Physics Curriculum
This page contains information on the curriculum of the Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Bachelor of Science in Physics.
- Course descriptions
- Important planning notes
- Entry prerequisites
- General education requirements
- B.A. in Physics requirements
- B.S. in Physics requirements
- Petitions
Course descriptions
Follow the links below for descriptions of each course. 足彩app哪个是正规的 physics majors use courses from several different disciplines:
- Chemistry (BCHEM)
- Computing & Software Systems (CSS)
- Physics (BPHYS)
- Science & Technology Mathematics (STMATH)
Important planning notes
- You must earn a minimum of 180 credits to complete a degree from UW Bothell.
- All courses are 5 credits unless noted otherwise.
General education requirements
All UW students must complete a common set of general education requirements. As a Physics major, you will have already completed the Natural Science (NSc) and Reasoning (R) requirements, as well as some of your Social Science (SSc) credit, by taking physics, math, and chemistry classes, but make sure to plan for completion of the following:
- English Composition (C) – 5 credits
- Additional Writing (W) – 10 credits
- Diversity (DIV) – 5 credits (almost always also fulfills A&H or SSc; was only 3 credits prior to autumn 2023)
- Arts & Humanities (A&H) – 15 credits (cannot overlap with SSc)
- Social Sciences (SSc) – 10 more credits (cannot overlap with A&H)
Entry prerequisites
Visit our Admissions page for information on prerequisite coursework.
B.A. in Physics
足彩app哪个是正规的 Bachelor of Art in Physics is intentionally flexible, and leaves space for you to take other courses you need for a minor, second major, or in preparation for graduate school or a career—or other courses you enjoy!
Complete all of the following:
Required STEM courses (67 credits total)
Mathematics?(20 credits)
- STMATH 124 Calculus I [5 cr]*
- STMATH 125 Calculus II [5 cr]*
- STMATH 126 Calculus III [5 cr]
- STMATH 207 Differential Equations [5 cr]
Physics?(41 credits)
- B PHYS 121 Mechanics (5 cr)*
- B PHYS 122 Electromagnetism and Oscillatory Motion (5 cr)*
- B PHYS 123 Waves (5 cr)*
- B PHYS 221 Classical Mechanics (5 cr)
- B PHYS 222 Modern Physics (5 cr)
- B PHYS 224 足彩app哪个是正规的rmal Physics (5 cr)
- B PHYS 433 Senior Project (5 cr)
- B PHYS 484 Physics, Society and Industry (5 cr)
- B PHYS 494 Physics Seminar [1 cr]
Chemistry?(6 credits)
- B CHEM 143 General Chemistry I [4 cr]
- B CHEM 144 General Chemistry I Lab [2 cr]
Elective Physics courses (10 credits)
Select from the approved list of BPHYS courses:
- BPHYS 231 Introduction to Experimental Physics [3 cr]
- BPHYS 293 Special Topics in Physics (1-5 credits, max. 15)
- BPHYS 311 Introduction to Astrophysics I (5 cr]
- BPHYS 312 Introduction to Astrophysics II [5 cr]
- BPHYS 314 Introduction to Cosmology [5 cr]
- BPHYS 317 Mathematical Physics [5 cr]
- BPHYS 321 Electricity and Magnetism | [5 cr]
- BPHYS 322 Electricity and Magnetism II [5 cr]
- BPHYS 323 Electricity and Magnetism III [5 cr]
- BPHYS 324 Quantum Mechanics [5 cr]
- BPHYS 325 Quantum Mechanics II [5 cr]
- BPHYS 328 Statistical Physics [5 cr]
- BPHYS 431 Experimental Physics: Analog Circuits [5 cr]
- BPHYS 432 Experimental Physics: Digital Circuits and Instrumentation [5 cr]
- BPHYS 441 Condensed Matter Physics 1 [5 cr]
- BPHYS 442 Condensed Matter Physics II [5 cr]
- BPHYS 450 Computational and 足彩app哪个是正规的oretical Modeling in Physics [5 cr]
- BPHYS 493 Advanced Topics in Physics (1-5 credits, max. 15)
- Approved B PHYS 498 Independent Study (1-5 credits, max. 10)
- Approved B PHYS 499 Research (1-5 credits, max. 10)
Additional Courses as needed to fulfill University General Education Requirements and to equal a total of 180 credits
Admissions requirements are annotated with an asterisk*
B.S. in Physics
足彩app哪个是正规的 Bachelor of Science in Physics allows students to pursue a rigorous curriculum focused on the study of the universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles.足彩app哪个是正规的 degree includes the traditional areas of physics and has four possible (non-transcripted) concentrations: general physics, astrophysics, biophysics and condensed matter.
Complete all of the following:
Mathematics courses (a total of 34 credits)
- STMATH 124 Calculus I
- STMATH 125 Calculus II
- STMATH 126 Calculus III
- STMATH 207 Differential Equations
- STMATH 208 Matrix Algebra
- STMATH 224 Multivariable Calculus
- CSS 112 Introduction to Programming for Scientific Applications (4 credits)
Physics core courses (a total of 64 credits)
- B PHYS 121 Mechanics
- B PHYS 122 Electromagnetism and Oscillatory Motion
- B PHYS 123 Waves
- B PHYS 221 Classical Mechanics
- B PHYS 222 Modern Physics
- B PHYS 224 足彩app哪个是正规的rmal Physics
- B PHYS 231 Introduction to Experimental Physics (3 credits)
- B PHYS 321 Electricity and Magnetism I
- B PHYS 322 Electricity and Magnetism II
- B PHYS 324 Quantum Mechanics I
- B PHYS 433 Senior Project
- B PHYS 484 Physics, Society and Industry
- B PHYS 494 Physics Seminar (1 credit)
- At least one course from this list:
- B PHYS 431 Experimental Physics Lab I
- B PHYS 432 Experimental Physics Lab II
- B PHYS 450 Computational and 足彩app哪个是正规的oretical Modeling in Physics
Upper Division Physics Electives — Choose 20 credits from the following courses. Each elective course is 5 credits unless otherwise noted:
- B PHYS 293 Special Topics in Physics (1-5 credits, max. 15)
- B PHYS 311 Introduction to Astrophysics I
- B PHYS 312 Introduction to Astrophysics II
- B PHYS 314 Introduction to Cosmology
- B PHYS 317 Mathematical Physics
- B PHYS 323 Electricity and Magnetism III
- B PHYS 325 Quantum Mechanics II
- B PHYS 328 Statistical Physics
- B PHYS 431 Experimental Physics Lab I
- B PHYS 432 Experimental Physics Lab II
- B PHYS 441 Condensed Matter Physics I
- B PHYS 442 Condensed Matter Physics II
- B PHYS 450 Computational and 足彩app哪个是正规的oretical Modeling in Physics
- B PHYS 493 Advanced Topics in Physics (1-5 credits, max. 15)
- Approved B PHYS 498 Independent Study (1-5 credits, max. 10)
- Approved B PHYS 499 Research (1-5 credits, max. 10)
Additional Courses- as needed to fulfill University General Education Requirements and to equal a total of 180 credits
Petitions
Physics-related courses that are not listed above are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have a syllabus, letter from the instructor, or other detailed description for the class you want to use as an elective, you can submit a petition to request for the course to count. For information on submitting a petition, contact your advisor.