Physics

The Physics Major: Two Routes to a Promising Future:

The analytical and problem-solving skills and the fundamental conceptual and practical understanding of how the world works provided by an education in physics have allowed physics majors to pursue careers—and have major impacts—not just in physics, but in engineering, education, medicine and the life sciences, the military services, computer and information sciences, earth and environmental sciences, law, finance and economics, management consulting, philosophy of science, forensics, and public policy. Reflecting this breadth of opportunity, the Physics Department offers two approaches to the major:

1. The concentration within physics (“inside concentration”) is the principal path to professional or graduate work in physics and closely related fields, and is also the best choice for students who wish to obtain maximum benefit from rigorous studies in physics. The inside concentration consists of the core physics courses plus electives taken within the Physics Department.
2. The concentration outside physics (“outside concentration”) provides more flexibility for those want to develop skills in physics but whose career interests lie elsewhere. For example, a premedical or biophysics student may concentrate in biology; a pre-law student may concentrate in business, history, or public policy; and a student planning graduate work in econometrics or on pursuing an M.B.A. may concentrate in economics. Students interested in education careers (and in capitalizing on the critical national shortage of high school physics teachers) may concentrate in education, allowing them to complete a master’s degree in physics education with New York State Teacher certification in one additional year at Cornell.

Physics majors—especially those concentrating within physics—are advised to start the introductory physics sequence in the first semester of their freshman year, as a delayed start can reduce flexibility in future course scheduling. We strongly encourage prospective physics majors with AP credit in Physics to forfeit their AP credit and begin with PHYS 1116  sequence. Students who switch to the physics major after taking introductory physics in their sophomore year can usually still complete an outside concentration. Students may apply to join the physics major after completing two full semesters of physics courses at Cornell, together with the appropriate mathematics prerequisites. In order to join the major, students must have at least an average grade of B- in their Cornell physics and math courses, and have no physics or math grades lower than C-. Prospective physics majors with any physics grades lower than B- should as soon as possible meet with the director of undergraduate studies to discuss their preparation. Grades of at least C- (or S for S-U only courses) are required in all courses counting toward the physics major.

Advising:

Prospective majors are urged to meet with the Physics director of undergraduate studies for advice on advanced placement credit and on program planning. Based on their specific interests, students will be matched with a major advisor by the director of undergraduate studies. The student and major advisor will then work out the details of the major course program.

Achieving success in a physics course is easier if you have the proper preparation. Each physics course description lists prerequisite courses that develop mastery in the needed mathematics and physics. Students who wish to enroll in a course but lack the listed prerequisites may be able to succeed with an appropriate work plan, especially if they have other relevant prior experience. These students must discuss their preparation with the course instructor and with their advisor before enrolling.

Requirements for the Physics Major:

Note: In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet the college graduation requirements .

The Physics Core—All physics majors must complete a core of physics courses (a minimum of 45 credits) and mathematics courses (16 credits), as follows:

Concentration “inside” Physics:

Students planning professional or graduate work in physics are encouraged to take the more advanced and analytically rigorous versions of the core courses—PHYS 1116 , PHYS 2217 , and PHYS 2218 . Students with less high school preparation may start in PHYS 1112  and then switch to the advanced sequence in later semesters. Students with strong backgrounds, who may have advanced placement credit for PHYS 1112  and/or PHYS 2213 , are very strongly encouraged to start with PHYS 1116 .

For a concentration within physics, the minimum 15 credits beyond the core must be composed of physics courses with numbers greater than 3000 or other courses approved by the director of undergraduate studies (for example, ASTRO 4431 –ASTRO 4432 , or AEP 4340 ). These 15 credits must include PHYS 4230  as well as the senior laboratory course PHYS 4410  in addition to one of the lab courses listed for the core, so that a physics concentration requires a minimum of 7 credits of laboratory work. The sequence followed by each student will depend upon his or her interests and precollege preparation, and will be determined in consultation with the major advisor. Students are advised to strongly consider also taking PHYS 4443 . Majors are strongly encouraged to participate in the department’s research activities. If this activity is done as an independent project, PHYS 4490 , up to 4 credits can be applied toward the concentration.

Concentration “outside” Physics:

For outside concentrations, the courses to be counted in the minimum 15 credit hours beyond the core must have internal coherence and lead to mastery in the area of concentration. The course sequence must be worked out with and approved by the major faculty advisor. At least 8 of the 15 credit hours must be in courses numbered above 3000. Past areas of concentration include astronomy, business, chemical physics, computer science, econometrics, education, English, geophysics, history, and philosophy, law, meteorology, and public policy. A combined biology/chemistry concentration is common for premedical students or those who wish to prepare for work in biophysics.

The department particularly wishes to encourage students with an interest in science education. Physics majors can obtain teaching certification by concentrating in education and then completing a one-year master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) degree. Information about the education concentration and M.A.T. can be obtained from the Department of Education’s Cornell Teacher Education Program, from the physics department’s Teacher in Residence, or from the Physics director of undergraduate studies.

The core for students with outside concentrations may follow either PHYS 1112 –PHYS 2213 –PHYS 2214  or the advanced PHYS 1116 –PHYS 2217 –PHYS 2218 . Students concentrating in astronomy who might continue on to graduate school in that field are encouraged to include ASTRO 4410 , ASTRO 4431 , and ASTRO 4432  within the concentration.

Honors:

A student may be granted honors in physics upon the recommendation of the Physics Advisors Committee of the physics faculty. There is no particular course structure or thesis requirement for honors.

Double Majors:

Students are welcome to pursue a physics major concurrently with another major; either in the college of Arts and Sciences or in another college through the concurrent degree program. No course used to satisfy a requirement of another major can simultaneously be used toward satisfying the outside concentration for the physics major. An outside concentration may not be in the same subject as that of a second major.

Typical Physics Course Sequence:

Students with a score of 4 or higher on AP calculus BC are advised to begin physics in their first semester.  Students eligible for AP physics credit are generally advised to forfeit their credit and instead take the more challenging PHYS 1116 - Physics I: Mechanics and Special Relativity .

While there is great variability in course sequences, a typical example would be:

Fall Freshman: PHYS 1112  or PHYS 1116 ; MATH 1920  or MATH 2220 .

Spring Freshman: PHYS 2213  or PHYS 2217 ; MATH 2930 ; PHYS 2216  – only if student has not taken PHYS 1116 .

Fall Sophomore: PHYS 2214  or PHYS 2218 ; MATH 2940  or MATH 2210 .

Spring Sophomore: PHYS 3316 ;  PHYS 3318 . Inside concentrators typically take AEP 3200 .

Fall Junior:  PHYS 3330  or PHYS 3360  or alternative PHYS 3327 ; inside concentrators typically take AEP 4200 .

Spring Junior: concentration elective(s).

Fall Senior: PHYS 3317 ; concentration elective(s).

Spring Senior: concentration elective(s).

Students should consult with their advisor about their concentration electives—inside concentrators often take PHYS 4443  in the spring of their junior year in order to maximize their options during their senior year.  

Crossovers between the sequences PHYS 1112 -PHYS 2213 -PHYS 2214  and PHYS 1116 -PHYS 2217 -PHYS 2218  are possible.

Courses for Non-Physics Majors:

• PHYS 1101 –PHYS 1102  make up an introductory sequence that emphasizes conceptual understanding and quantitative problem-solving without the use of calculus. The courses are taught in a flexible, individualized instruction format. Freshman are not eligible to enroll in this sequence.
• PHYS 2207 –PHYS 2208  covers similar material to PHYS 1101 -PHYS 1102  but is offered in a lecture-based format. Knowledge of basic calculus is assumed. PHYS 1112 –PHYS 2213 –PHYS 2214  are introductory physics courses for students who want a solid grounding in physics and a chance to develop their calculus-based problem-solving skills. Nonmajors considering more advanced work in physics are encouraged to take PHYS 1112 –PHYS 2213 –PHYS 2214  or the more mathematically rigorous versions PHYS 1116  -PHYS 2217  -PHYS 2218 .
• Courses beyond the introductory level that may be of interest to nonmajors include PHYS 3316 - Basics of Quantum Mechanics , PHYS 3330 - [Modern Experimental Optics] , and PHYS 3360 - Electronic Circuits .
• General education courses currently include PHYS 1201 - Why the Sky Is Blue: Aspects of the Physical World , PHYS 1203 - Physics of the Heavens and the Earth , and PHYS 1204 - Physics of Musical Sound .

Students may obtain advanced placement credit and transfer credit for physics courses taken elsewhere. Students seeking transfer credit should read the instructions at physics.cornell.edu/transfer-credit. Students seeking advice on the use of AP credit should consult with the director of undergraduate studies.

Note: In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet the college graduation requirements . 

The Physics Minor:

Non-physics majors in all Cornell colleges are eligible to earn a Physics minor. To apply to the Physics Minor, visit the Director of Undergraduate studies during office hours or contact physicsdus@cornell.edu to schedule an appointment.