Program Details
B.A. Degree - PhySics Major
The best place to earn your degree in Physics is at a liberal arts college. You receive a background in physics that prepares you either to attend graduate school in physics or engineering, or to get a job in teaching, engineering, or research, among other fields. Unlike more narrowly focused programs, at MCLA you get the tools you need for a successful, fulfilling career by experiencing both sides of the liberal arts - the sciences and the humanities.
A typical sequence of courses for the Bachelor of Arts degree might look like the schedule below - not all programs require all the courses listed.
Recommended First Year Courses:
- MATH 150 Precalculus
- MATH 220 Calculus I
- MATH 320 Calculus II
- PHYS 151 Introduction to Mechanics
Recommended Second Year Courses:
- MATH 330 Calculus III
- PHYS 200 Intro to the Physics Major
- PHYS 251 Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 252 Introduction to Work, Optics, and Relativity
- PHYS 361 Mathematical Physics
Recommended Third Year Courses:
- PHYS 351 Modern Physics
- 300 Level or above Physics Elective 1
- 300 Level or above Physics Elective 2
Recommended Fourth Year Courses:
- PHYS 401 Advanced Physics Lab I
- PHYS 402 Advanced Physics Lab II
- 300 Level or above Physics Elective 3
B.S. Degree - Physics Major
A typical sequence of courses for the Bachelor of Science degree might look like the schedule below - not all programs require all the courses listed.
Recommended First Year Courses:
- MATH 150 Precalculus
- MATH 220 Calculus I
- MATH 320 Calculus II
- PHYS 151 Introduction to Mechanics
Recommended Second Year Courses:
- MATH 330 Calculus III
- MATH 380 Differential Equations
- or MATH 430 Calculus IV
- PHYS 200 Seminar for Physics Majors
- PHYS 251 Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 252 Introduction to WOR
- PHYS 305 Electronics*
- PHYS 361 Mathematical Physics
Recommended Third Year Courses:
- PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics*
- PHYS 351 Modern Physics
- 300-level or above Physics Elective 1
- 300-level or above Physics Elective 2
Recommended Fourth Year Courses:
- PHYS 303 Electricity and Magnetism*
- PHYS 401 Advanced Physics Lab I
- PHYS 402 Advanced Physics Lab II
- PHYS 471 Quantum Mechanics
- 300-level or above Physics Elective 3
*these courses are taught on a two-year rotation
Physics Minor
MCLA also offers a Physics Minor, which requires the following courses:
- PHYS 151 Introduction to Mechanics
- PHYS 251 Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 252 Introduction to Work, Optics, and Relativity
- PHYS 351 Modern Physics
- Plus two courses level 300 or higher*
*PHYS 361 Math physics cannot count towards these two courses.