Skip to Navigation | Skip to Content

Four-Year Plan: In-Depth Physics Major

The following is a sample four-year plan of courses for a student planning on graduate studies in physics. For students intending to pursue graduate school in physics, the department recommends an in-depth program which includes all 300-level physics courses and additional math courses beyond the minimal physics major. By taking all of these courses, the student earns both a Physics Major and an Optics Minor.

This sample plan is meant to illustrate the feasibility of completing this intensive 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 in Fall 2009 (and odd-numbered years thereafter):

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)

CS 106 (4)

Phys195 (0)

 

total 17 hrs

Cross Cultural Core

Phys 246 (4) Waves, Optics, and Optical Technology

Phys 306 (4) Intro to Quantum Physics

Math 231 (4) Differential Equations & Linear Algebra

Rhetoric in Culture Core (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

Math 333 (4) Partial Differential Equations

Persons in Community (3)

Phys295 (0)

 

total 15 hrs

Elective

Phys 336 (3) Classical Mechanics II

Phys 376 (3) Quantum Mechanics II

Phys 384 (2) Laboratory Investigations in Physics

Phil 153 (3)

Bibl/Theol Found II (3)

Arts (3)

Phys295 (0)

total 17 hrs

4

Phys 345 (4) Electromagnetism

Phys 365 (4) Thermodynamics

Phys 381 (2) Electronic Instrumentation

Global & Historical Studies (3)

Societal Structures (3)

Phys295 (0)

 

 

total 16 hrs

Elective

Phys 346 (3) Advanced Optics

Phys 347 (1) Relativistic Electrodynamics

Phys 386 (2) Optics Lab

Phys 395 (1) Physics Research & Writing

Literature (3)

Elective [rec. Math 365 (4) Complex Variables]

Integrative Studies (3)

Phys295 (0)

total 17 hrs

Some courses are offered only in alternate years. For students entering in Fall 2010 (and even-numbered years thereafter), years 3 and 4 would be:

Year

FALL

INTERIM

SPRING

3

Phys 345 (4) Electromagnetism

Phys 365 (4) Thermodynamics

Phys 381 (2) Electronic Instrumentation

Math 333 (4) Partial Differential Equations

Persons in Community (3)

Phys295 (0)

 

total 17 hrs

Elective

Phys 346 (3) Advanced Optics

Phys 347 (1) Relativistic Electrodynamics

Phys 386 (2) Optics Lab

Phil 153 (3)

Societal Structures (3)

Elective [rec. Math 365 (4) Complex Variables]

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

Phys 395 (1) Physics Research & Writing

Bibl/Theol Found II (3)

Literature (3)

Phys295 (0)

total 15 hrs

Elective

Phys 336 (3) Classical Mechanics II

Phys 376 (3) Quantum Mechanics II

Phys 384 (2) Laboratory Investigations in Physics

Arts (3)

Integrative Studies (3)

Global and Historical Studies (3)

Phys295 (0)

total 17 hrs

Secondary

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nulla ut nibh.

Sidebar

Lorem ipsum dolor sitamet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nulla ut nibh.