B.A. in Physics, 2024-2025 Catalog
Four Year Degree Worksheet for: B.A. in Physics - CSULB Catalog (2024-2025)
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.
CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.
Major-Specific Degree Requirements
Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for CSULB Students.
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.
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 | MSDR |
| PHYS 151 | Mechanics and Heat (4) | Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122, 123, or 224 | MSDR |
| GE (area A2) | Written Communication (3) | Composition I | MSDR |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| NSCI 190A | Experience Success Program 1 (1) | Fall only |
Year 1 - Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 123 (area B4) | Calculus II (4) | MATH 122 | MSDR |
| PHYS 152 | Electricity and Magnetism (4) | PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123 | MSDR |
| GE (area A1) | Oral Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area A3) | Critical Thinking (3) | MSDR | |
| Elective | Elective (1) |
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, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 224 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) |
Year 2 - Semester 4
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 310; OR PHYS 360 | Analytical Mechanics (3); OR Physics with Symbolic Algebra Software (3) | PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 247, 364A, or 370A | |
| BIOL 200; OR CHEM 111A | General Biology (3); OR General Chemistry (3) | ||
| MATH 247 | Introduction to Linear Algebra (3) | MATH 123 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) |
Year 3 - Semester 5
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 310; OR PHYS 360 | Analytical Mechanics (3); OR Physics with Symbolic Algebra Software (3) | PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 247, 364A, or 370A | |
| PHYS 390; OR Approved Elective | Exploring Physics Teaching (3); OR Physics (3) | PHYS 151 and consent of instructor | |
| MATH 361A | Introduction to Mathematics Analysis I (3) | MATH 224 and 233 | |
| Elective | Elective (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) |
Year 3 - Semester 6
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 340A; OR Physics UD Elective | Electricity and Magnetism (3); OR Physics (3) | PHYS 152 and 310, Pre-Corequisites: MATH 370A and 364A | Spring only |
| PHYS 350 | Quantum Physics I (3) | PHYS 254 and 310, Pre-Corequisites: MATH 370A and 364A | Spring only |
| MATH 364A | Ordinary Differential Equations I (3) | MATH 224, Pre-Corequisites: MATH 247 | |
| PHYS 495 | Colloquium (1) | Consent of instructor | |
| Elective | Elective (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) |
Year 4 - Semester 7
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 320 | Thermodynamics (3) | PHYS 152, Pre-Corequisites: PHYS 254 | Fall only |
| PHYS 450; OR Physics UD Elective | Quantum Physics II (3); OR Physics (3) | PHYS 340A and 350 | Fall only |
| PHYS 44x (UD physics lab); OR PHYS 401, AND PHYS 495, AND PHYS 496; OR Elective | Advanced Laboratory in Physics [400-level] (3); OR Preparing for the Physics Profession (1), AND Colloquium (1), AND Special Problems in Physics (1); OR Elective (3) | Consent of instructor | |
| EDSS 300C; OR Physics UD Elective | Introduction to Teaching (3); OR Physics (3) | See catalog | |
| GE Upper Division (C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation |
Year 4 - Semester 8
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 422; OR Elective | Physics Approved Upper Division (3); OR Elective (3) | PHYS 310, 320, and 350 | |
| Physics UD Elective | Physics (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation | |
| Elective | Elective (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) |
