B.S. in Physics: Option in Materials Science, 2021-2022 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet

This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years. This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. Students should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.

Please note that your Major Specific Requirements (MSRs) are bolded in the document and are also listed as an "MSR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.25 or higher in the STEM MSR suite.

Pre-Physics first-time freshmen must complete MATH 123 or higher within one year of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
MATH 122
(area B4)
Calculus I (4) Appropriate placement, MATH 111 and either 112B or 113 MSR
PHYS 151 Mechanics and Heat (4) Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122, 123, or 224 MSR
GE (area A2) Written Communication (3)   MSR
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
NSCI 190A Experience Success Program 1 (1)   Fall only

Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
MATH 123
(area B4)
Calculus II (4) MATH 122 MSR
PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4) PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123 MSR
GE (area A1) Oral Communication (3)   MSR
GE (area A3) Critical Thinking (3)   MSR
Elective Elective (1)    

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
MATH 224 Calculus III (4) MATH 123  
PHYS 254 Applied Modern Physics (3) PHYS 152, Corequisite: MATH 224  
PHYS 255 Laboratory on Modern Physics (1) Pre/Corequisite: PHYS 254  
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective (1)    

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3) MATH 123  
PHYS 310;
OR
PHYS 360
Analytic Mechanics (3);
OR
Physics with Symbolic Algebra Software (3)
PHYS 151. Corequisite: MATH 364A or 370A or 247;
OR
PHYS 254, Corequisite: MATH 247
 
PHYS 380 Electronics (4) PHYS 152 and 255 Spring only
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective (1)    

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3) MATH 224 and Pre/Corequisite: 247  
PHYS 310;
OR
PHYS 360
Analytic Mechanics (3);
OR
Physics with Symbolic Algebra Software (3)
PHYS 151, Corequisite: MATH 364A or 370A or 247;
OR
PHYS 254, Corequisite: MATH 247
 
PHYS 320 Thermodynamics (3) PHYS 152, Pre/Corequisite: PHYS 254 Fall only
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective (3)    

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
PHYS 340A Electricity and Magnetism I (3) PHYS 152 and 310, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 364A or 370A Spring only
PHYS 350 Modern Physics (3) PHYS 310 and 254, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 370A or 364A Spring only
CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5) CPT score of 24 or higher, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112B or higher  
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Upper Division Elective Math (3)    

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
PHYS 340B Electricity and Magnetism II (3) PHYS 340A, MATH 364A or 370A Fall only
PHYS 450 Quantum Physics (3) PHYS 340A and 350 Fall only
GE (area B2) Life Science (3-4)   B2NL is okay
PHYS 385 Materials Science (3) CHEM 111A or 112A, PHYS 152, CHEM 111B or 112B or PHYS 320 Recommend CHEM 111B
GE Upper Division (area B-UD, C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation GWAR/WI

Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
Upper Division Elective Physics (3)    
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
PHYS 385L Materials Science Lab (2) CHEM 111A or 112A, PHYS 152, CHEM 111B or 112B or PHYS 320  
GE Upper Division (area B-UD, C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation  
GE Upper Division (area B-UD, C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation  
PHYS 385C Materials Science Colloquium (1) CHEM 111A and PHYS 152 and either CHEM 111B or PHYS 320