The Physics Major

• Introduction
• Requirements
• Courses

The intellectual value of Physics as a science can hardly be overstated. Physics is concerned with the most fundamental questions one can ask about the physical world: What is it, ultimately, made of? What rules govern its behavior? How do simple laws of nature lead to diverse phenomena?

Physicists address more practical matters as well: the understanding of magnetic materials and semiconductors and optics which was pioneered by physicists in the 20th century made possible the development of computers and communications networks thanks to which you can read this webpage today. Physicists are not limited to studying only certain kinds of questions that fall within the traditional domain of physics: they work with biologists and biochemists to explore cells and viruses; they work with atmospheric scientists in sensing the properties of the upper atmosphere; they work with chemists in finding new materials for diverse applications. Of course they also continue to study atoms and subnuclear particles and other more traditional physics topics, but what characterizes a "physicist's approach" to any problem are precise and innovative experimental techniques and detailed theoretical analyses.

The value of a Physics degree in the marketplace is also an important matter: if you're going to work as hard as an Engineering student, shouldn't you be rewarded commensurately? It must be admitted that students of Physics do not have a clearly laid out career path in the same way as Engineering majors, but that is because an undergraduate degree in Physics can serve as a launching point for diverse career trajectories. Students of Physics do tend to do well in their careers; see, for example, a summary of a recent report from the American Institute of Physics. Those individuals who are employed as physicists tend to do very well financially, as can be see in salary surveys.

What do CSU Physics majors do after graduating?

• Some go on to advanced study in Physics. Our majors are prepared for the most rigorous graduate programs; recent students have entered Physics Ph.D. programs at Cambridge, Yale, University of Maryland and University of California, among others.
• Some go on to advanced study in other fields, such as Engineering, Atmospheric Science, and Medical Physics. Our colleagues in the Engineering College are generally very happy to take on students with undergraduate Physics degrees as graduate students; if you want to work on the leading edge in almost any area of technology a bachelor's in Physics offers a sound foundation on which to build.
• Students who have gone directly into the workforce have been hired by companies such as Agilent, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon.

A strength of the Colorado State University Physics Department is a friendly and informal relationship between students and faculty. The undergraduate study room and the Society of Physics Students bring together students with a common interest in physics. Physics majors often become involved in research and the Little Shop of Physics.  We hope that every physics student will get to know many of the faculty members and consult with them freely to understand concepts both inside and outside of the normal curriculum, and to plan for future employment or for graduate studies.

A distinguishing feature of our undergraduate curriculum is an emphasis on laboratory work.  There are six courses which either have a laboratory component or are which entirely laboratory-based:  the two introductory courses, Electronics, Modern Physics Lab, Optics and Waves, and Advanced Physics Lab.

Physics majors are strongly encouraged to participate in research. Many majors work on a research project at CSU as part of the curriculum, during a summer job, or through the Work-Study Program. This is arranged by mutual agreement of the student and faculty member and is usually initiated by the student. There are many opportunities for research at other institutions during summers, thanks to the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation. There are even opportunities abroad, such as those available through the German Academic Exchange Service.

Scholarships for Physics Majors

Physics majors who are full-time students are automatically considered for the First-Year Physics Scholarship upon completion of PH142, and later may apply for other awards: the Alumni Scholarship, the Weber Scholarship, and the Winder Scholarship. During the first few weeks of each semester the Physics Department Scholarship Committee will email a call for applications for these scholarships to all Physics majors. The Weber and Alumni scholarships are awarded based on factors including performance in coursework and undergraduate research, letters of recommendations, and an interview. The intention of the Weber Scholarship is to recognize the most outstanding Physics majors, while the intention of the Alumni Scholarship is to recognize less senior Physics majors who show particular promise. The Winder Scholarship is awarded based on a specific research proposal which is endorsed by a faculty member; its intention is to provide some support of research projects for which other sources of funding are unavailable.

Physics majors are also eligible for some College of Natural Science awards associated with on-campus undergraduate research. The Undergraduate Research Institute is restricted to students doing research in physical and mathematical sciences. The Sites-Regelson Scholarship is restricted to Physics and Computer Science majors. Information on those two programs may be found on the College's website.

Minor in Physics

Students in other fields may find that some upper division courses in Physics are valuable, and a Minor in Physics is offered to recognize their efforts. See the Physics Minor Checklist for details. Beyond the introductory Physics sequence, the Introduction to Modern Physics (4 credit) course and 8 further credits in Physics (and optionally Astronomy) courses are required.

Major Requirements

The Colorado State University Physics major is designed to give each student a good basic background in physics, but allow flexibility in course selection so students can prepare for diverse careers. The Physics major is offered in two "concentrations", Physics and Applied Physics, which have most requirements in common and which lead to the same degree (B.S. in Physics).

Traditionally, most physics students have followed the Physics concentration. Recently, however, there has been increased demand for people with an educational background that transcends traditional areas of specialization. More and more people study one field as an undergraduate and another as a graduate student, or have two areas of undergraduate concentration. They should consider the Applied Physics concentration.

All physics majors are required to take a core set of courses in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Communications. To round out your curriculum, you select courses that fit your personal interests and long-term goals. There are also University breadth requirements (the All-University Core Curriculm) that give your education greater diversity. The Physics Major Checklist specifies all these requirements in a convenient form. Substitutions for departmentally required courses can be made upon written approval of the Key Advisor. Waivers of departmental requirements can be authorized only by the Department Chair.

For students transferring into Physics from other majors, the following substitutions are acceptable, upon advisor approval, if grades of C- or higher were obtained: M155 for M160, EE 201 for PH 245, EE 341 and EE 342 for PH 351, ME 237 and ME 337 for PH 361. However, CE 260, CE 261, and CE 262  are not considered substitutes for PH 341.