Bachelor of Arts in Physics

The program for a bachelor of arts degree in physics provides basic knowledge in the main subject areas of physics as well as an opportunity for students to elect a considerable number of courses in other disciplines. This is a good choice for students planning careers in high school teaching, medical or other pre-professional schools, or other inter-disciplinary careers. The BA in Physics requires a total of 66 units listed below; of those 7 units count towards the university's General Education requirements. In addition to the General Education and the BA Physics requirements, students will need to complete 12 additional units in order to satisfy the 120 units required for graduation.

Departmental Honors

To be awarded departmental honors in physics a student must:

  1. Achieve at least a 3.5 minimum grade point average in courses required for the major taken at California State University, San Bernardino and at least a 3.0 grade point average overall;
  2. Conduct advanced research on a topic approved by a faculty member who will serve as project director;
  3. Obtain written approval upon successful completion of the project from the project director and the chair, and present the results of the research to the department or at a research conference, and/or publish the results in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Requirements (66 units)

Total units required for graduation: 120

Requirements for the B.A. in Physics

(Program Code: PHYS)

Lower-division requirements (38)
CHEM 2100General Chemistry I4
CHEM 2100LGeneral Chemistry I Laboratory1
MATH 2210Calculus I4
MATH 2220Calculus II4
MATH 2310Applied Linear Algebra4
MATH 2320Multivariable Calculus4
PHYS 1500Tools for Physicists3
PHYS 2500General Physics I4
PHYS 2500LGeneral Physics I Lab1
PHYS 2510General Physics II4
PHYS 2510LGeneral Physics II Lab1
PHYS 2600LIntroduction to Electronics1
PHYS 2700Modern Physics3
Upper-division requirements (28)
PHYS 3100Mathematical Methods of Physics4
PHYS 3200Classical Mechanics4
PHYS 3300Computational Physics3
PHYS 3400Electricity & Magnetism3
PHYS 3500Statistical and Thermal Physics4
PHYS 3800Intermediate Physics Laboratory2
PHYS 4800Senior Thesis 2
Can substitute ASTR 4000 for PHYS 4800; both count towards the GE WI requirement
Six units chosen from upper-division physics courses selected with the approval of the department:6
Data Acquisition and Control
Electricity & Magnetism II
Electronics
Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 4851-4853
Special Topics in Physics
PHYS 4851L-4852L
Special Topics in Physics Laboratory
Mathematical Methods of Physics II
Optics
Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 5751-5753
Internship (max 3 units)
PHYS 5851-585
Special Topics in Physics
PHYS 5851L-5852
Special Topics in Physics Laboratory
PHYS 5951-5953
Independent Study (max 3 units)
Astrophysics of Planetary Systems
Astrophysics of Galaxies and Cosmology
Total Units66