A Physics major provides a wide range of career options. Many students pursue further studies in physics, other scientific disciplines, and various branches of engineering and medicine. Professional physicists work in universities and government laboratories seeking answers to fundamental questions about nature, in industry leading the development of new technologies, and in the medical sector performing clinical service and research. The analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills acquired by Physics majors also lead to career opportunities in business and finance.

Requirements for the Major

The Physics BS degree program is intended for students planning to do graduate work in physics or related science and engineering disciplines. The BS requires a minimum of 41 credits in Physics plus 153 credits of foundation coursework and 28 135 credits of related coursework for a total of 69 credits. Students must take a minimum of 15 credits of required physics courses at UF. Minimum grades of C are required for coursework counted toward the major.

Students must take a minimum of 15 credits of required physics courses at UF.

Required Foundation Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
MAC 2311	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1	4
MAC 2312	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2	4
MAC 2313	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3	4
MAP 2302	Elementary Differential Equations	3
Total Credits		15

Required Major Coursework

In each case where the student must select between two courses, the second course includes selected advanced topics not covered in the first. While both courses prepare students for upper-level physics courses, students should see a department advisor to determine which course meets their needs.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PHY 2048	Physics with Calculus 1	3
or PHY 2060	Enriched Physics with Calculus 1
PHY 2048L	Laboratory for PHY 2048	1
PHY 2049	Physics with Calculus 2	3
or PHY 2061	Enriched Physics with Calculus 2
PHY 2049L	Laboratory for PHY 2049	1
PHY 3101	Introduction to Modern Physics	3
or PHY 3063	Enriched Modern Physics
PHY 3221	Mechanics 1	3
or PHZ 3113	Introduction to Theoretical Physics
PHY 3323	Electromagnetism 1	3
PHY 3513	Thermal Physics 1	3
PHY 4222	Mechanics 2	3
PHY 4324	Electromagnetism 2	3
PHY 4523	Statistical Physics	3
PHY 4604	Introductory Quantum Mechanics 1	3
PHY 4802L	Laboratory Physics 1	3
PHY 4803L	Laboratory Physics 2	3
Physics BS Major Elective
Select one 4000-level or higher physics course that is included in the physics major curriculum 1		3
Total Credits		41

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PHY 4905 and PHY 4911 are not acceptable for this requirement. 

Related Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CHM 2045	General Chemistry 1	3
CHM 2046	General Chemistry 2	3
CHM 2045L	General Chemistry Laboratory	1
Approved math courses 1		6
Total Credits		13

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Select courses beyond MAP 2302. Certain computer science courses may substitute for the math elective.

Placement

Students with Advanced Placement credit should consult the catalog's Academic Advising section for course equivalencies. Sequences for advanced students are available from any physics advisor or the department website.

Research

All undergraduate majors are encouraged to participate in research activities. Many physics majors participate in research during the academic year and through summer research programs. Advanced students may also be eligible to enroll in certain graduate courses, thereby accelerating their education

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• Complete CHM 1025 or CHM 2045; or PHY 2048 or PHY 2060; and a MAC course
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete CHM 2045/CHM 2045L and MAC 2311 with minimum grades of C
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete CHM 2046, MAC 2312, and PHY 2048 or PHY 2060 with minimum grades of C
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete MAC 2313; and PHY 2049 or PHY 2061 with minimum grades of C
• 2.5 critical-tracking GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete MAP 2302 with a with a minimum grade of C
• Complete 2 required 3000-level physics courses with minimum grades of C
• 2.5 critical-tracking GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing, Civic Literacy, summer enrollment, and Quest requirements while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S) as part of the CLAS Basic Distribution requirements. One of the two general education mathematics courses must be a pure math course.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students additional flexibility in its Distribution Requirements. Students may count a maximum of 6 credits TOTAL from the CLAS Distribution course lists towards Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Biological and Physical Sciences, with no more than 3 credits of Humanities, 3 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences, or 6 credits of Biological or Physical Sciences.

The full list of major-specific requirements for this major can be found on the Overview tab. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree requirements can be found on the college’s degree requirements page.

MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, and upper-division math electives count towards 3000 level or above electives outside of the major.

This plan is structured for students taking Calculus 1 the first semester. Students can have different schedules when they enter UF because of their backgrounds. In particular, students are encouraged to take Physics with Calculus 1 (PHY 2048 or PHY 2060) as soon as they have completed Calculus 1, even if this means delaying chemistry. For all physics courses, adequate mathematical preparation is essential and is built into the suggested plans. Physics majors should meet with a department advisor before planning their schedules.

Additional sample schedules are available from the department.
More Info

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester One		Credits
CHM 2045 & 2045L	General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)	4
MAC 2311	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics)	4
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
	Credits	14
Semester Two
Quest 1		3
CHM 2046	General Chemistry 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences)	3
MAC 2312	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics)	4
Select one:		4
PHY 2048 & 2048L	Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for PHY 2048 (Critical Tracking)
PHY 2060 & PHY 2048L	Enriched Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for PHY 2048 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
Elective		1
	Credits	15
Semester Three
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological Sciences OR Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences, if needed)		3
MAC 2313	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics)	4
Select one:		4
PHY 2049 & 2049L	Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for PHY 2049 (Critical Tracking)
PHY 2061 & PHY 2049L	Enriched Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for PHY 2049 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 1		4-5
	Credits	15-16
Semester Four
MAP 2302	Elementary Differential Equations (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 1	3
PHY 3101	Introduction to Modern Physics (Critical Tracking)	3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities		3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences		3
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 1		3-5
	Credits	15-17
Semester Five
PHY 3221	Mechanics 1 (Critical Tracking)	3
PHY 3513	Thermal Physics 1 (Critical Tracking)	3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences OR Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences (area NOT taken in semester 3)		3
Elective (or CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement if 4-3-3 option) 1		3
Approved Mathematics elective		3
	Credits	15
Semester Six
PHY 3323	Electromagnetism 1 (Critical Tracking) 1	3
PHY 4222	Mechanics 2 (Critical Tracking)	3
Gen Ed Humanities		3
Aproved Mathematics elective (recommended) or Elective		3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
PHY 4324	Electromagnetism 2 (Critical Tracking)	3
PHY 4604	Introductory Quantum Mechanics 1 (Critical Tracking)	3
PHY 4802L	Laboratory Physics 1 (Critical Tracking)	3
Elective (3000 level or higher, outside major)		4
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
	Credits	16
Semester Eight
PHY 4523	Statistical Physics (Critical Tracking)	3
PHY 4803L	Laboratory Physics 2 (Critical Tracking)	3
Electives		3
Physics Major elective (Critical Tracking; 4000 level)		3
Gen Ed Humanities		3
	Credits	15
	Total Credits	120

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CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

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The laws of Physics are the starting point for most scientific research and engineering applications. Students majoring in Physics obtain broad-based knowledge and experience applying these laws as well as hands-on experience building electronic equipment and performing experiments. Many students go on to graduate study in physics, and a considerable number pursue advanced degrees in other science disciplines, all branches of engineering and medical school. Physics majors are employed in industry doing applied work and in academia seeking the answers to fundamental questions.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Pass the UF physics field test, which consists of five parts. One part is given in each of these required courses:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  PHY 2060	Enriched Physics with Calculus 1	3
  or PHY 3221	Mechanics 1
  PHY 3323	Electromagnetism 1	3
  PHY 3513	Thermal Physics 1	3
  PHY 4604	Introductory Quantum Mechanics 1	3
  PHY 4802L	Laboratory Physics 1	3

• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

1. Identify, define, and describe the core fields of physics: classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics.
2. Identify, define, and explain experimental physics and data analysis.

Critical Thinking

3. Formulate, solve problems, and draw conclusions from data.

Communication

4. Effectively and clearly communicate ideas in speech and in writing in an accepted style.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 4

Courses	SLO 1	SLO 2	SLO 3	SLO 4
PHY 2048 or PHY 2060	I		I
PHY 2048L	I	I	I	I
PHY 2049 or PHY 2061	I		I
PHY 2049L	I	I	I	I
PHY 3101 or PHY 3063	I, R		I, R	R
PHY 3221 or PHZ 3113	R, A		R, A	R
PHY 3323	R, A		R, A	R
PHY 3513	R, A		R, A	R
PHY 4604	R, A		R, A	R
PHY 4802L	R, A	R, A	R, A	R, A

Assessment Types

• Field test
• Report
• Presentation

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