Requirements
Physics Major
The major requires nine courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
Mathematics through 1700, or placement above 1700 | 1 | |
PHYS 1130 | Introductory Physics I (or placement above 1130) | 1 |
PHYS 1140 | Introductory Physics II | 1 |
PHYS 2130 | Electric Fields and Circuits | 1 |
PHYS 2140 | Quantum Physics and Relativity | 1 |
PHYS 2150 | Statistical Physics | 1 |
Select one of the following advanced methods courses: | 1 | |
PHYS 3000 | Methods of Theoretical Physics | |
PHYS 3010 | Methods of Experimental Physics | |
PHYS 3020 | Methods of Computational Physics | |
Select two additional approved courses higher than 1140. a | 2 |
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.
a | One may be a physics course numbered below PHYS 1110, or MATH 1800 Multivariate Calculus or higher; or CSCI 1101 Introduction to Computer Science. |
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.
Additional Information and Department Policies
- 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:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
EOS 1105 | Introducing Earth | |
EOS 2005/ENVS 2221 | Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change | |
Select two of the following: | ||
EOS 2125 | Field Studies in Structural Geology | |
EOS 2145 | The Plate Tectonics Revolution | |
EOS 2155 | Geomechanics and Numerical Modeling | |
EOS 2165 | Mountains to Trenches: Petrology and Process | |
EOS 3115 | Research in Mineral Science |
Those with interests in the surface earth discipline should select:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
EOS 1305/ENVS 1104 | Environmental Geology and Hydrology | |
EOS 2005/ENVS 2221 | Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change | |
EOS 2325 | Environmental Chemistry | |
EOS 2345/ENVS 2270 | Geomorphology: Form and Process at the Earth's Surface |
Those with interests in the oceanography discipline should choose:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
EOS 1505 | Oceanography | |
EOS 2005/ENVS 2221 | Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change | |
Select two of the following: | ||
EOS 2525 | Marine Biogeochemistry | |
EOS 2530 | Poles Apart: Exploration of Earth’s High Latitudes | |
EOS 2540 | Equatorial Oceanography | |
EOS 2550 | Satellite Remote Sensing of the Ocean | |
EOS 2585/ENVS 2282 | Ocean and Climate | |
EOS 3515 | Research in Oceanography: Topics in Paleoceanography |
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:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHYS 1140 | Introductory Physics II | 1 |
PHYS 2130 | Electric Fields and Circuits | 1 |
PHYS 2150 | Statistical Physics | 1 |
PHYS 3000 | Methods of Theoretical Physics | 1 |
or MATH 2208 | Ordinary Differential Equations | |
CHEM 1102 | Introductory Chemistry II | 1 |
or CHEM 1109 | General Chemistry | |
MATH 1800 or higher | ||
CSCI 1101 | Introduction to Computer Science | 1 |
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.
This is an excerpt from the official Bowdoin College Catalogue and Academic Handbook. View the Catalogue