Bachelor of Science Physics (BS)

The Physics major is designed primarily for students preparing to do graduate study in physics and related fields or for students preparing to work professionally upon completion of the BS degree in various technical fields requiring the strongest preparation in physics.

Requirements

Lower-Division General Education

Mathematics: satisfied by the major

Information Literacy and Research:  CS 120G or CS 121G or OEAS 130G

Nature of Science: satisfied by the major

Upper-Division General Education

• Option A. Approved Disciplinary Minor (a minimum of 12 hours determined by the department), or second degree or second major.
• Option B: Interdisciplinary Minor (specifically 12 hours, 3 of which may be in the major)
• Option C. An approved Certification Program such as teaching licensure
• Option D. Two Upper-Division Courses from outside the College of Sciences and not required by the major (6 hours)

Requirements for Graduation

All majors for the BS degree in physics require completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours (150 credit hours for the dual degree in physics and electrical engineering and the dual degree in physics and the Master of Business Administration), which must include both a minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours in upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University, completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better, and Senior Assessment. Additionally, physics majors require completion of the Physics Exit Exam with a minimum score of 20^th percentile, and the astrophysics major requires completion of the Astrophysics Exit Exam with a minimum score of 20^th percentile. Additional hours may be required to meet the foreign language requirement. All majors require a minimum grade of C in PHYS 261N-PHYS 262N, PHYS 231N-PHYS 232N, or PHYS 226N-PHYS 227N. Except for the secondary physics education major, physics majors require a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 overall and in the major. The secondary physics education major requires a minimum 2.75 grade point average overall, in the major, and in the professional education core, with no grade less than a C- in the major and professional education core. The professional education core satisfies the upper-level general education requirement.

Math Minor

Physics majors wishing to complete a minor in applied mathematics can do so with just two additional math courses. Please consult the Department of Mathematics section of the Catalog for details.

Physics Major

*

Grade of C or better required in PHYS 499W or both PHYS 489W and PHYS 490W

**

At least one three-credit course must be at the 400-level.

Elective Credit

Elective credit may be needed to meet the minimum requirement of 120 credit hours.

BS Degree with Honors

Qualified students may receive the BS degree with honors (to be noted on their diplomas) by completing specified additional requirements. At the time of application for this designation, a student must have a GPA of 3.50 or higher in physics, a GPA of 3.25 or higher overall, must have completed two contract honors courses, and must have completed 60 credit hours (of which at least 54 must be in grade-point graded courses) at Old Dominion University. (Contract honors courses are specialized courses of individual study under the direct supervision of a professor. Permission to take these courses is granted jointly by the Department of Physics and the Honors College.)

Degree Program Guide

The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years.  It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor.  Additional information can also be found in Degree Works. 

*PHYS 120 and PHYS 420 are offered fall semester only.  ASTP 313, PHYS 309, PHYS 453, and PHYS 456 are offered spring semester only.