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Four-Year
Plan: Physics Major and Astronomy Minor
The following is a sample four-year plan of courses for a student planning on a career in astronomy. These students
should major in physics, minor in astronomy, and plan their programs with Prof. L. Molnar or Prof. D. Haarsma. The
schedule below has no overlap between the major and the minor. Some overlap is allowed, but the rules for overlap
(see p.41 of the 2009-2010 catalog)
are hard to apply given the large number of 1- and 2-credit hour courses. Students planning on graduate school
should take as many of the 300-level physics theory and lab courses as possible (the square brackets give suggestions
for how this might be done).
This sample plan is meant to illustrate the feasibility of completing this full program in 4 years. Schedules for
individual students will of course vary, depending on their high school background and future interests.
Students are responsible for consulting the Calvin College
Course Catalog for the most complete and recent information and for constructing their own four year plan. Note that the
major requires one semester of Phys195 and three semesters of Phys295 or Phys296, but it is recommended
that students take the seminar course every semester, as shown in these plans.
For students entering Fall 2009 and odd-years following.
| Year |
FALL |
INTERIM |
SPRING |
|
1 |
Phys 133 (4) Mechanics & Gravity
Math 171 (4) Calculus I
Foreign Language #1 (4)
English 101 (3))
IDIS 149 (1) Prelude
Phys195 (0)
Total 16 hrs
|
DCM |
Phys
134 (4) Matter, Space, and Energy
Math
172 (4) Calculus II
Foreign
Language #2 (4)
Bibl/Theol
Found I (3)
PE
#1 (1)
Phys195 (0)
total
16 hrs |
|
2 |
Phys
235 (4) Electricity & Magnetism
Math
271 (4) Multivariate Calculus
History (4)
PE #2 (1)
CS106 (4)
Phys195 (0)
total
17 hrs
|
Cross
Cultural Core
|
Phys
306 (4) Intro to Quantum Physics
Astr
212 (4) Galactic Astronomy & Cosmology
Math 231 (4) Diff. Equat. & Linear Algebra
Rhetoric in Culture (3)
PE #3 (1)
Phys195 (0)
total
16 hrs
|
| 3 |
Phys
335 (3) Classical Mechanics I
Phys
375 (3) Quantum Mechanics I
Phys
380 (2) Great Experiments in Physics
Phil 153 (3)
Literature (3)
Persons
in Community (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
17 hrs
|
Elective |
Phys
246 (4) Waves, Optics, and Optical Technology
Phys
336 (3) Classical II OR
Phys 376 (3) Quantum II
Astr
211 (4) Planetary & Stellar Astronomy
Astr
384 (2) Modern Observational Astronomy
Bibl/Theol
Found II (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
16 hrs |
|
4 |
Phys
345 (4) Electromagnetism
Phys
365 (4) Thermodynamics
Phys
381 (2) Electronic Instrumentation
Elective Math 333 (4)
Global
& Historical Studies (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
16 hrs |
Elective |
Elective
[Phys 346 (3) Advanced Optics]
Elective
[Phys 386 (2) Optics Lab ]
Astr
395 (1) Astronomy Research & Writing
Societal
Structures (3)
Arts
(3)
Capstone
(3)
Phys295 (0)
total
15 hrs
|
Some courses are offered only in alternate years. For
students entering in Fall 2010 (and even-numbered years thereafter), years 2, 3, and 4 would be:
| Year |
FALL |
INTERIM |
SPRING |
|
2 |
Phys
235 (4) Electricity & Magnetism
Math
271 (4) Multivariate Calculus
History (4)
PE #2 (1)
CS106 (4)
Phys195(0)
total
17 hrs
|
Cross
Cultural Core
|
Phys
246 (4) Waves, Optics, and Optical Technology
Astr 211 (4) Planetary & Stellar Astronomy
Math 231 (4) Diff. Equat. & Linear Algebra
Rhetoric
in Culture Core (3)
PE #3 (1)
Phys195(0) total
16 hrs |
| 3 |
Phys
345 (4) Electromagnetism
Phys
365 (4) Thermodynamics
Phys
381 (2) Electronic Instrumentation
Elective [Math 333 (4) Partial Diff. Equat.]
Bibl/Theol
Found II (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
17 hrs |
Elective |
Phys
306 (4) Intro to Quantum Physics
Elective
[Phys 346 (3) Advanced Optics]
Elective
[Phys 386 (2) Optics Lab]
Astr
212 (4) Galactic Astronomy & Cosmology
Phil 153 (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
16 hrs |
|
4 |
Phys
335 (3) Classical Mechanics I
Phys
375 (3) Quantum Mechanics I
Phys
380 (2) Great Experiments in Physics
Global & Historical Studies (3)
Persons in Community (3)
Literature (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
17 hrs
|
Elective |
Phys
336 (3) Classical II OR
Phys 376 (3) Quantum II
Astr
384 (2) Modern Observational Astronomy
Astr
395 (1) Astronomy Research & Writing
Arts
(3)
Capstone
(3)
Societal
Structures (3)
Phys295 (0)
total
15 hrs |
|
