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Sample Undergraduate Program
| As a physics concentrator at the University of Michigan, you have considerable
latitude in designing your own program. These five courses form the core of any
program:
How you round out this core set of courses depends on your educational goals.
Sample 1st- and 2nd-year Programs Toward the
BS in Physics
Within the sample programs shown below, honors alternatives or challenging options are
shown in [italics].
Year 1 Sample Program |
| Fall Term |
Credits |
|
Winter Term |
Credits |
Physics 140/141:
General Physics I with Elementary Lab I
[Physics 160/141:
Honors Physics I with Elementary Lab I]
|
4 [5] |
|
Physics 240/241:
General Physics II with Elementary Lab II
[Physics 260/261:
Honors Physics II with Elementary Lab II] |
4 [5] |
Math 115:
Calculus I
[Math 185:
Honors Analytical Geometry and Calculus I]
[Students with AP Calculus credit who can place out of 115 and 116 can take Math 215:
Calculus III and Math
216: Introduction to Differential Equations, in their first year.] |
4 |
|
Math 116/117:
Calculus II
[Math 186:
Honors Analytical Geometry and Calculus II] |
4 - 5 |
| Foreign Language |
4 |
|
Foreign Language |
4 |
| English Composition |
4 |
|
College of LS&A elective |
4 |
Total |
16 [17] |
|
Total |
16 [17] |
Year 2 Sample Program
| Fall Term |
Credits |
|
Winter Term |
Credits |
| Physics
340/341: Waves, Heat, and Light (with Lab) |
3 |
|
A CCS elective
[Physics
390: Intro to Modern Physics (prerequisite: Math 216)] |
3 |
Math 215:
Calculus III
[Math 285:
Honors Analytical Geometry and Calculus III] |
4 |
|
Math 216:
Introduction to Differential Equations
[Math 286:
Honors Differential Equations]
[Students who have entered U-M with AP Calculus credit can take Physics 451: Methods of Theoretical Physics I.] |
3 |
| Foreign Language |
4 |
|
Foreign Language |
4 |
| College of LS&A elective |
4 |
|
College of LS&A elective |
4 |
|
|
|
[Physics 403: Optics Lab
or
Physics 407: Thermodynamics Lab] |
[2] |
Total |
15 [16] |
|
Total |
14 [16] |
Sample 3rd- and 4th-year ProgramThe
courses you take as a physics concentrator in your 3rd and 4th years are largely
determined by your primary post-graduation goal: employment or graduate school. If
your primary objective is finding work immediately after you earn your BS in Physics,
think about courses that emphasize practical skills or subject matter with practical
applications, including courses in electronics; nuclear, atomics, or condensed matter
physics; computer science; and independent lab work (Physics 415). If you hope to
attend graduate school, think about including several more theoretical courses.
Year 3 Sample Program |
| Fall Term |
Credits |
|
Winter Term |
Credits |
| Physics 401:
Intermediate Mechanics |
3 |
|
Physics 405:
Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
| Physics 402: Light |
3 |
|
Physics 406:
Statistical and Thermal Physics |
3 |
| Physics 451: Methods of Theoretical Physics I |
4 |
|
Math 454:
Boundary Value Problems for Partial Differential Equations (or another elective to satisfy
the math distribution requirement) |
3 |
| College of LS&A elective |
4 |
|
College of LS&A elective |
4 |
Total |
14 [16] |
|
Total |
13 [15] |
Year 4 Sample Program
| Fall Term |
Credits |
|
Winter Term |
Credits |
| Physics 453:
Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
|
Physics 413:
Physics of Complexities |
3 |
| Physics 455:
Electronic Devices and Circuits |
5 |
|
Advanced Lab
(Physics 461:
or
Physics 459: ) |
2 |
| Physics 465: Senior
Seminar |
2 |
|
College of LS&A elective |
4 |
| Physics 415:
Special Problems for Undergraduates (independent research) |
3 |
|
College of LS&A elective |
4 |
Total |
13 |
|
Total |
13 |
Sample 3rd- and 4th-year Advanced ProgramThe
following 3rd- and 4th-year program is quite challenging and includes a greater emphasis
on theoretical physics. It is suitable--but by no means required--for those who hope
to attend graduate school. |
Note: If you hope to attend graduate school, you may want to try to complete most of the basic material--including the 5 core courses mentioned at the top of this page--by the end of your 3rd year. In the fall of your 4th year you will need to take the Graduate Record Examinations, which will cover this material.Year 3 Sample Advanced Program |
| Fall Term |
Credits |
|
Winter Term |
Credits |
| Physics 401:
Intermediate Mechanics |
3 |
|
Physics 406:
Statistical and Thermal Physics |
3 |
| Physics 405:
Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
|
Physics 407: Thermodynamics Lab [?] |
2 |
Physics 451: Methods of Theoretical Physics I
[Students who enter with AP Calculus credit should take Physics 451 in their 2nd year.] |
4 |
|
Physics 453:
Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
| College of LS&A elective |
3 |
|
Math 454:
Boundary Value Problems for Partial Differential Equations (or another elective to satisfy
the math distribution requirement) |
3 |
| College of LS&A elective |
3 |
|
College of LS&A elective |
4 |
Total |
16 |
|
Total |
15 |
Year 4 Sample Advanced
Program
| Fall Term |
Credits |
|
Winter Term |
Credits |
| Physics 455:
Electronic Devices and Circuits |
5 |
|
Physics 460:
Quantum Mechanics II
or
Physics 457:
Subatomic Physics |
3 |
Physics 435:
Gravitational Physics
or Physics 468:
or Physics
418: Structural Macromolecular Physics |
3 |
|
Physics 463: Intro
to Solid State Physics
or Physics
413: Physics of Complexities
or Physics
417: Dynamical Processes in Biophysics |
3 |
| Physics 465: Senior
Seminar |
2 |
|
Upper-level physics lab |
2 |
| Physics elective (Physics 452: Methods of Theoretical Physics II, is recommended) |
3 |
|
Physics elective or College of LS&A elective |
3 |
| College of LS&A elective |
3 |
|
Physics elective or College of LS&A elective |
3 |
Total |
16 |
|
Total |
14 [16] |
Bottom Line: Consult AdvisorsThe
above programs are illustrative only. Many other combinations are possible, and some may
be more desirable in individual cases. The department concentration
advisors and the Society of Physics
Students can help suggest what may be best for you. |
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