Physics Course Sequence

This is an example of the sequence of courses that a 4-year physics major at Presbyterian College might take. It includes all the required physics and math courses, and a typical sequence of general education courses. The exact math and general education courses that a student needs to take depend on the results of placement exams or evaluations in math, English and foreign language, so these are only examples.

This sequence reflects the new physics major requirements which took effect in fall 2006. Students who declared a physics major through spring 2006 are subject to the old requirements.

In the notes column, P indicates a physics major requirement; GE indicates a general education requirement.

This table does not explicitly include PC's intercultural / internship requirement. Students may satisfy this requirement by participating in an internship (PHYS 444) approved by the department, which would fit into the table as one of the physics electives; or by a variety of methods involving study abroad, off-campus travel or field experience, and designated intercultural courses, which would fit into the table as one of the general electives.

First Year, Fall

Course	Hours	Notes
CHEM 101 & 101L: General Chemistry I	4	P
MATH 201: Calculus I	3	P & GE
INTD 105: Freshman Seminar	1	GE
ENGL 110: Composition & World Lit. I	3	GE
Foreign Language 101	4	GE
Physical Education	1	GE

First Year, Spring

Course	Hours	Notes
CHEM 102 & 102L: General Chemistry II	4	P
MATH 202: Calculus II	3	P
ENGL 111: Composition & World Lit. II	3	GE
Foreign Language 102	4	GE
Physical Education	1	GE

Second Year, Fall

Course	Hours	Notes
PHYS 214: Physics with Calculus I	3	P & GE
PHYS 121L: General Physics Lab I	1	P & GE
MATH 301: Calculus III	3	P
Foreign Language 201	3	GE
RELG 101: Old Testament	3	GE
HIST 121: Rise of World Cultures	3	GE

Second Year, Spring

Course	Hours	Notes
PHYS 215: Physics with Calculus II	3	P & GE
PHYS 122L: General Physics Lab II	1	P & GE
MATH 302: Calculus IV	3	P
HIST 122: Ideas & the Modern World	3	GE
Social Science	3	GE
RELG 110: New Testament	3	GE

Third Year, Fall

Course	Hours	Notes
PHYS 216: Physics with Calculus III	4	P
MATH 401: Differential Equations	3	P
CSC 241: Program Design I OR CSC 250: Computing Methods for Math & Science	4 3	P
Physics elective	3
Fine Arts	3	GE

Course	Hours	Notes
PHYS 250: Electronics	4	P
Physics elective	3	P
Social Science	3	GE
General electives	6

Fourth Year, Fall

Course	Hours	Notes
Physics electives	6	P
General electives	9

You can find the current version of this document at http://web.presby.edu/physics/4year/schedule.html. It was last updated on 22 August 2007.

Sample Schedule for 4-Year Physics
(effective fall 2006)

First Year, Fall

First Year, Spring

Second Year, Fall

Second Year, Spring

Third Year, Fall

Third Year, Spring

Fourth Year, Fall

Fourth Year, Spring

Course	Hours	Notes
PHYS 350: Advanced Lab	2	P
Physics elective	3	P
General electives	9

Sample Schedule for 4-Year Physics (effective fall 2006)

First Year, Fall

First Year, Spring

Second Year, Fall

Second Year, Spring

Third Year, Fall

Third Year, Spring

Fourth Year, Fall

Fourth Year, Spring

Sample Schedule for 4-Year Physics
(effective fall 2006)