<p>On the application, there is an option for a Letters and Sciences Physics major, and a Specialized Curriculum Physics major.
Yet looking at the the two's course listings side by side, I found very few differences between the two, or even the Engineering Physics' curriculum. What are the differences? I know that I want to go on to obtain a PhD in Theoretical Physics (Relativity), so the Specialized Curriculum would seem the optimal choice, but I honestly want to learn things in college, to take a couple of classes in Philosophy, Political Science and maybe a few others.And here within lies my problem, the Specialized Curriculum states that:</p>
<p>"..students who want to pursue a combined major and minor, a double major, or a double degree should consider the LAS Science and Letters Curriculum in Physics because of the greater flexibility it offers."
A not to subtle message to me? But...</p>
<p>I also was considering Engineering Physics because of the myriad of job opportunities it would open up, compared to just a degree specializing in Physics.</p>
<p>I pick up concepts extremely well, most parts of my AP Physics class are a breeze. While interning at UCLA I was able to understand the graduate students' projects (in theory.) My math though, is a different story. I am horrible at algebra II/Trig, (yet finishing with a 110% in Geometry.) In calculus, I find the chapters on integrals and differentiation easy while the rest of the class struggles, yet on more algebra based chapters I am the one struggling to even pass the chapter test. </p>
<p>I know that certain physics programs are FAR more math based, and I would want to stay away from those ones but I also want to learn as much in physics as I can. Which major is most math intensive? From your knowledge about U of I which program would best suit me?</p>
<p>It seems you may have already found the programs of study for the three majors; if not go here for course requirement and options:</p>
<p>[Course</a> Information Suite, Course Catalog, Class Schedule, Programs of Study, General Education Requirements, GenEd](<a href=“Course Explorer”>Course Explorer)
[Course</a> Information Suite, Course Catalog, Class Schedule, Programs of Study, General Education Requirements, GenEd](<a href=“Course Explorer”>Course Explorer)</p>
<p>I cannot actually tell you the major differences except that engineering physics is geared more to having physics courses that are thought engineering related and you have to have a “field option” which means taking a number of courses in an engineering field, and the specialized curriculum does require more upper level math than physics. </p>
<p>What I can tell you is this: the physics department is actually in the engineering college. Though the physics and specialized curriculum majors lead to a degree from the Arts & Sciences college, you will be treated the same as if you are in the engineering college. What that means is: (a) if you are looking at middle-50% ranges for admission look at those for the engineering college not LAS for getting an idea of about what you need to get admitted to any physics major, see <a href=“http://admissions.illinois.edu/apply/requirements_freshman.html[/url]”>http://admissions.illinois.edu/apply/requirements_freshman.html</a> (b) regardless of which of the three majors you choose you will be taking essentially the same math, chemistry and physics courses in freshman year and those courses are the same as those taken by most engineering majors in freshman year; (c) regardless of which of the three majors you choose, and as long as your grades are decent, you can fairly easily switch from one major to another after first year (or even second) within the physics department AND within the engineering college since you will actually be within that college, and thus this may not be something you need to overthink when applying and instead just choose one and then decide later which you actually want; (d) if you want to take “philosophy, political science and a few others” be aware that there is a general education requirement for the university and for all the physics and engineering majors for which you must take a certain number of hours in each of humanties, social studies, and cultural studies and your choice of courses for those are many and include such things as philosophy, political science and likely any of your others you might want to take.</p>
<p>haha thank you for all the help and information!
Yeah I just put down the regular Physics major. Its already one of the hardest majors out there, and if I really want to I can just take or audit more classes.</p>