physics major class of 09

<p>S just graduated as a physics major. He was also a history minor & would've been a polisci minor as well if the dept. had an honors minor....so it's certainly possible to major in physics & minor in other subjects. I'm not really sure how doable a double major is (with other than math), but you can talk to advisors in the depts to find out. If you enter Swat with Calculus credit (and I'd assume most people considering a major in physics would've taken calc in HS), the physics major is not very math heavy. S was done with math either at the end of freshman year or by fall semester soph year.</p>

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is physics 5 as tough as the old seminar physics 6?

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<p>It could be harder. The old seminar Physics 5 was not considered to be a particularly difficult course by Physics standards. The next two courses, 7 and 8, were "harder".</p>

<p>Hmm.. thank you for all the info.. So there's no prerequisite at all for Physics 5?</p>

<p>No formal prereq, but again, the 5/7/8 course sequence is designed for students considering a Physics or science major. It's a "discuss with the Physics chair at the open house and decide with your academic advisor" deal.</p>

<p>As near as I can figure, the 3/4 sequence is two semesters of intro Physics that includes Special Relativity, Time/Space, and so forth.</p>

<p>The 5/7/8 sequence, the Special Relativity piece of the puzzle gets a full semester treatment in 5, so 7/8 can be a more in-depth treatment of the other topics in Intro Physics - mechanics, etc.</p>

<p>Basically 5/7/8 spends three semesters covering the ground that 3/4 covers in two -- hence it's a more intensive sequence suitable for Physics majors.</p>

<p>^Thanks!..</p>

<p>shellfell, did your son take a lot of Physics 094? How can one qualify for this course?</p>

<p>What's Physics 094? I didn't keep track of his course numbers.</p>

<p>Sorry for not indicating properly.. Phy 094 is a research course- i think it enables Swatties to do Physics research during the school year, taking it as a credit.. it can be taken as .5, 1 or 2 credits..</p>

<p>His research was for his honors thesis & I think he only got credit for that fall of senior year. Sorry, but I don't know if that was 094 or some other course number. I haven't seen his transcript in years.<br>
Between 1 REU and his honors thesis, he did enough research to get into grad school, so I wouldn't worry about it.</p>

<p>once again, thanks a lot for your information! Swattie parents have been of great help!</p>

<p>I'm an honors astro minor, and Phys 5 is not difficult as far as physics courses go, it's a fairly shallow broad course that covers a variety of topics, but does not go too particularly deep into any of them. 7/8/14, however, will eat your soul.</p>