Physics Major
Physics Major
Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Physics advisor, meet physics faculty engaged in Pure & Applied Physics research, attend departmental seminars, and explore ways that Physics relates to research undertaken by faculty in other disciplines.
For more information, contact:
Bodhi Rogers (Physics advisor)
Office:North Classroom 3123B
These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
Program Delivery
This is an on-campus program.
Declaring This Major
Click here to go to information about declaring a major.
General Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the three areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
CU Denver General Graduation Requirements
CU Denver Core Curriculum
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduation Requirements
Click here for information about Academic Policies
Program Requirements
Students must complete a total of 63 credits, including a minimum of 47 PHYS credit hours and 16 credit hours in ancillary coursework.
Students must complete a minimum of 16 PHYS upper-division (3000-level and above) credit hours in the major.
Students must earn a minimum grade of C-(1.7) in all major courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
Students must complete a minimum of 12 PHYS credit hours with CU Denver faculty.
Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations
Students must declare their intention to major in Physics by the time they have completed 60 semester hours
The introductory labs, PHYS 2351 and PHYS 2361, are required for all physics majors. If the department is unable to offer one or both of these labs then PHYS 2321 may be substituted for PHYS 2351 and PHYS 2341 may be substituted for PHYS 2361, upon prior advisor approval.
Students earning a Physics major cannot earn a Physics minor. A senior thesis is required for all students wishing to graduate with departmental honors. For all other students, the faculty encourages a senior thesis or project.
Take all of the following required courses:
PHYS 2311 - General Physics I: Calculus-Based
PHYS 2351 - Applied Physics Lab I
PHYS 2331 - General Physics II: Calculus-Based
PHYS 2361 - Applied Physics Lab II
PHYS 2711 - Vibrations and Waves
PHYS 2811 - Modern Physics I
PHYS 3120 - Methods of Mathematical Physics
PHYS 3711 - Junior Laboratory I
PHYS 3811 - Quantum Mechanics
Take all of the following ancillary courses:
MATH 1401 - Calculus I
MATH 2411 - Calculus II
MATH 2421 - Calculus III
MATH 3195 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations OR
MATH 3191 - Applied Linear Algebra and
MATH 3200 - Elementary Differential Equations
Take all of the following Pure and Applied Physics track courses:
PHYS 3211 - Analytical Mechanics
PHYS 3411 - Thermal Physics
PHYS 3721 - Junior Laboratory II
PHYS 4331 - Principles of Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 4711 - Senior Laboratory I
(or a course in computational physics approved by advisor)
Take six 3000-level or above PHYS credit hours, including up to 3 semester hours of directed research or independent study.
