Physics and Astronomy Requirements
Courses for Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences
The following courses are especially recommended for students not majoring in one of the sciences: PHYS 1 and PHYS 5, and ASTR 1 and ASTR 2/3.
Requirements for the Major in Physics
Prerequisite: MATH 3, MATH 8, MATH 13, and MATH 23; PHYS 13 and PHYS 14. Students with advanced placement may substitute PHYS 15 and PHYS 16 for PHYS 13 and PHYS 14.
Students completing a major in physics are required to take a minimum of eight courses in physics, including PHYS 19, PHYS 24, PHYS 41, PHYS 42, PHYS 43, PHYS 44, and two electives including the culminating experience. Students taking PHYS 15 may substitute a third elective for PHYS 19. The major requires one upper-level laboratory course; PHYS 47, PHYS 48, PHYS 76 or ASTR 61. Elective courses are PHYS 30, PHYS 47, PHYS 48, ASTR 15 or ASTR 25, and all physics and astronomy courses numbered in the sixties, seventies and nineties. Courses numbered in the forties may be taken in any order. Students planning graduate study in physics or another science, are encouraged to take PHYS 66, PHYS 76, PHYS 91 and other advanced courses in physics and astronomy. Graduate courses in physics and astronomy are open to qualified undergraduates. Students should consult the Undergraduate Advisor about additional courses in mathematics and other science departments.
Students are required to complete a culminating activity in the major. For the physics major this requirement may be satisfied by receiving credit for one of the following courses: PHYS 68, Introductory Plasma Physics; PHYS 72, Introductory Particle Physics; PHYS 73, Introductory Condensed Matter Physics; PHYS 74, Space Plasma Physics; PHYS 77, Introduction to General Relativity and Gravitation; PHYS 76, Methods of Experimental Physics; PHYS 82, Special Topics Seminar; ASTR 74, Astrophysics; ASTR 75, High Energy Astrophysics; ASTR 81, Special Topics in Astronomy; PHYS 87, Undergraduate Research. The culminating experience is included in, not in addition to, the eight courses required for the major.
All major programs require an average GPA of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the major, including prerequisites.
A typical program is outlined below. In addition to these courses, a physics major may be completed with almost any Dartmouth Plan attendance pattern, provided that at least one summer and one fall term are spent on campus
It is desirable that those students who plan to complete more than the minimal major in physics take PHYS 13 and PHYS 14 in the first year, and PHYS 19 and PHYS 24 in the sophomore year. Students taking PHYS 13 in the fall must have AP credit for Math 3. Those beginning Physics in their sophomore year, however, can easily complete at least the minimal major.
The Modified Physics Major
A modified physics major may be desirable for students interested in a broad range of scientific careers, medicine, the health professions, public policy, or journalism for example. The prerequisites for the modified major are the same as those for the physics major. The modified major consists of ten additional courses, of which at least six must be in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Courses selected in other departments (science or otherwise) should form a unified whole with the physics courses, and should draw on and relate to a physics background. It is also possible to modify the physics major with courses outside the science division, subject to these same general guidelines. A written rationale explaining the intellectual coherence of the proposed program of courses, approved by the Undergraduate Advisor, is required in all cases. Interested students are urged to consult the Undergraduate Advisor.
Requirements for the Engineering Physics Major
The Department of Engineering Sciences and the Department of Physics and Astronomy offer a major in Engineering Physics. This major features a 5/5 split in courses, unlike a modified major which requires six courses from one field and four from the other.
The prerequisite courses for the Engineering Physics major are MATH 3, MATH 8, MATH 13, MATH 23; PHYS 13, PHYS 14; CHEM 5; and COSC 1 and COSC 10 or ENGS 20.
The Engineering Physics major is a ten-course program consisting of three Engineering Sciences core courses (ENGS 22, ENGS 23, ENGS 24); three Physics core courses (PHYS 19, PHYS 24, PHYS 43 [Students taking PHYS 15 and PHYS 16 should substitute a third physics elective for PHYS 19]); and four electives, two from each department. Two electives must be selected from the following list: ENGS 25, ENGS 33, ENGS 34; PHYS 42, PHYS 68, PHYS 91; PHYS 73 or ENGS 131; PHYS 66 or ENGS 120; PHYS 44 or ENGS 140. The other two electives1 may be courses from the Engineering Sciences Department (numbered above 20, excluding ENGS 80 and ENGS 87) or courses from the Physics and Astronomy Department which fulfill the straight physics major.
1Prior to enrollment in ENGS 89 (formerly ENGS 190), at least six engineering sciences courses must be completed: ENGS 21 plus five additional courses numbered 22 - 76
A culminating experience is required in the major which can be taken instead of one of the electives above. It must be one of the following: a project or a thesis, ENGS 86, ENGS 88 or ENGS 89(ENGS 89 (formerly ENGS 190)* must be taken as part of the two-course design sequence ENGS 89/ ENGS 90 (formerly ENGS 190/ ENGS 290); or an advanced engineering sciences course with a significant design or research project, normally taken in the senior year, chosen from an approved list. (Consult the Engineering Sciences Department for the most recent list) or PHYS 68, PHYS 72, PHYS 73, PHYS 74, PHYS 76, PHYS 82, PHYS 87.
All major programs require an average GPA of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the major, including prerequisites.
For more information contact Professor Hudson (Physics and Astronomy) or Professor Lotko (Engineering Sciences).
Requirements for the Major in Astronomy
Prerequisite: MATH 3, MATH 8, MATH 13 and MATH 23; PHYS 13 and PHYS 14. Students with advanced placement may substitute PHYS 15 and PHYS 16 for PHYS 13 and PHYS 14.
Students completing a major in astronomy are required to take a minimum of eight courses in physics and astronomy, including: ASTR 15, ASTR 25, ASTR 61, PHYS 19, 24, one elective from ASTR 74, ASTR 75, ASTR 81 and two electives from PHYS 41, PHYS 43, PHYS 44, PHYS 74. Students taking PHYS 15 and PHYS 16 may substitute a third elective for PHYS 19. In addition to the minimum course requirements for an astronomy major, it is recommended that students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in astronomy or astrophysics should take the following courses: PHYS 41, PHYS 42, PHYS 43 and PHYS 44. Students interested in observational astronomy should take PHYS 48 (Electronics: Introduction to Linear and Digital Circuits) while those interested in theory should take ENGS 20 (Introduction to Computer Science with Applications in Engineering). Graduate courses in physics and astronomy are open to qualified undergraduates. Students are required to complete a culminating activity in the major. For the astronomy major this requirement may be satisfied by receiving credit for one of the following courses: ASTR 74, Astrophysics; ASTR 75, High Energy Astrophysics; ASTR 81, Special Topics in Astronomy; ASTR 87, Undergraduate Research in Astronomy; PHYS 77, Introduction to General Relativity and Gravitation. The culminating experience is included in, not in addition to, the eight courses required for the major.
All major programs require an average GPA of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the major, including prerequisites.
There are seven introductory astronomy courses intended for students with different mathematical and scientific backgrounds and interests:
Elementary courses for students with little or no science or mathematics background: ASTR 1 (spring), ASTR 2 (summer, fall), ASTR 3 (summer, fall), and ASTR 4 (spring). Note that ASTR 2 and ASTR 3 differ only in that ASTR 3 includes a laboratory. ASTR 1, ASTR 2/ ASTR 3, and ASTR 4 overlap very little in subject matter; any combination of these courses may be taken in any order.
Introductory course for students with some knowledge of calculus and physics: ASTR 15 (spring).
Introductory courses for advanced physics students, who need not have previous background in astronomy: ASTR 61 (fall), ASTR 74 (winter).
Students desiring observing experience at the observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona, which Dartmouth operates with the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Columbia University and Ohio University should plan to take ASTR 81 and/or ASTR 87.
Requirements for Physics and Astronomy Minors
Physics Minor
Prerequisite: MATH 3, MATH 8, MATH 13, MATH 23, or equivalents; PHYS 13 and PHYS 14 (or PHYS 3 and PHYS 4, or PHYS 15 and PHYS 16).
Four courses are required in addition to the prerequisites. One of these must be PHYS 19 except that students taking PHYS 15 and PHYS 16 may substitute another elective for PHYS 19. The other three must be chosen from physics courses numbered 24 and above, and/or astronomy courses numbered 15 and above, at least one of which must be numbered above 40.
Astronomy Minor
Prerequisites: MATH 3 and MATH 8 or equivalents; PHYS 13 and PHYS 14 (or PHYS 3 and PHYS 4, or PHYS 15 and PHYS 16).
Four courses are required in addition to the prerequisites. One of these must be ASTR 15. The other three are ASTR 25, ASTR 61, and ASTR 81. Any physics or astronomy course numbered 20 or above may be substituted for one of these three.
Note that ASTR 25 has PHYS 14 as prerequisite.
Requirements for the Mathematical Physics Minor
This minor is sponsored by the faculty in Mathematics and Physics. It may be combined with majors in either of the two departments, or any other department. Students majoring in both physics and mathematics cannot take the minor.
Prerequisites: PHYS 13, PHYS 14, PHYS 19 (or PHYS 15 and PHYS 16), and PHYS 24, MATH 3, MATH 8, MATH 13, and MATH 22 or MATH 24.
Requirements: A total of four additional courses are required. These must include MATH 23 and MATH 46. Mathematics majors must choose two elective physics courses from the following list; physics majors must choose two elective mathematics courses; students majoring in a department other than mathematics or physics must choose one mathematics and one physics course.
PHYS 41, PHYS 42, PHYS 43, PHYS 44, PHYS 47, PHYS 66, PHYS 72, PHYS 75, PHYS 77, PHYS 91.
MATH 31 or MATH 71, MATH 63, MATH 42, MATH 43, MATH 53, MATH 54, MATH 66, MATH 73, MATH 76.
An advanced undergraduate or graduate level physics or mathematics course may be substituted, with permission from the physics or mathematics department undergraduate advisor. No course may count towards both the major and minor.
Advanced Placement
The first-year program for a student who has received advanced placement in mathematics and qualifies for PHYS 15-16 might be as follows:
Honors Program in Physics Or Astronomy
An honors student carries out a program of independent work in physics or astronomy under the supervision of a member of the faculty. This independent work may be done in the student’s senior year, but often begins earlier. It may be experimental, theoretical, or observational. A written report on the completed work is required.
Any major meeting the college requirements (as described in the Regulations section of this catalog) is eligible for admission to the departmental Honors Program. To enter the program eligible students should obtain the permission of the Department and of the faculty member who is to supervise the work. This is generally done before the beginning of the senior year. Early consultation with the Department is encouraged.
All departmental Honors are considered individually and awarded by a vote of the faculty. To be considered for High Honors the student must defend an Honors Thesis based upon the independent work before a faculty committee. Students with an average in the major of 3.75 or higher who do not complete an honors thesis may be considered for Honors, as distinct from High Honors, provided they have completed three courses beyond the minimum number required for the major from among the list of courses numbered 60 or higher. One of the courses must be PHYS 76, PHYS 82, ASTR 81 or PHYS 87.
All Honors students must meet the minimum requirements of the regular major, and, ordinarily, should take physics, astronomy, and mathematics courses beyond those requirements. Special programs may be worked out for eligible students who wish to include extensive work in a field related to physics or astronomy.
Courses for Graduate Credit
Physics and astronomy courses offered for graduate credit are those numbered 61 or higher. The Department of Physics and Astronomy will allow graduate credit for any course offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering Sciences, or Mathematics that receives graduate credit from that department.