Catalogue 2006-07

• USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Physics and Astronomy
  • Undergraduate Degrees
  • Graduate Degrees
  • Courses of Instruction
    • Astronomy
    • Physics

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Physics

This program is intended primarily for students who are interested in a career in physics.

Required lower division courses		Units
CHEM 115aLbL**	Advanced General Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 161L*	Advanced Principles of Physics I	4
PHYS 162L*	Advanced Principles of Physics II	4
PHYS 163L*	Advanced Principles of Physics III	4
PHYS 190	Freshman Colloquium	1

Required upper division courses		Units
MATH 445	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II	4
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 316	Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 408ab	Electricity and Magnetism	4-4
PHYS 438ab	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications	4-4
PHYS 440	Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics	4
PHYS 492L	Senior Laboratory	4
PHYS 493L	Advanced Experimental Techniques	4
Total units		77

Bachelor of Science in Astronomy

This program is intended primarily for students who are interested in a career in astronomy.

Required lower division courses		Units
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 161L*	Advanced Principles of Physics I	4
PHYS 162L*	Advanced Principles of Physics II	4
PHYS 163L*	Advanced Principles of Physics III	4

Required upper division courses		Units
ASTR 400	The Solar System	4
ASTR 410	Stellar Astronomy	4
ASTR 420	Galaxies and Cosmology	4
ASTR 440	Astrophysics	4
MATH 445	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II	4
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 316	Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 408a	Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 438ab	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications	4-4
PHYS 493L	Advanced Experimental Techniques	4
Total units		72

Bachelor of Science in Physics/Computer Science

This program is intended for students with dual interests in physics and computer science who wish to complete the essential courses for both majors within their normal four-year career.

Required lower division courses		Units
CSCI 101L	Fundamentals of Computer Programming	3
CSCI 102L	Data Structures	4
CSCI 110	Introduction to Digital Logic (Enroll in EE 101)	3
CSCI 201L	Principles of Software Development	4
CSCI 271	Discrete Methods in Computer Science	3
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 225	Linear Algebra and Linear Differential Equations	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4

Required upper division courses		Units
CSCI 303	Design and Analysis of Algorithms	3
CSCI 357	Basic Organization of Computer Systems (Enroll in EE 357)	3
CSCI 402x	Operating Systems	3
MATH 445	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II	4
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 408ab	Electricity and Magnetism	4-4
PHYS 438ab	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications	4-4
PHYS 495	Senior Project	2
Total units		81

Bachelor of Arts in Physics

This program is intended for students with an interest in physics who may not intend to pursue a career in physics.

Required lower division courses		Units
CHEM 105aLbL**	General Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 161L*	Advanced Principles of Physics I	4
PHYS 162L*	Advanced Principles of Physics II	4
PHYS 163L*	Advanced Principles of Physics III	4
PHYS 190	Freshman Colloquium	1

Required upper division courses		Units
MATH 445	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II	4
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 316	Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 408a	Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 438a	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications	4
PHYS 492L	Senior Laboratory	4
Choose one	PHYS 408b, PHYS 438b, PHYS 440 PHYS 493L	4
Total units		65

Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy

This program is intended for students with an interest in astronomy who may not intend to pursue a career in the field.

Required lower division courses		Units
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 161L*	Advanced Principles of Physics I	4
PHYS 162L*	Advanced Principles of Physics II	4
PHYS 163L*	Advanced Principles of Physics III	4

Required upper division courses		Units
ASTR 400	The Solar System	4
ASTR 410	Stellar Astronomy	4
ASTR 420	Galaxies and Cosmology	4
ASTR 440	Astrophysics	4
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 316	Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 493L	Advanced Experimental Techniques	4
Total units		56

Bachelor of Science in Biophysics

This program is intended for students with an interest in the interdisciplinary field of biophysics. The degree program provides the physics and biology background necessary for the field while simultaneously fulfilling medical school entrance requirements.

Required lower division courses		Units
BISC 120L	General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution	4
BISC 220L	General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology	4
CHEM 115aLbL*	Advanced General Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 161L**	Advanced Principles of Physics I	4
PHYS 162L**	Advanced Principles of Physics II	4
PHYS 163L**	Advanced Principles of Physics III	4

Required upper division courses		Units
BISC 320L	Molecular Biology	4
BISC 330L	Biochemistry	4
BISC 421	Neurobiology	4
CHEM 322abL	Organic Chemistry	4-4
MATH 445	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II	4
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 316	Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 408a	Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 438a	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications	4
Total units		84

Bachelor of Science in Physical Sciences

This program is intended for students with an interest in the physical sciences. The program is designed to allow students interested in teaching at the secondary level to enroll in courses required for the California Single Subject Teaching credential offered through the School of Education.

Required lower division courses		Units
CHEM 115aLbL**	Advanced General Chemistry	4-4
GEOL 105L	Planet Earth	4
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4

Required upper division courses		Units
	Astronomy Elective*	4
	Chemistry Elective*	4
	Earth Science Elective*	4
Physics Elective*		4
Three additional electives from these fields*		12

Other courses		Units
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
Total units		64

Department Requirements for a Minor in Physics

The physics minor is open to all students. Engineering students must take a minimum of three upper division courses unique to the minor.

Required Courses		28 Units
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4

Electives -- choose 3		12 units
PHYS 304	Mechanics	4
PHYS 316	Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics	4
PHYS 408a	Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 438a	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications	4
Total units		40

Department Requirements for a Minor in Astronomy

The astronomy minor is open to all students. A minimum of three courses taken toward the minor must be unique to the minor.

Required Courses		24 units
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4

Electives -- Choose 3		12 units
ASTR 400	The Solar System	4
ASTR 410	Stellar Astronomy	4
ASTR 420	Galaxies and Cosmology	4
ASTR 440	Astrophysics	4
Total units		36

Grade Point Average in Major Subject

A GPA of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in the department for all of the above major degree programs. A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required in all courses in the department specifically listed as subject requirements.

Advisement

Advisement is required for all B.S. and B.A. degree candidates in the department. Students should meet with their departmental academic advisor at least once a semester to review the direction of their academic programs. Students who have not met with an advisor should contact the director of undergraduate affairs. Students are also encouraged to seek the advisement of faculty members whose specializations are appropriate to their intended field of graduate study.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Students are encouraged to become familiar with the research programs of the faculty in the department. Students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. and a career in research in physics or astronomy following graduation are strongly encouraged to become involved directly in one of the research programs, whether as summer research assistants or as part-time laboratory assistants during the academic year. Specific research opportunities will depend upon individual faculty research programs.

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