Degree Requirements - 126 credits
Students can earn a Bachelor of Science degree with this major
Physics Major Requirements: 20 courses and corresponding laboratories, 75 credits
Core Requirements (15 courses and corresponding laboratories, 55 credits)
Concentration Requirement (5 courses, 20 credits)
Choose one of the following areas of concentration:
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General Physics
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Astrophysics
Residency Requirement Policy: In the College of Arts and Sciences, a two-course (8 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for completion of a minor and a four-course (16 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for the completion of a major.
About the Physics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
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Concentrations
General Physics Concentration: 5 courses, 20 credits
Core Requirements (4 courses, 16 credits)
Choose one of the following courses:
Choose one of the following and the corresponding laboratory:
| BIO-111 | Introduction to the Cell | 3 |
| BIO-L111 | Introduction to the Cell Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM-111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM-L111 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| - | Or one additional 4-credit Math elective at the 200-level or higher | 4 |
Elective (1 course, 4 credits)
| - | Choose one additional 4-credit Physics course with corresponding laboratory, where applicable | 4 |
Astrophysics Concentration: 5 courses, 20 credits
Please note that as of October 1, 2021, this concentration is no longer accepting applications for new student enrollment.
Choose one of the following and the corresponding laboratory:
About the Physics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Physics Major Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
| Learning Goals |
Learning Objectives |
| Students will... |
Students will be able to... |
| Acquire knowledge of physical principles |
- Demonstrate mastery of core areas of physics (classical mechanics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, special relativity, quantum mechanics, and optics)
- Understand instrumentation and its importance in classical and modern experiments in physics
- Understand how to use computers and advanced analytical techniques in solving fundamental equations in physics, data acquisition and processing, and how to use software as a tool in data analysis |
Acquire scientific and professional skills
|
- Understand and explain physics problems, and be able to solve them by applying correct techniques; be able to test correctness and interpret results; write these solutions in a professional manner using appropriate software
- Understand the objectives of physics laboratory experiments; use modern instrumentation and classical techniques to carry out experiments and correctly record and analyze results; follow proper procedures and regulations for safely working in a laboratory
- Design, construct and complete a science-based independent project
- Use modern library search tools to locate and retrieve scientific information
|
| Effectively pursue career objectives |
- Successfully pursue scientific careers in graduate or professional school, government or industry, or teaching physics at a high school
- Demonstrate critical thinking of scientific problems and understand the role of science in society and professional ethics |
About the Physics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Honors
To complete requirements for honors in the major, a candidate must:
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Graduate with a major GPA of 3.33 or higher
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Graduate with an overall GPA of 3.33 or higher
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Have no grade less than B+ in the last two semesters of the program
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Complete PHYS-H555. The student must propose a research project for PHYS-H555 and have it approved by the honors coordinator and the student's research advisor at the end of the spring semester of junior year
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Present a poster at an APS conference or the Suffolk STEAM reception
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CAS Honors Program students only: Also present work from the senior honors experience at the Honors Symposium or Pecha Kucha event
To become a candidate for honors in the major, a student must:
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Have a major GPA of 3.33 or higher
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Have an overall GPA of 3.33 or higher
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Have completed a minimum of 15 credits at Suffolk University
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Apply to the honors coordinator in the spring semester of junior year
About the Physics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page