The Undergraduate Physics Program at Georgetown University

Undergraduate Course Listings 1998-1999

Degree Requirements

Beginning in the 1998--99 academic year, the Physics Department will offer two majors, a B.S. degree designed primarily for students who are considering further study or employment in physics or a related area of science or technology, and a A.B. degree intended primarily for students planning graduate study or employment outside the sciences proper, in fields such as law, medicine, business, journalism, government service, or pre-college teaching. Both majors are built around a set of six core courses. The core courses and their recommended sequence, for students in either major, are as follows:

First Year (of the major; either first or second year at Georgetown)

Second Year Third Year

The A.B. Physics Major requires a minimum of four courses in addition to the core sequence, while the B.S. Physics major requires a minimum of six courses in addition to the core. Elementary calculus is used freely in 105, 108, and 211, and facility with vector calculus at the level of Math 137 is essential for 214, so students considering a physics major should complete these mathematics prerequisites as soon as possible. A Minor in Physics will be awarded to any student who completes the first four courses of the core plus one additional physics course.

A.B. Physics Major: Physics core sequence (105, 108, 211, 214, 215, 217), plus four electives, at least two of which must be physics courses numbered above 100. The remaining two electives can include any physics courses, general chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, math 150 or above, computer science 071 or above, or other appropriate courses with departmental approval.

B.S. Physics Major: Physics core sequence (105, 108, 211, 214, 215, 217), plus 150, at least 3 credits of independent research (300) or 220, and four electives, at least three of which must be physics courses numbered above 217. The remaining elective can be any physics course or another appropriate course with departmental approval. Students contemplating graduate work in physics are strongly encouraged to take 231 (Classical Mechanics), 234 (Electrodynamics and Optics), 253 (Quantum Mechanics), and 254 (Statistical and Solid State Physics).

Departmental Honors The B.S. or A.B. may be awarded with Honors, on the recommendation of the faculty, to students who have submitted a substantial Senior thesis based on research done while an undergraduate at Georgetown and given an oral presentation of this research.

Physics Minor: Physics 105, 108, 211, and 214, plus one additional physics course.

With departmental approval, Physics 041 can substitute for 105, and 042 can be used as a physics elective in the requirements of both majors and the minor.

Last modified August 4, 1998

Jim Freericks, Associate Professor of Physics, freericks@physics.georgetown.edu