The physics program consists of 35 credit hours in physics, 18 credit hours in mathematics, 8 credit hours in chemistry, 3 credit hours in biology electives, and 18 credit hours in other electives. 19 credit hours are in free electives, which is enough to complete a minor or second major if you so choose.
Click here for a sample curriculum schedule
All courses are 3 credits unless noted.
Clarkson Common Experience
The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)
Physics Core Requirements
Students are required to complete the following courses:
Physics/Chemistry
- PH121 Physics Freshman Seminar (1 credits)
- PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
- PH132 (Physics II (4 credits)
- PH221 Theoretical Mechanics
- PH231 Fundamentals of Modern Physics
- PH232 Modern Physics Laboratory (1 credits)
- PH325 Thermal Physics
- PH327 Experimental Physics I (1-3 credits)
- PH331 Quantum Physics I
- PH380 Electromagnetic Theory
- CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
- CM132 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
Professional Experience
Students are required to complete one of the following Professional Experiences:
PH445 Senior Thesis I
or PH478 Directed Research in Experimental Physics
or PH479 Directed Research in Theoretical Physics
or PH480 Internship/Co-op in Physics
Physics Core Electives
Physics Electives
Students must complete at least 12 credits from the following courses:
- Physics (PH) electives 200-level and above
Students must complete one of the following courses:
- PH445 Undergraduate Thesis I (3 credits)
- PH446 Undergraduate Thesis II (3 credits)
- PH470-473 Directed Study Experimental (3 credits)
- PH474-477 Directed Study Theoretical (3 credits)
Biology Elective
Students must complete one of the following courses:
- Biology (BY) 3-credit elective
Math Courses for Physics
Students must complete the following four courses:
- MA131 Calculus I
- MA132 Calculus II
- MA231 Calculus III
- MA232 Elementary Differential Equations
Mathematics
Students must complete one of the following courses:
- MA331 Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems
- MA313 Abstract Linear Algebra
- MA339 Applied Linear Algebra
Statistics
Students must complete one of the following courses:
- STAT381 Probability
- STAT383 Probability and Statistics
Physics Electives
Information Technology Elective
Students must complete 3 credits in information technology electives.
Technology Elective
Students must complete 3 credits in technology electives.
Concentration Electives
Students must complete 9 credits of concentration electives. All of these must be in one area outside of physics; an area need not be a department. Concentration electives allow students to explore another field of interest outside physics.
Knowledge Area/University Course Electives
Students will have at least 15 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.
Free Electives
Students will have approximately 19 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.