Physics, B.A.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Physics.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program is designed for those who are planning for a non-research career in a field which nevertheless has an important science component. Examples include patent law, environmental law enforcement, medicine or sales or management in a high-technology industry.
Undergraduate Contact Information:
Dr. Bernd Surrow, Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 406
215-204-7736
Dr. Adrienn Ruzsinszky, Vice Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 708
215-204-8479
Dr. Zbigniew Dziembowski, Faculty Advisor
Science Education and Research Center, Room 412
215-204-7639
zbig.dziembowski@temple.edu
Bachelor of Arts
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
- Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
- All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours PHYS 2796 Introduction to Modern Physics 4 PHYS 4796 Experimental Physics 3 - Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
- See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
- Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
- Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
- College Requirements
- 45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- 90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- Two (2) Upper Level (2000+) Liberal Art courses.
- Second (2nd) Level of a Foreign Language (1002).
- All students in the College of Science and Technology are required to take a one credit first year seminar. SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year CST major. Transfer students should use SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page.
- Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (56 s.h.)
At least 7 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 5 Physics courses must be completed at Temple.Course List Code Title Credit Hours Mathematics MATH 1041 Calculus I 4 or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I MATH 1042 Calculus II 4 or MATH 1942 Honors Calculus II MATH 2043 Calculus III 4 or MATH 2943 Honors Calculus III Sequenced Science Courses 1 Select one of the following sequences: 8 General Biology I
and General Biology II 2Introduction to Organismal Biology
and Introduction to Cellular and Molecular BiologyHonors Introduction to Organismal Biology
and Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular BiologyGeneral Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIPhysical Geology (and a 2000+ Elective) Physics Courses PHYS 1008 Physics Seminar I 1 Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics I Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) General Physics I Honors General Physics I (F) Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics II Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) General Physics II Honors General Physics II (S) PHYS 2101 Classical Mechanics (S) 3 PHYS 2502 Mathematical Physics (S) 4 PHYS 2796 Introduction to Modern Physics (S) 4 PHYS 3301 Electricity and Magnetism (F) 4 PHYS 4796 Experimental Physics (S) 3 Physics Electives Select three of the following: 9 Introduction to Astronomy (F) Scientific Computing I
and Scientific Computing IIAnalytical Mechanics (F) Classical Electromagnetism (S) Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I (S) Thermal Physics (F) Electronics (S - odd years) Optics (F) Introduction to Solid State Physics (S - even years) Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II (F) Total Credit Hours 56 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (F) - Fall only course (S) - Spring only course Note: PHYS 3091 is not available for major credit.
1 Students are required to take a two-semester sequence of laboratory science electives not within physics. The science courses can be chosen from Biology, Chemistry, or Earth & Environmental Science.
2 BIOL 1011 is a Fall only course; BIOL 1012 is a Spring only course.
Calculation of Major GPA
Courses listed under the major requirements for the degree will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. Courses that could not apply toward the major as an elective or required course would not be counted in the calculation of the major GPA. This would include MATH 1022, for example.
Distinction in Major
A student who wishes to graduate with distinction in the major must complete all courses required for the physics major with a GPA of 3.5 or better, and carry out an independent study or undergraduate thesis project. Consult the undergraduate physics advisor for more details.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Arts in Physics
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MATH 1041 or 1941 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHYS 1008 | Physics Seminar I | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Honors General Physics I (F) | ||
| SCTC 1001 | CST First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 1042 or 1942 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Honors General Physics II (S) | ||
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 2043 or 2943 | Calculus III | 4 |
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Elective | 9 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 2502 | Mathematical Physics (S) | 4 |
| PHYS 2796 | Introduction to Modern Physics [WI] (S) | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4-3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 3301 | Electricity and Magnetism (F) | 4 |
| Sequenced Science Part 11 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 2101 | Classical Mechanics (S) | 3 |
| Sequenced Science Part 21 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Physics Elective2 | 3 | |
| Physics Elective2 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 7 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 4796 | Experimental Physics [WI] (S) | 3 |
| Physics Elective2 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 123 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| (F) - Fall only course | ||
| (S) - Spring only course | ||
| 1 | Select from the Sequenced Science Courses list under Requirements. |
| 2 | Select from the Physics Electives list under Requirements. |