Program: Physics (BA) - University of Southern California - Modern Campus Catalog™

Apr 04, 2025

USC Catalogue 2020-2021

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

CHEM 105aLg General Chemistry Units: 4 **
CHEM 105bL General Chemistry Units: 4 **
MATH 125g Calculus I Units: 4
MATH 126g Calculus II Units: 4
MATH 226g Calculus III Units: 4
MATH 245 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I Units: 4
PHYS 161Lg Advanced Principles of Physics I Units: 4 *
PHYS 162L Advanced Principles of Physics II Units: 4 *
PHYS 163L Advanced Principles of Physics III Units: 4 *
PHYS 190 Physics Discovery Series Units: 1

Required Upper-Division Courses

MATH 445 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II Units: 4
PHYS 304 Mechanics Units: 4
PHYS 316 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics Units: 4, 2 years
PHYS 408a Electricity and Magnetism Units: 4
PHYS 438a Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications Units: 4
PHYS 492L Senior Lab Units: 4

Choose one:

PHYS 408b Electricity and Magnetism Units: 4
PHYS 438b Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications Units: 4
PHYS 440 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics Units: 4
PHYS 493L Advanced Experimental Techniques Units: 4

Total units: 65

*PHYS 151L , PHYS 152L and PHYS 153L may be substituted for the sequence PHYS 161L , PHYS 162L and PHYS 163L .

**CHEM 115aL , CHEM 115bL may be substituted for the sequence CHEM105aL , CHEM105bL .