Cornell College > Department of Physics > Curriculum > Major & Minor Requirements

Major & Minor Requirements

Note: This page is designed to assist students, faculty, and advisors by providing degree requirements and recommendations in an easy-to-use format. The course catalogue remains the official source of degree requirements -- please report any discrepancies with this page to the department chair.

Major Requirements for Physics

Foundations of Computer Science (CSC 140)
Calculus of a Single Variable Part II (MAT 120) or Calculus of a Single Variable (MAT 121)
Calculus of Several Variables (MAT 122)
General Physics (111)
General Physics (112)
Laboratory Physics (114)
Electronics (302)
Modern Physics (303)
Advanced Experimental Physics (312)
Either:
- (A) four additional course credits in physics at or above the 200 level, for a minimum of 13 courses, or
- (B) Linear Algebra (MAT 221), Differential Equations (MAT 236), and three additional course credits in physics at or above the 300 level, for a minimum of 14 courses

Notes:

Students planning for graduate work in physics should elect option (B) and include Waves (305) and at least two courses selected from Mechanics (321), Electricity and Magnetism (322), and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (334).
Students planning for graduate work are also strongly encouraged to take Complex Variables (MAT 234), and Physical Chemistry I and II (CHE 323 and 324).

Recommended Course Sequence

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

MAT 121
MAT 122
PHY 111
PHY 112
CSC 140

Track A:
PHY 114
PHY 221 or 223
PHY 302
PHY 303

Track B:
MAT 221
MAT 236
PHY 114
PHY 302
PHY 303
PHY 305 (alt yrs)

Track A:
PHY 221 or 223
PHY 305 or 321
PHY 312 (alt yrs)

Track B:
PHY 305 (alt yrs)
PHY 300-level electives

Track A:
PHY 305 or PHY 321
PHY 312 (alt yrs)

Track B:
PHY 300-level electives

Notes:

Because one aspect of physics builds upon another, physics courses are strongly hierarchal. Not only must a student take the General Physics sequence (111, 112, 114) before taking any of the upper-level courses, but such courses as Quantum Mechanics have additional 300-level prerequisites such as Modern Physics and Mechanics. Many physics courses also have specific mathematical prerequisites.

Teaching Major Requirements

Option (A) and suggested work in Biology, Chemistry, and Geology. Students with other majors who intend to ask for certification in physics as a second field are required to complete only Calculus of a Single Variable Part II (MAT 120) or Calculus of a Single Variable (MAT 121), and General Physics I and II (111 and 112), Laboratory Physics (114), and Modern Physics (303). In addition to the foregoing requirements, prospective teachers must also apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (preferably at the start of their sophomore year) and complete a second major in secondary education. Prospective teachers should request a current list of the specific teaching major course requirements from the Education Office.

Minor Requirements

A minimum of five course credits in physics, which include:

General Physics I (111)
General Physics I (112)
Laboratory Physics (114)
Modern Physics (303)
One other course in physics at or above the 300 level