Requirements

Physics Major

The major requires nine courses.

Students pursuing honors are expected to take MATH 1800 Multivariate Calculus  (or placement above MATH 1800), PHYS 1130 Introductory Physics I  (or placement above PHYS 1130), PHYS 1140 Introductory Physics II, PHYS 2130 Electric Fields and Circuits, PHYS 2140 Quantum Physics and Relativity, PHYS 2150 Statistical Physics, PHYS 3000 Methods of Theoretical Physics, PHYS 4050, and four additional courses above PHYS 1140, three of which must be above PHYS 3000 and one of which can be the second semester of honors, PHYS 4051.

Physics Minor

The minor consists of at least four physics courses (completed at Bowdoin) numbered 1130 or higher, one of which must be PHYS 1140 Introductory Physics II.

Interdisciplinary Major

The department participates in the interdisciplinary major programs of chemical physics and physics and education. See the Interdisciplinary Majors.

• Students must earn a grade of C- or above in any prerequisite physics course. Up to two courses with a grade of D are allowed to be counted toward the major.
• Courses that count toward the major or minor must be taken for regular letter grades (not Credit/D/Fail).
• Majors must complete at least five physics courses at Bowdoin.
• Students interested in applying coursework taken at another college or university to the major or minor should consult the department.
• Up to two independent studies, including honors projects, may count towards the elective requirements of the major and one independent study may count toward the minor.
• Majors and minors may double-count an unlimited number of courses with another department or program. 
• The major program depends to some extent on the student’s goals, which should be discussed with the department. Those who intend to do graduate work in physics or an allied field should plan to do an honors project.
• Students considering a program in engineering should consult the Special Areas of Study.
• A major with an interest in an interdisciplinary area—such as geophysics, biophysics, or oceanography—should choose appropriate courses in related departments.
• Secondary school teaching requires a broad base in science courses, as well as the necessary courses for teacher certification. Students who know they want to do this should consider the physics and education interdisciplinary major.
• For a career in industrial management, some courses in economics and government should be included.

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate (AP/IB):

• Students who receive a minimum score of four on the Physics 1 AP exam are exempt from taking PHYS 1130 Introductory Physics I, and do not need to take an additional course to replace it. No AP credit is awarded for the Physics 2 AP exam.
• Students who receive a minimum score of four on the Physics C: Mechanics AP exam, or a minimum score of six on the Physics without Optics IB exam, are eligible to receive one credit toward the major, are exempt from taking PHYS 1130 Introductory Physics I, and are placed in PHYS 1140 Introductory Physics II. To earn the credit, a minimum grade of C- (not taken Credit/D/Fail) must be received in PHYS 1140 Introductory Physics II by the end of their junior year or no credit is awarded. Students who receive a minimum score of six on the Physics with Optics IB exam are eligible to receive one credit toward the major and have the option of being placed in either PHYS 1140 Introductory Physics II or PHYS 2130 Electric Fields and Circuits. To receive the credit, the student must earn a minimum grade of C- (not taken Credit/D/Fail) in the course in which they choose to be placed, and are strongly encouraged to complete the required course by the end of their junior year or prior.
  • Minors meeting either of the criteria above are exempt from taking PHYS 1130 Introductory Physics I, but must take at least four Bowdoin physics courses.
• No credit is awarded for the Physics 2 or Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP exams.
• In order to receive credit for AP/IB work, students must have their scores officially reported to the Office of the Registrar by the end of their sophomore year at Bowdoin.

Interdisciplinary Majors

The Department of Physics and Astronomy participates in an interdisciplinary major, Chemical Physics, with the Department of Chemistry as well as an interdisciplinary major, Physics and Education, with the Department of Education. See the Interdisciplinary Majors section for more information. In addition, students are able to declare a coordinate major between physics and digital and computational studies, education, or environmental studies as well.

The Departments of Physics and Earth and Oceanographic Science have identified major/minor pathways for students interested in majoring in physics with an earth and oceanographic science application (physics major/earth and oceanographic science minor) and for students interested in majoring in earth and oceanographic science with a physics application (earth and oceanographic science major/physics minor).

Students pursuing the physics major/earth and oceanographic science minor with interests in the solid earth discipline would be best served by selecting:

 Those with interests in the surface earth discipline should select:

 Those with interests in the oceanography discipline should choose:

Physics and 3-2 Engineering

Please consult the Special Areas of Study section for additional information. Students planning to pursue one of the 3-2 engineering options and graduating with a physics degree must take:

Other courses are expected by the partnering engineering institution and students should contact the advisor in Bowdoin's Department of Physics and Astronomy for more information.