Recommended Honors College Curriculum
Total Credits: 120
This webpage provides an accessible overview of the recommended Honors sequence in Physics. For advising or official record use, consult the full catalog and approved elective lists.
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
- ENL 101H – Critical Writing & Reading I (3 credits)
- PHY 113H – Classical Physics I (4 credits)
- PHY 109H – Freshman Seminar (3 credits)
- MTH 151 – Calculus I (4 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
Semester Total: 17 credits
Spring Semester
- ENL 102H – Critical Writing & Reading II (3 credits)
- PHY 114H – Classical Physics II (4 credits)
- MTH 152 – Calculus II (4 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 17 credits
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
- PHY 115 – Introduction to Classical Physics (3 credits)
- PHY 225 – Introductory Experimental Physics I (3 credits)
- MTH 211 – Analytic Geometry & Calculus III (4 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
Semester Total: 13 credits
Spring Semester
- PHY 213H – Applied Modern Physics (3 credits)
- MTH 280 – Introduction to Scientific Programming (3 credits)
- PHY 234 – Intermediate Mathematical Physics (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (1 credit)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 13 credits
Junior Year
Fall Semester
- PHY 313 – Mechanics (3 credits)
- PHY 322 – Electronic Devices & Circuits II (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (3 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
- Science Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Spring Semester
- PHY 341 – Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
- PHY 411 – Electric & Magnetic Fields I (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (3 credits)
- HON 301 – Research Across Disciplines (3 credits)
- Science Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Senior Year
Fall Semester
- PHY 342 – Quantum Mechanics II (3 credits)
- PHY 421 – Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (300+ level) (3 credits)
- PHY 490H – Senior Thesis (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Spring Semester
- PHY Physics Elective (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (300+ level) (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (300+/Capstone) (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Curriculum Notes
- To graduate with a BS in Physics, students must complete at least 120 credits, including 45 approved Physics credits, 12 credits in specified Mathematics courses, 6 credits in a second science, mathematics, or engineering, and 30 credits at the 300 level or higher.
- Students are required to consult with their advisor prior to registration.
- Honors students who earn below a grade of B in PHY 111/113, PHY 112/114, or PHY 213 must consult with their advisor before the start of the next semester to develop an academic improvement strategy.
- PHY 111 and PHY 112 may substitute for PHY 113 and PHY 114, respectively.
- PHY 109 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1E.
- University Studies requirements should be selected from Clusters 3 and 4. HON 301 satisfies Cluster 4C.
- MTH 153, MTH 154, and MTH 213 may substitute for MTH 151, MTH 152, and MTH 211, respectively.
- PHY 114 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2A.
- PHY 115 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2B.
- PHY 225 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1C (Intermediate Writing).
- Science electives must be two courses from the same department. Approved departments include BIO, CHM, CIS, CEN, ECE, MNE, MTH, or Astrophysics (PHY 252 and PHY 363), subject to advisor approval.
- An approved capstone study, such as PHY 490 Senior Thesis or certain 400-level courses, satisfies University Studies Clusters 5A and 5B.
- PHY 152H, “Stars, Planets, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life,” is not counted toward Physics major credit.