Curriculum Pages:

Physics and Astronomy

Information about requirements in the physics and astronomy programs can be found at the Physics home page and in the Catalog under Disciplinary Majors and Minors.

Information about the physics/chemistry placement exam can be found at the physics/chemistry placement information page.

Information for Non-Majors

Recommended courses and advice for non-majors. The physics faculty recommends that non-majors enroll in AS 101 General Astronomy, PH 101 Survey of the Physical Sciences, or PH 102 The Physics of Music. Non-majors with an interest in analytic physics might consider PH 121 General Physics I, PH 122 General Physics II.

With the exception of PH 101, PH 102, and AS 101, all physics courses require some calculus. For this reason, non-majors should carefully check course prerequisites listed in the catalog.

Information for Majors

Advice for majors. Students who major in physics should enroll in PH 121, PH 122, and PH 201 in that order, as early as possible. Other courses in the major may be taken in any sequence, with the exception of PH 412, which should be completed last.

Explorations curriculum requirement in Connectivity. All students must complete a scholarly senior seminar, Exploration term, or independent study as deemed appropriate by disciplinary faculty in the major. Physics satisfies this requirement through PH 499 Senior Interim.

All majors at the College require a senior conference. Physics satisfies this requirement through the presentation of student research at the Science and Mathematics Senior Conference.