maximum 3 units in related fields outside PHYS/ASTR.
• While PHYS 321 (Modern Physics Lab) is not required for the B.S. Physics/Astrophysics degree, students are  encouraged to take it in the fall of the third year (along with PHYS 320); units can count toward physics/astronomy electives.
• Senior Project (ASTR 697) often takes more than one semester; students are strongly encouraged to speak with potential project advisors in the spring of the third year, and to start as soon as possible in the fall of the final year; units can be taken in fall or spring, or spread out over entire final year.

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 320, 330, 385. Students who take MATH 225 & 376 can complete the Minor in Mathematics by taking PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 and only 1 more math class.
• Python programming should be completed within first two years; MATH 209 is offered in fall semesters and CSC 309 is offered in spring semesters.
• Students who take both MATH 225 & 376 do not need any major electives to complete the degree; students who instead take only MATH 245 will need 3 additional units of major electives to complete the degree.

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 320.  Students who take MATH 225 & 376 can complete the Minor in Mathematics by taking PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 and only 1 more math class.
• Culminating experience: any 2 units (mix/match) of PHYS 686, ASTR 685, ASTR 697.
• B.A. Physics/Astronomy requires 3-6 units of upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields.  Students who take MATH 245 will need to take 6 units of major electives, while students who take both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 3 units of major electives; maximum 3 units outside PHYS/ASTR in a related field; no 600-level allowed (because 2 units are already required for culminating experience).

Minor in Physics

• PHYS 220 & 222
• PHYS 230 & 232
• PHYS 240 & 242
• PHYS 320
• additional 6 units upper-division PHYS/ASTR electives (max 3 units of 600-level)

Minor in Astronomy

• PHYS 111/112 OR PHYS 220/222
• PHYS 121/122 OR PHYS 230/232 OR PHYS 240/242
• ASTR 115 & 116
• ASTR 300 & 301
• additional 3 units upper-division PHYS/ASTR electives (some ERTH courses allowed with permission)

Minor in Mathematics

The Minor in Mathematics requires 24 units. With careful planning, all of these units can overlap with physics and/or astronomy degrees. Students who want to complete the Minor in Mathematics should not take MATH 245 but instead take both MATH 225 and 376. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 330 and 385. Furthermore, the Department of Mathematics allows either PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 to count toward the Minor in Mathematics.  

• MATH 226, 227, 228
• MATH 225 & 376
• PHYS 430 or PHYS 460 or PHYS 480 or MATH elective
• MATH elective

Recommended math courses relevant to physics include MATH 324, 380, 400, 425, 440, 448, 450, 451, 460, 462, 471, or 477.