Physics, Astronomy Concentration, B.S. MAP

Major Academic Plans

Major Academic Plans (or MAPS) show the courses you might take each semester to meet your degree requirements in 4 years. Students at Cal Poly Humboldt follow many different paths to graduation. Your educational and career goals, as well as personal interests all contribute to determining the courses you take. We encourage you to discuss course options with an advisor.

The General Education and All-University Requirements in this MAP are in effect for students entering Cal Poly Humboldt with the catalog year of 2023-24. Refer to your degree audit for details on your major and GE catalog year.

Set yourself up for academic success in challenging classes. Add a 1-unit Supplemental Instruction (SI) session.

Explore the Supplemental Instruction

options to see if there’s a match with a class you are taking.

Year 1

Semester 1 (15-16 Units)

GE Area A: Written Communication ENGL 102 - Composition and Rhetoric A Units: 3 ^[1] OR ENGL 104 - Accelerated Composition and Rhetoric Units: 3
Optional: ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
Major / GE Area B: Mathematics MATH 109 - Calculus I Units: 4 ^[2]
Major / GE Area B: Physical Science CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I Units: 5
GE Area E: Lifelong Learning SCI 100 - Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century Units: 3

^[1] If ENGL 102 is selected, you will need to take ENGL 103 in semester 2. Adjust spring courses in consultation with an advisor.

^[2]Prerequisite of MATH 102 or (MATH 101 and MATH 101T ) or placement into calculus. See placement categories in Admission Information for details. Students not yet eligible to take MATH 109 should consult with an advisor for course sequencing information.

Semester 2 (16 Units)

GE Area F: Ethnic Studies / DCG Domestic NAS 104 - Introduction to Native American Studies Units: 3
Major (Core) CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
Major (Core) MATH 110 - Calculus II Units: 4
Major (Core) PHYX 109 - General Physics A: Mechanics Units: 4

Year 2

Semester 3 (14 Units)

GE Area A: Oral Communication COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication Units: 3
Major (Core) MATH 107
Major (Core) MATH 210 - Calculus III Units: 4
Major (Core) PHYX 210 - General Physics B: Thermodynamics, Waves and Optics Units: 4

Semester 4 (16 Units)

Lower Division GE Area A: Critical Thinking
Units: 3
Major (Core) MATH 313 - Ordinary Differential Equations Units: 4
Major (Core) PHYX 211 - General Physics C: Electricity, Magnetism Units: 4
Major (Core) PHYX 340 - Mathematical and Computational Methods Units: 2
American Institutions/GE Area D: Social Science
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3

Year 3

Semester 5 (14 Units)

American Institutions
U.S. History
Units: 3
Major (Core) MATH 311 - Vector Calculus Units: 2
Major (Core) PHYX 320 - Modern Physics Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
Units: 3

Semester 6 (14 Units)

Major (Concentration) PHYX 324 - Analytical Mechanics Units: 4
Major (Core) PHYX 325 - Thermal Physics Units: 4
Major (Concentration) PHYX 310 - Spacetime and Relativity Units: 3 ^[3]
Lower Division GE Area C: Humanities
Units: 3

^[3]see course rotation

Year 4

Semester 7 (14.5 Units)

Major (Core) PHYX 441 - Electricity and Magnetism I Units: 3
Major (Core) PHYX 450 - Quantum Physics I Units: 4
Major (Concentration) PHYX 360 - Physics of Stars and Planets Units: 4 ^[3]
Major (Core) PHYX 484 - Physics Seminar I Units: 0.5
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
OR
Humanities
Units: 3

Semester 8 (16.5 Units)

GE Area B: Life Science BIOL 102 - Human Biology Units: 3
Major (Core) PHYX 361 - Galaxies and Cosmology Units: 4 ^[3]
Major (Core) PHYX 442 - Electricity and Magnetism II Units: 3
Major (Core) PHYX 485 - Physics Seminar II Units: 0.5
Upper Division GE Area C: Arts & Humanities
Units: 3 ^{[4, 5]}
Upper Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
Units: 3 ^{[4, 5]}

^[4] Take one course that double-counts for DCG.

^[5] One UD GE course must be GWAR certified.

Major Notes

GE modifications in this major - the Upper Division Area B General Education requirement is met by the coursework within the Bachelor of Science degree for either option in the Physics major.