The Bachelor of Science in Physics requires a minimum of 120 credits, including 54 credits in physics and physics-related courses, as detailed in the course lists.

The curriculum in physics prepares students for technical careers in physics or an allied area, for careers in engineering and for the teaching of physics in secondary schools. The curriculum also prepares students for graduate studies in physics or a related area.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:

  • Perform scientific reasoning and complex problem-solving
    Physics majors will receive a fundamental understanding of the main areas of physics so that they are prepared for jobs that use physics-based technologies. They are expected to have mastered the analytical approach to solving technical problems by identifying simple subsystems that obey known physical laws and using these laws to approximate the behavior of the whole system.
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the main areas of physics
  • Demonstrate communication skills, both written and oral, needed to explain the analysis of technical problems
  • Demonstrate scientific literacy skills including searching, reading and critically reviewing scientific publications
  • Demonstrate proficiency in information processing by generating and interpreting data presented in tables, graphs, drawings and models

Double major in engineering and physics

A detailed description of this program can be found in the “College of Engineering” section of this bulletin.

Degree requirements for Physics, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Course Title Hours
General education
Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser.30
Major requirements
• Major core requirements
PHYS 208University Physics II5
PHYS 301Classical Mechanics I3
PHYS 320
PHYZ 320
Modern Physics
and Modern Physics Laboratory
4
PHYS 340Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics3
PHYS 376Electromagnetism I3
PHYS 380Quantum Physics I3
PHYS 450Senior Physics Laboratory3
PHYS 490Seminar in Conceptual Physics1
• Major electives
Select a total of nine credits from the list of elective physics and physics-related courses provided below. Those students who have their primary major in physics are required to fulfill at least three of these credits using upper-level physics courses9
Ancillary requirements
HUMS 202Choices in a Consumer Society1
MATH 200Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations)4
MATH 201Calculus with Analytic Geometry II4
MATH 301Differential Equations3
MATH 307Multivariate Calculus4
PHYS 207University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)5
Experiential fine arts 11-3
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement)0-6
Open electives
Select any course.35-43
Total Hours120
1

Course offered by the School of the Arts

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Physics and physics-related electives

Course Title Hours
Any of the following physics courses:
Physical Analysis
Classical Mechanics II
Visualization of Physics Using Mathematica
Experimental Skills for Physicists
Guided Inquiry for University Physics I
Guided Inquiry for University Physics II
Electromagnetism II
Directed Study (maximum of 3 credits)
Topics in Biophysics
Quantum Physics II
Optics
Computational Physics and Data Analysis
Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
Introduction to Nanoscience
Particle Physics
Introduction to Astrophysics
Topics in Physics (maximum of 3 credits)
Independent Study (maximum of 3 credits)
Modeling Biocomplexity
Optics and Laser Physics
Theoretical Mechanics
Analytical Methods in Physics
Electromagnetic Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Geometrical Methods of Physics and Gravitation
Any of the following math or statistics courses:
Linear Algebra
Numerical Methods
Partial Differential Equations
Applied Linear Algebra
Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
Any of the following chemistry courses:
Instrumental Analysis
Atomic and Molecular Structure
Any of the following engineering courses:
Transport Phenomena I
Transport Phenomena II
Fluid Mechanics
Material Science for Engineers
Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals
Nuclear Reactor Theory
Biomaterials
Electronic Devices
Introduction to Microelectronics
Integrated Circuits
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
Introduction to Microfabrication
Advanced Semiconductor Devices

Those students intending to pursue graduate studies in physics should choose electives from the following:

Course Title Hours
Classical Mechanics II
Visualization of Physics Using Mathematica
Quantum Physics II
Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
Particle Physics
Introduction to Astrophysics
Modeling Biocomplexity
Optics and Laser Physics
Theoretical Mechanics
Analytical Methods in Physics
Electromagnetic Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Geometrical Methods of Physics and Gravitation

Those interested in experimental physics should also take one or more credits in PHYS 397 or PHYS 492.

Courses not applicable toward the major

Course Title Hours
The following courses are not applicable toward the physics major requirements but may be used as general electives toward the bachelor's degree:
Foundations of Physics
Elementary Astronomy
Wonders of Technology
General Physics I
General Physics II
Science, Technology and Society
Topics in Physical Science
The Physics of Sound and Music
Energy and the Environment
Topics in Physics
Foundations of Physics Laboratory
Elementary Astronomy Laboratory

What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.

Freshman year
Fall semesterHours
MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) 4
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
Experiential fine arts 1-3
General education course (select AOI for global perspectives) 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 14-16
Spring semester
HUMS 202 Choices in a Consumer Society 1
MATH 201 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 4
PHYS 207 University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) 5
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) 3
 Term Hours: 16
Sophomore year
Fall semester
MATH 307 Multivariate Calculus 4
PHYS 208 University Physics II 5
UNIV 200 Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
Foreign language 101 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
MATH 301 Differential Equations 3
PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics I 3
PHYS 320
PHYZ 320
Modern Physics
and Modern Physics Laboratory
4
Foreign language 102 3
Open elective 1-3
 Term Hours: 14-16
Junior year
Fall semester
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement) 3
Major electives 6
Open electives 6
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
PHYS 376 Electromagnetism I 3
PHYS 380 Quantum Physics I 3
Open electives 9
 Term Hours: 15
Senior year
Fall semester
PHYS 340 Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics 3
Major elective 3
Open electives 9
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
PHYS 450 Senior Physics Laboratory 3
PHYS 490 Seminar in Conceptual Physics 1
Open electives (complete upper level if needed) 12
 Term Hours: 16
 Total Hours: 120-124

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Accelerated B.S. and M.S.

The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows academically talented students to earn both the B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Physics and Applied Physics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 138 credits rather than the 150 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.

Students holding these degrees will be more competitive when seeking research and development positions in industry and admission to physics Ph.D. programs. In addition, an M.S. degree is required for most undergraduate teaching positions. The master’s program enables students to deepen their understanding of physics while gaining actual experience in research at the frontiers of physics.

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.

Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 85 undergraduate credit hours, including PHYS 376 and PHYS 380; an overall GPA of 3.25; and a GPA of 3.25 in physics course work.

Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students in an accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate physics adviser and the graduate adviser specified in the student’s agreed-upon plan of study.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. 

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Physics degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin. 

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits substitute for required major electives or open elective credits for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

The graduate physics courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are:

Course Title Hours
NANO 570Nanoscale Physics3
PHYS 560Fundamentals of Semiconductor Nanostructures3
PHYS 571Theoretical Mechanics3
PHYS 580Quantum Mechanics3

Recommended course sequence/plan of study

What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year. The thesis option for the M.S. is shown.

Course Title Hours
Junior year
Fall semester
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement
Major electives6
Open electives6
Term Hours:15
Spring semester
PHYS 340Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics3
PHYS 376Electromagnetism I3
PHYS 380Quantum Physics I3
Open electives6
Term Hours:15
Senior year
Fall semester
NANO 570Nanoscale Physics3
PHYS 450Senior Physics Laboratory3
PHYS 571Theoretical Mechanics3
Electives6
Term Hours:15
Spring semester
PHYS 490Seminar in Conceptual Physics1
PHYS 492Independent Study (begin research)3
PHYS 560Fundamentals of Semiconductor Nanostructures3
PHYS 580Quantum Mechanics3
Open electives6
Term Hours:16
Fifth year
Fall semester
NANO 571Nanoscale Chemistry3
PHYS 697Directed Research3
600-level PHYS elective 13
Term Hours:9
Spring semester
PHYS 697Directed Research6
600-level PHYS elective 13
Term Hours:9
1

It is recommended, but not required, that one hour of PHYS 690 be taken as part of the elective credits.