Physics Major (B.A.)

Curriculum
For more details on the curriculum requirements and the types of courses you would be taking as a Physics Major, visit our Online Course Catalog.

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tudents receive a BS in physics by completing 123 total credits of course work. The credits are divided into 70 credits of major required courses and other required courses, 50 credits of general education, and 3 credits for student electives.

Student in the physics major spend 3 semesters on the Grantham campus and 5 semesters on the Messiah College campus near Temple University.

Important: Click here to see a suggested calendar of courses to take for the first two years of this major.

I. Physics Major Requirements (70 credits)

1. Required Mathematics Courses (21 credits)
   1. MATH 111, 112, 211 Calc I, II , and III (4,4,4)
   2. MATH 261 Linear Algebra (3)
   3. Differential Equations (0251 (3 cr))
   4. Computing for Scientists (0161 (3 cr))
2. Required Physics Courses (49 cr)
   1. PHYS 211, 212 General Physics I and II (4,4)
   2. Classical and Analytical Mechanics (0201,0202 (6 cr))
   3. Optics (0171 (3 cr))
   4. Electricity and Magnetism (0187 and 0187L (4 cr))
   5. Mathematical Physics (0184 (3 cr))
   6. Intro. to Modern Physics (0188 and 0188L (4 cr))
   7. Classical Electromagnetism (0211 (3 cr))
   8. Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory (0231 (3 cr))
   9. Intro. to Quantum Mechanics (0306 (3 cr))
   10. Experimental Physics-Advanced Laboratory (W215 (3 cr))
   11. Two of the following three courses
       1. Intro. to Solid State Physics (0321 (cr 3))
       2. Intro. to Atomic, Nuclear and Particle Physics (0341 (cr 3))
       3. Electronics (0221 (cr 3))
   12. An elective science course (3 cr)

II. General Education Requirements (50 credits)

1. (1.1) First Year Seminar (3)
2. (1.2) Oral Communications (3)
3. Created and Called for Community (3)
4. (2.1 C) Science , Technology, and the World (3)
5. (2.2) Two of the Following (6)
   1. (2.2 A) Social Science
   2. (2.2 B) European History
   3. (2.2 C) U. S. History
6. (2.3 A) Literature (3)
7. (2.3 B) Philosophy and Religion (3)
8. (2.3 C) Arts (3)
9. (2.4) Languages (9)
10. (2.5) Non-Western Studies (2)
11. (3.1) Bible (3)
12. (3.2) Christian Beliefs(3)
13. (4.1) Physical Education (Life Fitness plus 2 activities(3))
14. (4.2 A) Ethics, World Views, or Pluralism (3)

III. Electives (3 credits)
Students select these courses.