2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| PHYS 2504 | Math Methods in Physics 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 3314 | Intermediate Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 3324 | Modern Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 3355 | Intermediate Mechanics 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 3405 | Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 3704 | Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 4315 | Modern Experimental Physics 1 | 2 |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Option Required Courses 2 | ||
| PHYS 2325 & PHYS 2326 | Seminar for Physics Majors and Seminar for Physics Majors 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 3655 | Introduction to Astrophysics 1 | 3 |
| or PHYS 3656 | Introduction to Astrophysics | |
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 2114H | Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 2204H | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | |
| MATH 3214 | Calculus of Several Variables 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Programming in Python | ||
| Introduction to Software Design | ||
| Computational Engineering | ||
| Computational Methods 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 16 | |
| Science Courses | ||
| Select 20-22 credit from one of the following four emphases: | 20 | |
| Astronomy Emphasis | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
| Astronomy Laboratory | ||
PHYS 2114 | ||
| Observational Astrophysics 1 | ||
| Introduction to Astrophysics 3 | ||
or PHYS 3656 | Introduction to Astrophysics | |
| Principles of Biology | ||
| General Chemistry 1 | ||
| Biology Emphasis | ||
| Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | ||
BIOL course 4 | ||
BIOL course 4 | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
or GEOS 1004 | Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future | |
| General Chemistry 1 | ||
| Chemistry Emphasis | ||
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry 1 | ||
| General Chemistry Laboratory and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | ||
CHEM course 4 | ||
CHEM course 4 | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
or GEOS 1004 | Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future | |
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Geology Emphasis | ||
| Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Introduction to Earth Sciences Laboratory | ||
| Earth Resources, Society, and Environment | ||
| Earth Resources, Society and Environment Laboratory | ||
GEOS course 4 | ||
GEOS course 4 | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| General Chemistry 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 20 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantum Information Technologies 1 | ||
| Quantum Optics and Qubit Processors 1 | ||
| Introduction to Nuclear Physics 1 | ||
| Intro Particle Physics 1 | ||
| Quantitative Analysis of Physics Experiments 1 | ||
| Introduction to Solid State Physics 1 | ||
| Polymer Physics 1 | ||
| Nanotechnology 1 | ||
| Optics 1 | ||
| Modern Classical Physics 1 | ||
| Modern Cosmology 1 | ||
| Astroparticle Physics 1 | ||
| Introduction to General Relativity 1 | ||
| Introduction to Biophysics 1 | ||
| Soft Matter Physics 1 | ||
| Introduction to Computational Physics 1 | ||
| Intro to Physics of Galaxies 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| Free Electives (Students may need to complete less credit hours in this category depending on choices in categories above) | ||
| Select 8-11 credits | 11 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse 5 | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| Select three credits in Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences 5 | ||
| PHYS 2305 & PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics and Foundations of Physics 1 | 8 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking 5 | ||
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | 4 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | 4 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations (5A) 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 2214H | Introduction to Differential Equations | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select 6 credits. 3 in design + 3 in arts, or 6 in integrated design & arts) | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Select three credits Pathway 7 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Indicates a course with prerequisites or corequisites.
MATH 1225 Calculus of a Single Variable-MATH 1226 Calculus of a Single Variable1 and MATH 2214 Introduction to Differential Equations1 or MATH 2214H Introduction to Differential Equations1 and PHYS 2305 Foundations of Physics-PHYS 2306 Foundations of Physics1 are also required of all Physics Majors within the B.A. Degree Program in Physics. They are listed in Pathways to General Education Requirements.
Exclusive of the choice made in Option Required Courses.
2000-level or higher. These courses may have prerequisites or corequisites
The following course sequence is required of all students majoring in Physics within the B.A. Degree in Physics.
A student will be certified as making satisfactory progress toward the B.A. degree in Physics by satisfying the university’s academic eligibility requirements, as well as the following requirements:
Each student is required to participate in the department’s Outcomes Assessment procedures as determined by each year’s Undergraduate Program Committee and approved by the Department Chair.
A minimum of 120 credit hours must be completed for graduation. A minimum overall and in-major GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation. All PHYS courses attempted are used in the calculation of the in-major GPA. Non-PHYS courses used as Accepted Substitutions are not used in the calculation of the in-major GPA.
Courses in this checksheet marked with Footnote 1 have prerequisites or corequisites. Please check with your advisor or consult the Undergraduate Course Catalog.
Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six credits of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the credits required for graduation. Please consult the Undergraduate Course Catalog for details.
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