The Bachelor of Science in Physics with a concentration in pre-medical requires a minimum of 120 credits. The curriculum prepares students for a health sciences career using physics-based technologies. Students from this program who apply to medical school will have a distinctively rigorous preparation. The curriculum also prepares students for graduate medical physics, biomedical engineering and M.D.-Ph.D. programs.

Student learning outcomes

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

Physics core outcomes

  • 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

Pre-medical concentration-specific outcome

  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the application of physics concepts, theories and methods to medicine or health care

Double major in engineering and physics

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

Students must complete 37 credits in physics and physics-related electives and 48-56 credits in ancillary requirements. 

Degree requirements for Physics, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in premedical

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
• Concentration requirements
PHYS 317Preparing for the MCAT and Medical Sciences3
PHYS 335Experimental Skills for Physicists3
PHYS 417Topics in Biophysics3
PHYS 425Computational Physics and Data Analysis3
Ancillary requirements
BIOL 151Introduction to Biological Sciences I3
BIOZ 151Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I1
BIOL 152
BIOZ 152
Introduction to Biological Sciences II
and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II
4
CHEM 101
CHEZ 101
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I (CHEM 101 satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)
4
CHEM 102
CHEZ 102
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
4
CHEM 301
CHEZ 301
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
5
CHEM 302
CHEZ 302
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
5
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.9-17
Total Hours120
1

Course offered by the School of the Arts

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

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:
PHYS 101Foundations of Physics3
PHYS 103Elementary Astronomy3
PHYS 107Wonders of Technology4
PHYS 201General Physics I4
PHYS 202General Physics II4
PHYS 215Science, Technology and Society3
PHYS 291Topics in Physical Science1-3
PHYS/MHIS 307The Physics of Sound and Music3
PHYS/ENVS 315Energy and the Environment3
PHYS 391Topics in Physics1-3
PHYZ 101Foundations of Physics Laboratory1
PHYZ 103Elementary Astronomy Laboratory1
Freshman year
Fall semesterHours
BIOL 151 Introduction to Biological Sciences I 3
BIOZ 151 Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I 1
CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) 3
CHEZ 101 General Chemistry Laboratory I 1
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
 Term Hours: 16-18
Spring semester
BIOL 152
BIOZ 152
Introduction to Biological Sciences II
and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II
4
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
 Term Hours: 17
Sophomore year
Fall semester
CHEM 102
CHEZ 102
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
4
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
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
CHEM 301
CHEZ 301
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
5
MATH 301 Differential Equations 3
PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics I 3
PHYS 320
PHYZ 320
Modern Physics
and Modern Physics Laboratory
4
 Term Hours: 15
Junior year
Fall semester
CHEM 302
CHEZ 302
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
5
PHYS 317 Preparing for the MCAT and Medical Sciences 3
PHYS 376 Electromagnetism I 3
PHYS 380 Quantum Physics I 3
Foreign language 101 3
 Term Hours: 17
Spring semester
PHYS 335 Experimental Skills for Physicists 3
PHYS 340 Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics 3
Foreign language 102 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 12
Senior year
Fall semester
PHYS 417 Topics in Biophysics 3
PHYS 450 Senior Physics Laboratory 3
Open elective 3
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for diversities in the human experience) 3
 Term Hours: 12
Spring semester
PHYS 490 Seminar in Conceptual Physics 1
PHYS 425 Computational Physics and Data Analysis 3
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for for global perspectives) 3
Open electives 8-9
 Term Hours: 15-16
 Total Hours: 120-123

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.