COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Physics requires students to complete all university, college, and departmental requirements, including general education, a required minor, and enough coursework to reach a minimum of 120 semester hours, while the physics major itself involves completing 33 to 41 credit hours within one of four specialized tracks: graduate school preparation, astrophysics, biophysics, or physics education, each designed for different career goals such as research, space science, healthcare, or teaching; students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in major courses, complete a minimum of 12 upper-level credits (300–400 level) on campus, and regularly meet with academic advisors to ensure proper course planning and eligibility for registration, while also fulfilling prerequisite requirements such as introductory physics sequences and sufficient advanced coursework before enrolling in higher-level classes; in addition to major courses, all tracks require ancillary courses ranging from 23 to 39 credit hours, including subjects like chemistry, calculus, differential equations, and sometimes biology or organic chemistry depending on the track, though these grades do not count toward the major GPA; the graduate school track focuses heavily on advanced topics like quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermal physics along with laboratory work, while the astrophysics track adds astronomy courses and electives related to space science, the physics education track emphasizes teaching-focused courses but does not directly grant certification, and the biophysics track integrates biology and chemistry to prepare students for health-related careers; overall, the program is rigorous and structured to build strong analytical, mathematical, and scientific skills, while offering flexibility through different tracks that align with specific career paths, ensuring students are well-prepared for graduate studies, professional careers, or specialized fields within physics and related disciplines.