Major Requirements (aka Major Checklists)

CURRENT B.S. PHYSICS MAJORS AND SPECIALIZATIONS [PDF]

CURRENT B.A. GENERAL PHYSICS MAJORS AND SPECIALIZATIONS [PDF]

ALL PAST MAJOR CHECKLISTS [PDF]

To uphold the standards of the physics degree program, ensure the integrity of the academic curriculum, and ensure student success throughout and beyond the undergraduate years, strict enforcement of the major requirements and enrollment policies will be implemented. Informal Exceptions are incorporated to maintain the continuity of existing degree programs and are most often needed to address changes in faculty and/or course availability.

Informal Exceptions to the Major Requirements

Effective Starting W24:

  • PHYS 41 has been added to the list of lower-division programming course options for all physics majors and specializations. The Degree Audit system has already been updated to reflect this change.

​​​​​Effective Starting FA24:

  • Physics majors can use ASTR 123 and ASTR 150 as PHYS 163 and 164, respectively, for all existing physics majors/specializations. 
  • Physics majors can use PHYS 122, 124, 133, 164, 173, or ASTR 150 as the PHYS UD LAB requirement for all existing B.S. physics majors/specializations.
  • PY34 majors can use MAE 180 in place of MAE 180A for the PHYS UD REs for the PY34 major.

The Degree Audit system will be reprogrammed by May 2024 to reflect these changes so students will not need to petition for these exceptions to apply. However, Physics majors filling out Completion Plans, Double Major Packets, and/or plans as part of other types of request packets (eg. Max Unit Appeal, Financial Aid Appeal, etc.) will need to use the new course names, numbers, and scheduling info. if planning to take these courses FA24-forward (see Background section, below, for more information).

Background

MAE 180A "Spacecraft Guidance I" (4 units) will be MAE 180 "Orbital Mechanics" (4 units). The course will continue to be exclusively offered by the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Students must check the MAE Department website for the tentative schedule of annual MAE course offerings; the scheduling of MAE courses is at the sole discretion of MAE.

PHYS 41 "Scientific Computing with Python" is a new course aimed to train physics majors in programming useful for physics courses and research (click here for more details). 

PHYS 133 has extremely limited seating due to equipment challenges. 

PHYS 163 "Galaxies" (4 units) will be ASTR 123 "Galaxies" (4 units) and PHYS 164 "Observational Astrophysics Research Lab" (4 units) will be ASTR 150 "Observational Optical Research Lab" (5 units). Both courses will be exclusively offered by the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A). Students must check the A&A Department website for the tentative schedule of annual A&A course offerings; the scheduling of ASTR courses is at the sole discretion of the A&A.

PHYS 173 has been removed from the annual schedule of course offerings while the course goes under significant redevelopment (a multi-year process).


Frequently Asked Questions for Current Physics Majors

Physics majors are required to follow a plan provided to them by the Physics Department for completion of the major requirements. Click here to see all standard qtr-by-qtr plans and click here to see all alternate qtr-by-qtr plans. Since summer offerings of PHYS 4A-B are never guaranteed, the Physics Department does not post plans that include the summer offerings of PHYS 4A-B. When PHYS 4A-B are offered in summer, students can use them to catch up in the PHYS 4 series on the plans we provide:

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer Session 1

Summer Session 2

   

MATH 18*

PHYS 4A

PHYS 4B

   

MATH 20A**

MATH 20B**

MATH 20C**

*MATH 18 may be moved but must be taken no later than Summer Session 2.

**MATH 20A, 20B, 20C can be moved earlier, but not later than is listed.

Please contact Physics through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for questions/concerns about qtr-by-qtr planning in Physics.

As shown on the Degree Audit, students admitted to Physics Fall 2020 or later are automatically following the current requirements; all others are still following the past major checklists.

No matter when you were admitted to Physics, if you switch your physics major/specialization you will be following the current requirements after the switch.

This depends on your student type:

(Remember, this info. applies to current physics majors, only)

  • Freshman/Transfer Admit to Physics prior to Fall 2020: You are permitted to use the 2 series even if you switch to the current requirements. In addition, if you completed CSE 5A, 7, or 86 prior to Fall 2020, you can still use that class towards the programming requirement for the major.
  • Freshman Admit to Physics in Fall 2020 or later: You are not permitted to use the 2 series.
  • Transfer Admit to Physics in Fall 2020 or Fall 2021: If you completed approved equivalents of PHYS 2A-B-C as part of Transfer Major Preparation pre-matriculation, you are permitted to use the 2 series. As an exception, if you completed approved equivalents of PHYS 2A-B-C as part of Transfer Major Preparation pre-matriculation, you are permitted to use the 2 series. Contact Physics through the VAC to request this exception.
  • Transfer Admit to Physics in Fall 2022 or later: You are not permitted to use the 2 series. (Transfer Major Preparation will still be required pre-matriculation for Admission to UCSD and to meet pre-req for the 4 series)

Follow these steps to switch to the current requirements:

  1. Log into the VAC
  2. Click "Ask a Question"
  3. In the "Topic" dropdown list, select "Major"
  4. In the "Direct to: dropdown list, select "Physics"
  5. In the "Question" box, type "I'd like to change to the current requirements for my physics major/specialization because ____FILL IN THE BLANK____." Note: We are asking you to explain the reason behind your request so that we have feedback on why students prefer the new requirements over the old ones.
  6. Select your notification preferences (we recommend you always ask for a text message notification).
  7. Submit your VAC message. It can take approximately 7-10 business days for your request to be fully processed and for your Degree Audit to correctly reflect your progress under the current requirements.

Please select your student-type and follow the instructions:

Physics is my only major:

  1. Log into the Major/Minor Tool
  2. Select the full name of the Physics major you want to pursue. Keep in mind:
    • The title of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) majors we offer begin with the word "General" and so they are under the Gs in the alphabetical list of majors, not the Ps).
    • If you already have 150 units completed the campus will require you to fill out a qtr-by-qtr plan based on the current requirements as part of your request.
    • The change will move you to the current requirements.
  3. Submit your change of major request. It can take approximately 7-10 business days for your request to be fully processed and for your Degree Audit to reflect your progress in the new physics major/specialization.

Physics is one of my two majors:
Draft and submit a revised Double Major Packet (DMP). Since the change will move you to the current requirements, make sure your double major form and qtr-by-qtr plan are drafted in accordance to those. It can take approximately 3-4 weeks for your DMP to be fully routed and processed and for your Degree Audit to reflect your progress in the new physics major/specialization

Please follow the step-by-step instructions to file an Undergraduate Student Petition.

Contact Physics through the VAC to report the error so that we can have it fixed.

Each Department has sole authority over the courses they will/won't accept toward their degree. The PHYS 2 and 4 series are not equivalent (the 4 series is more advanced, has more topics than PHYS 2, etc.). The following should be noted about topics:

  • PHYS 2A is most similar to 4A 
  • PHYS 2B is most similar to 4C 
  • PHYS 2C is most similar to 4B    
  • PHYS 2D is most similar to the combo of PHYS 4D + PHYS 4E

 

Have a major requirements question not addressed in the information above?

Contact us through VAC to let us know!