<p>Hi all! I'm NOT a physics major, but I wanted a general opinion on something I noticed in my school's physics program for undergraduates. The physics major doesn't require any classes in computer science or programming languages, biology, chemistry, or statistics. I know this isn't my field, but I am trying to see how this program would fare with other programs at other schools. One of my friends was interested in the physics program as an incoming freshman, but I'm not sure if I should direct her here if the program isn't that strong (she got into other schools, too). </p>
<p>Do most physics majors just require physics class and math classes? I know some of my physics majors take chemistry and computer science, too, not sure if that's required or electives. I can do the research on required classes my own, but from a current student's perspective, does the program sound challenging and similar to other school's physics programs?</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the requirements are the minimum, and not necessarily what is recommended. My daughter is a physics major at a top program and they do not require classes in computer science, biology, chemistry or statistics. However, they are required to take a number of elective courses that could all be physics classes or could include:</p>
<p>I would imagine to get into the major you would need at least a year of chemistry along with some general education science classes. Every college has different requirements, check with them.</p>
<p>My Physics major (which is 20 some years old) required 1 year general chem, advanced inorganic chem and PChem.</p>
<p>I can tell you what our program (I am a physics professor at Illinois Institute of Technology) requires and how it prepares our students for jobs or graduate school. I am leaving out the general education requirements here which do include a basic computation course.</p>
<p>4 semesters of Calculus, through Differential Equations
2 semesters of Mathematics electives
4 semesters of general physics through modern physics
1 semester of statistical physics
2 semester sequences of Dynamics, E&M, and Quantum Mechanics
2 semesters of computational physics (lots of programming here, but scientific)
1 semester of instrumentation laboratory
1 semester of advanced laboratory
4 free electives</p>
<p>Physics majors going to graduate school usually fill the free electives with physics courses, even graduate courses. Students looking for a job in industry might take a computer science minor with these or add more applied mathematics courses.</p>
<p>The computational physics has helped our students get jobs with places like Google and in the financial sector. The students who go on to graduate school routinely get into top 20 programs in physics with assistantships.</p>
<p>Computational physics is now a recognized branch of physics, along with theoretical and experimental. It is essential for students to have exposure to it in some form.</p>