Physics Requirements

Requirements for the majors

Bachelor of Arts

11 credits as follows:

• Core Couses: PHYS 110, PHYS 130 or PHYS 130A, PHYS 205, PHYS 241 or PHYS 245
• Two Advanced PHYS Electives: PHYS 310, PHYS 312, PHYS 313, or PHYS 314
• Three additional PHYS electives numbered above 200
  • PHYS 248 and PHYS 348 may not be used to satisfy this requirement
• Calculus III: MATH 205
• Additional Mathematics Elective: MATH 185, MATH 215, MATH 230 or PHYS 300. 

With permission of the chair, up to 2 credits in related studies outside the department may be counted toward electives in the major.

Requirements for the major: Bachelor of Science

Students completing the Physics B.S. degree will complete all requirements for the Physics (B.A. degree) and complete the following 4 additional credits:

• Core Couses: PHYS 110, PHYS 130 or PHYS 130A, PHYS 205, PHYS 241 or PHYS 245
• Two Advanced PHYS Electives: PHYS 310, PHYS 312, PHYS 313, or PHYS 314
• Five additional PHYS electives numbered above 200
  • PHYS 248 and PHYS 348 may not be used to satisfy this requirement
• Calculus III: MATH 205
• Additional Mathematics Elective: MATH 185, MATH 215, MATH 230 or PHYS 300. 
• One additional Science elective: BIOL 110, BIOL 120, or BIOL 130; CHEM 100A, CHEM 102A; ENVS 125,     ENVS 241.
• 1 additional approved credit in Mathematics or in Computer Science, chosen from among the following courses or another course with the permission of the chair: CS 141, 142; any MATH course numbered above 200.

Requirements for the Physics minor

5 credits as follows:

• Mechanics: PHYS 110
• Electricity and Magnetism: PHYS 130 or 130A
• Modern Physics: PHYS 205
• Two additional PHYS credits
  • at least one credit must be at the 300-level or above
  • PHYS 248 and PHYS 348 may not be used to satisfy this requirement

As research experience is especially valuable in graduate school applications, grad-school bound students are encouraged to participate in a research project while at Knox. 

Professional Preparation
For medical and dental schools, the sequence PHYS 110, 120, and 130 or 130A includes laboratories and satisfies the general physics requirement. For the 3-2 engineering program, PHYS 110, 120 and 130 are the minimum needed; PHYS 205 is also recommended. Students considering graduate study or careers in physics should consider completing the following courses:

• PHYS 110, 120, 130, 205, and 241 or 245
• PHYS 310, 312, 313, 314 and at least two seminar courses (345, 346, 347)
• MATH 205, 210, and 230
• CS 141 (or 147) and 142
• CHEM 100A and 102A

Requirements for the Astronomy minor

5 credits as follows:

• PHYS 110 (Mechanics) or 120 (Heat, Waves, and Light)
• PHYS 205 (Modern Physics) or CHEM 102A (General Chemistry II)
• PHYS 161 (Search for Extraterrestrial Life) or 167 (Astronomy)
• PHYS 245 (Observational Astronomy)
• One upper-level course in astrophysics: PHYS 316 (Stellar Astrophysics) or 317 (Extragalactic Astrophysics)

As research experience is especially valuable in graduate school applications, grad-school bound students are encouraged to participate in a research project while at Knox.