The traditional undergraduate physics program includes electricity and magnetism, experimental physics, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Physics
The following table summarizes all requirements for a Bachelor of Science in traditional physics. For an overview of a particular course, click on its title. Our Course Descriptions page lists all physics and pre-engineering courses. For one possible breakdown of the major by semester, see the Plan of Study.
* The School of Arts and Sciences requires all majors to complete a foreign language course at the 202 level or higher. Students not prepared to begin at this level will need to take additional courses in the language, which count as general electives.
† The Clare College curriculum also includes a three-credit quantitative reasoning requirement. Physics majors satisfy this requirement by passing any of the courses listed in the above table under Mathematics.
The comprehensive requirement for physics majors is the passing of an oral examination (PHYS 490. Physics Senior Comprehensive) in the second semester of the senior year.
Requirements for a Minor in Physics
For non-majors, the following courses constitute a minor in physics. For an overview of a particular course, click on its title. Our Course Descriptions pages lists all physics and pre-engineering courses.
One must take MATH 151. Calculus I, MATH 152. Calculus II, MATH 251. Calculus III, and MATH 252. Ordinary Differential Equations to satisfy the prerequisites of the courses above.
To declare a minor in physics, a special form must be filled out and filed with the Records Office by the end of the student's junior year. The appropriate form is available from the student's advisor.