Physics Major Requirements
Professional Physics: the traditional Physics Major

Full requirements can be found on UMD Undergraduate Catalog

  • PHYS171 - Introductory Physics: Mechanics
  • PHYS174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction
  • PHYS 272 - Introductory Physics: Fields
  • PHYS273 - Introductory Physics: Waves
  • PHYS275 - Experimental Physics I: Mechanics, Heat and Fields
  • PHYS276 - Experimental Physics II:Electricity and Magnetism
  • MATH140 - Calculus I
  • MATH 141 - Calculus II
  • MATH241 - Calculus III
  • MATH246 - Differential Equations
  • MATH240 - Linear Algebra
  • PHYS374 - Intermediate Theoretical Methods
  • PHYS375 - Experimental Physics III: Waves, Optics and Modern Physics
  • PHYS401 - Quantum Physics I
  • PHYS402 - Quantum Physics II
  • PHYS404 - Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics
  • PHYS405 - Advanced Experiments
  • PHYS410 - Classical Mechanics
  • PHYS411 - Electricity and Magnetism

Meteorology Physics: a strong physics and math sequence with a meteorology focus
  • PHYS171 - Introductory Physics: Mechanics
  • PHYS174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction
  • PHYS 272 - Introductory Physics: Fields
  • PHYS273 - Introductory Physics: Waves
  • PHYS275 - Experimental Physics I: Mechanics, Heat and Fields
  • PHYS276 - Experimental Physics II:Electricity and Magnetism
  • MATH140 - Calculus I
  • MATH 141 - Calculus II
  • MATH241 - Calculus III
  • MATH246 - Differential Equations
  • MATH240 - Linear Algebra
  • CHEM135/136 - Chemistry for Scientists and Engineers
  • CHEM231/232 - Organic Chemistry
  • MATH462 - Partial Different Equations for Scientists and Engineers
  • AOSC431 - Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers I
  • AOSC432 - Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers II
  • ASOC434 - Air Pollution
  • PHYS375 - Experimental Physics III
  • PHSY401 - Quantum Physics I
  • PHYS402 - Quantum Physics II
  • PHSY404 - Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics
Education Physics: for those interested in teaching physics in secondary school
  • PHYS171 - Introductory Physics: Mechanics
  • PHYS174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction
  • PHYS 272 - Introductory Physics: Fields
  • PHYS273 - Introductory Physics: Waves
  • PHYS275 - Experimental Physics I: Mechanics, Heat and Fields
  • PHYS276 - Experimental Physics II:Electricity and Magnetism
  • MATH140 - Calculus I
  • MATH 141 - Calculus II
  • MATH241 - Calculus III
  • MATH246 - Differential Equations
  • MATH240 - Linear Algebra
  • EDPL301 - Foundations of Education
  • EDHD413 - Adolescent Development
  • EDHD426 - Cognitive and Motivational Basis of Reading
  • EDCI463 - Teaching Reading in Content Area II
  • PHYS374 - Intermediate Theoretical Methods
  • PHYS375 - Experimental Physics III
  • PHYS401 - Quantum Physics I
  • PHYS411 - Electricity and Magnetism
Minor in Physics: for students who would like a strong foundation in physics, but don't have time to complete the full major
  • PHYS174 LAB - Physics Introduction or
    PHYS261 LAB - General Physics: Vibrations, Waves, Heat and Magnetism or
    PHYS271 LAB - General Physics: Electrodynamics, Light, Relativity and Modern Physics
  • PHYS 272 - Introductory Physics: Fields or
    PHYS260 - General Physics: Vibrations, Waves, Heat Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYS273 - Introductory Physics: Waves or
    PHYS270 - General Physics:Electrodynamics, Light, Relatvity and Modern Physics
Additionally, the student must choose three from the following:
  • PHYS374 - Intermediate Theoretical Methods
  • PHYS375 - Experimental Physics III
  • PHYS401 - Quantum Physics I
  • PHYS402 - Quantum Physics II
  • PHYS404 - Introductory Statistical Thermodynamics
  • PHYS410 - Classical Mechanics
  • PHYS411 - Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYS465 - Modern Optics
  • PHYS474 - Computational Physics
Physical Sciences Program:an interdisciplinary program for students interested in a broader study of the physical sciences and engineering
Students interested in the Physical Sciences Program should contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

Department of Physics


University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-4111
Phone: 301.405.3401
Fax: 301.314.9525