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Natural Science Division

Physics

The courses in physics are designed to:

  • Provide an understanding of the laws and nature of the physical universe.
  • Prepare physics majors for admission to graduate or professional school, employment in business and industry, or employment as teachers.
  • Provide specialized training for students in the other sciences who will apply the principles of physics to their own disciplines.
  • Provide a general understanding of the nature and functioning of the physical universe to students in the liberal arts.

Course Requirements

The bachelor of science in physics degree program requires the completion of forty units in physics and nineteen units of courses from supporting disciplines.

Bachelor of Science in Physics

Course ID Course Name Units
Lower-Division Courses: 30 units
PHYS 201 Seminar for New Majors (PS) 1
PHYS 210 Physics I (GE) 5
PHYS 211 Physics II 5
MATH 210 Analytic Geometry & Calculus I (GE) 4
MATH 211 Analytic Geometry & Calculus II 4
MATH 212 Analytic Geometry & Calculus III 4
COSC 105 Introduction to Programming 3
CHEM 120 General Chemistry I (GE) 3
CHEM 120L General Chemistry Lab I (GE) 1
Note: Students who completed PHYS 102 and PHYS 103 can still enter the physics major sequence provided they have completed the mathematics courses listed here.
Upper-Division Courses: 29 units
PHYS 312 Modern Physics 3
PHYS 320 Mathematical Methods of Physics 4
PHYS 330 Intermediate Mechanics 4
PHYS 380 Intermediate Laboratory (WI) (RM) 2
PHYS 410 Electricity & Magnetism I 3
PHYS 411 Electricity & Magnetism II 3
PHYS 420 Electronics 3
PHYS 430 Statistical and Thermodynamics 3
PHYS 440 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 4

Freshman-Year Program

In the freshman year the physics major should enroll in PHYS 201, MATH 210, CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, PHYS 210, MATH 211, and COSC 105, in addition to general education courses.

PHYSICS MINOR

Course ID Course Name
 Units
Required Courses for Physics Minor
 25-26
PHYS 210
 Physics I (GE)
 5
PHYS 211
 Physics II
 5
PHYS 312
 Modern Physics
 3
PHYS 330
 Intermediate Mechanics
 4
PHYS 380
 Intermediate Laboratory
 2
PHYS 410
 Electricity & Magnetism I
 3
1 upper-division Physics course to be selected from:
PHYS 320
 Mathematical Methods of Physics
 4
PHYS 411
 Electricity and Magnetism II
 3
PHYS 420
 Electronics 3
PHYS 430
Statistical and Thermodynamics
 3
PHYS 440 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 4

The above program requirements are excerpted from the Seaver catalog. This Web page is not an official binding document. To view the actual catalog visit: http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/catalog/

You may email your questions to the Seaver Natural Science Division .