Physics, B.S. MAP

Major Academic Plans

Students at Cal Poly Humboldt follow many different paths to graduation. Your educational and career goals, as well as personal interests all contribute to planning the courses you take.

Major Academic Plans or MAPs show what courses you might take each semester in order to meet university and major program requirements and graduate with a degree in four years. Discussing course options with an advisor will best serve you in planning a customized schedule to meet your individual academic needs.

Additionally, you may build your personalized plan in DARS planning tools using a program MAP as a resource. Meet with your advisor each semester to assist in planning and to review your progress.

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
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, students must complete 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 - Introduction to Linear Algebra Units: 3
Major (Core): MATH 210 - Calculus III Units: 4
Major (Core): PHYX 210 - General Physics B: Thermodynamics, Waves and Optics Units: 4

Semester 4 (14 Units)

Lower Division GE Area A: Critical Thinking
Units: 3
American Institutions/GE Area D: Social Science
U.S. History
Units: 3

Major (Core): MATH 313 - Ordinary Differential Equations Units: 4
Major (Core): PHYX 211 - General Physics C: Electricity, Magnetism Units: 4

Year 3

Semester 5 (16 Units)

Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
Units: 3
American Institutions
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3

Major (Core): MATH 311 - Vector Calculus Units: 2
Major (Concentration): PHYX 315 - Introduction to Electronics and Electronic Instrumentation Units: 3
Major (Core): PHYX 320 - Modern Physics Units: 3
Major (Core): PHYX 340 - Mathematical and Computational Methods Units: 2

Semester 6 (14 Units)

Lower Division GE Area B: Life Sciences
Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Humanities
Units: 3

Major (Concentration): PHYX 316 - Electronic Instrumentation and Control Systems Units: 4 or PHYX 325 (see course rotations)
Major (Core): PHYX 324 - Analytical Mechanics Units: 4

Year 4

Semester 7 (15.5 Units)

Major (Core) PHYX 441 - Electricity and Magnetism I Units: 3
Major (Core) PHYX 450 - Quantum Physics I Units: 4
Major (Concentration) PHYX 462 - Senior Lab Units: 2
Major (Core) PHYX 484 - Physics Seminar I Units: 0.5
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
OR
Humanities
Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
Units: 3

Semester 8 (15.5 Units)

Major (Core) PHYX 316 - Electronic Instrumentation and Control Systems Units: 4 OR PHYX 325 - Thermal Physics Units: 4 (see course rotation)
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
Upper Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
Units: 3
Elective Units: 2

GE Modification: The Upper Division GE Area B requirement is met by the major.