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Physics, B.A.

B.A. in Physics

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics offers a flexible program that allows students to combine the study of Physics with the opportunity to do intensive work in substantive areas such as liberal arts, teaching, business or law. With up to 80 units of free electives, it is feasible for students to obtain, for example, an additional major with a department in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Fine Arts, or the Tepper School of Business. It is expected that students will focus their elective courses in a well-defined academic area. Students must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Affairs and construct an approved plan of study.

The core requirements for the B.A. degree are very similar as for the B.S. degree, but 6 fewer Technical Electives are required for the B.A.  than the B.S., making room for more Free Electives. All of the B.A. requirements are listed below.

Degree Requirements

Physics Core

All physics majors take these courses in physics, which are designed to teach the fundamentals required for any specialty. Most students take the 100-level courses in their first year of study, the 200-level courses in their second year, and the 300-level courses in their third or fourth year.

Units
33-121Physics I for Science Students12
or 33-151 Matter and Interactions I
33-142Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students12
or 33-152 Matter and Interactions II
33-104Experimental Physics9
33-201Physics Sophomore Colloquium I2
33-211Physics III: Modern Essentials10
33-231Physical Analysis10
33-202Physics Sophomore Colloquium II2
33-228Electronics I10
33-232Mathematical Methods of Physics10
33-234Quantum Physics10
33-301Physics Upperclass Colloquium I1
33-331Physical Mechanics I10
33-338Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I10
33-341Thermal & Statistical Physics10
33-302Physics Upperclass Colloquium II1
33-340Modern Physics Laboratory10
Total Physics Core Units129

Mathematics Core

All Physics Majors take these courses from the Department of Mathematics to support their studies in Physics.

Units
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
21-122Integration and Approximation10
21-259Calculus in Three Dimensions10
Total Mathematics Core Units30

Technical Core

All students in the Mellon College of Science take courses in the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Science to gain the technical breadth necessary for interdisciplinary work. The following three courses are required for physics majors to give them the technical breadth they need while also satisfying the college-level requirements.

Units
03-121Modern Biology 99
09-105Introduction to Modern Chemistry I 1010
15-112Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science 1110-12
or 15-110 Principles of Computing
or 02-120 Programming for Scientists
Total Technical Core Units29-31
9

If 03-121 is satisfied through placement credit, students should refer to the Mellon College of Science’s Life Sciences list to fulfill technical breadth requirement A.

10

If 09-105 is satisfied through placement credit, students should refer to the Mellon College of Science’s Physical Sciences list to fulfill technical breadth requirement B.

11

If 15-110 or 15-112 is satisfied through placement credit, students should refer to the Mellon College of Science’s STEM course list to fulfill technical breadth requirement D.

Technical Electives

While students pursuing a B.S. in Physics are required to take a minimum of 8 Physics, Mathematics, and STEM electives, students pursuing a B.A. in Physics need only take a minimum of 2 Qualifying Physics Electives.

Units
33-xxxTwo Qualifying Physics Electives18-24
Total Technical Electives18-24

Non-Technical Electives

The Mellon College of Science requires that all students take a variety of non-technical courses to strengthen their understanding of both themselves and the world at large. 

Units
99-101Core@CMU3
76-101Interpretation and Argument9
38-101EUREKA!: Discovery and Its Impact6
38-110ENGAGE in Service1
38-220ENGAGE in the Arts2
38-230ENGAGE in Wellness: Looking Inward1
38-330ENGAGE in Wellness: Looking Outward1
38-304Reading and Writing Science 126
38-430ENGAGE in Wellness: Looking Forward1
xx-xxxCultural/Global Understanding Elective 139
xx-xxxFour Non-Technical Breadth Electives 1436
Total Non-Technical Elective Units75
12

Refer to the Mellon College of Science’s Science and Society list for alternate courses that will fulfill this requirement. Placement credit may not be used.

13

Refer to the Mellon College of Science’s Cultural/Global Understanding list for courses that will fulfill this requirement. Placement credit may not be used.

14

Refer to the Mellon College of Science’s Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences section for courses that will fulfill the non-technical electives requirement. Up to 18 units may be fulfilled through placement credit.

Free Electives

All students must complete a minimum of 360 units to earn a bachelor’s degree in the Mellon College of Science. Students are welcome to take more than the minimum 360 units required. The B.A. in Physics replaces 6 Technical Electives with Free Electives, compared to the B.S. in Physics.

Units
xx-xxxFree Electives 1572-80
Total Free Electives72-80
15

A maximum of 9 units of physical education and/or military science and/or STUCO courses may be counted towards degree requirements as free electives.

Physics Electives

Physics Breadth Electives

Students pursuing a B.S. in Physics must take at least one course from the Physics Breadth Elective list to gain experience in a subfield of physics. Some tracks have this course prescribed, while others allow free choice from this list. All of these courses may also be taken as Qualifying Physics Electives, but they may not fulfill both requirements simultaneously. 

Units
33-224Stars, Galaxies and the Universe9
33-226Physics of Energy9
33-353Intermediate Optics12
33-355Nanoscience and Nanotechnology9
33-431Stars and Black Holes9
33-432Galaxies9
33-433Cosmology9
33-441Introduction to Biophysics10
33-444Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics9
33-448Introduction to Solid State Physics9
33-650General Relativity9
Total Physics Breadth Elective Units9-12

Qualifying Physics Electives

Students pursuing a B.S. in Physics must take at least three courses totaling at least 27 units from the Qualifying Physics Elective list, not including the 100-level courses. Some tracks have these courses prescribed, while others allow free choice from this list, enabling students to choose between broad and in-depth study.

Students pursuing a B.A. in Physics must take at least two courses totaling at least 18 units from this list and may take only one of the 100-level courses.

Students pursuing a Minor in Physics must take at least three courses totaling at least 27 units from this list or non-prescribed courses from the Physics Core list.

While all courses on the Physics Breadth Elective list are also on the Qualifying Physics Elective list, a course may not fulfill both requirements simultaneously. Certain courses are offered only in alternate years, as indicated.

33-114Physics of Musical Sound
(B.A. and Minor only) a		9
33-115Physics for Future Presidents
(B.A. and Minor only) a		9
33-120Science and Science Fiction
(B.A. and Minor only) a		9
33-224Stars, Galaxies and the Universe9
33-226Physics of Energy9
33-241Introduction to Computational Physics9
33-332Physical Mechanics II10
33-339Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II10
33-342Advanced Thermal & Statistical Physics10
33-350Undergraduate Research bVar.
33-353Intermediate Optics12
33-355Nanoscience and Nanotechnology9
33-431Stars and Black Holes9
33-432Galaxies9
33-433Cosmology9
33-441Introduction to Biophysics10
33-444Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics9
33-445Advanced Quantum Physics I9
33-446Advanced Quantum Physics II9
33-448Introduction to Solid State Physics9
33-451Senior Research bVar.
33-456Advanced Computational Physics9
33-499Supervised Reading bVar.
33-650General Relativity9
33-658Quantum Computation and Quantum Information Theory10
33-659Modern Topics in Condensed Matter Physics12
33-7xxPhysics Graduate Level Courses (see list below)
Total Qualifying Physics Electives Units27-37
a

Only one of these three courses (33-114, 33-115, and 33-120) may be used for the B.A. These classes may not be used as Qualifying Physics Electives for the B.S.

b

Only one of these three courses (33-350, 33-451, and 33-499) of 9 units may be used as a Qualifying Physics Elective. To be counted as a Qualifying Physics Elective, all 9 units must be taken in a single semester. Any exceptions must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Affairs.

Qualifying Physics Electives Recommended for Physics Graduate School

Students planning to undertake graduate studies in physics are strongly advised to take the following courses, which may count as Qualifying Physics Electives and STEM Electives.

Units
33-332Physical Mechanics II10
33-339Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II10
33-445Advanced Quantum Physics I9
33-446Advanced Quantum Physics II9

Physics Graduate Courses

These courses are intended for graduate students in physics, but may be taken by advanced undergraduates as Qualifying Physics or STEM Electives. Undergraduate students require special permission of both the course instructor and the Director of Undergraduate Affairs to register for these classes.

Units
33-731Stars and Black Holes12
33-732Galaxies12
33-733Cosmology12
33-755Quantum Mechanics I12
33-756Quantum Mechanics II12
33-757Classical Mechanics12
33-761Classical Electrodynamics I12
33-762Classical Electrodynamics II12
33-765Statistical Mechanics12
33-767Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research12
33-769Quantum Mechanics III: Many Body and Relativistic Systems12
33-770Field Theory I12
33-771Field Theory II12
33-779Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics12
33-780Nuclear and Particle Physics II12
33-783Solid State Physics12
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