{"id":103,"date":"2017-10-04T19:18:16","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T19:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-physics-astronomy\/sampleschedules\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T20:46:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T20:46:29","slug":"sampleschedules","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/majorsminors\/sampleschedules\/","title":{"rendered":"Sample Schedules"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sample schedules illustrate three possible pathways for students to complete the major while complying with all pre-requisite requirements. Students who are contemplating a Physics or Physics with Astronomy emphasis major are encouraged to consult with a Physics and Astronomy faculty member at an early stage to plan a schedule that fits their situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sample schedule 1: Physics major started in the first year.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Fall<\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Spring<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

\n

First Year<\/p>\n<\/td>

MATH 137, Applied Multivariable Calculus II<\/em>
PHYS 226, Principles of Physics I<\/em><\/td>		MATH 237, Applied Multivariable Calculus III<\/em>
PHYS 227, Principles of Physics II<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Sophomore<\/p>\n<\/td>

MATH 236, Linear Algebra<\/em>
PHYS 331, Modern Physics<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 348, Lab Instrumentation<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Junior<\/p>\n<\/td>

PHYS 370, Computational Physics
<\/em>PHYS 443, Electromagnetic Theory I<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 461PHYS 461, Mechanics
<\/em>PHYS 489, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Senior<\/p>\n<\/td>

PHYS 481, Quantum Mechanics
<\/em>PHYS 489, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 468, Statistical Mechanics<\/em>
PHYS 489, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sample schedule 2: Physics major started in the sophomore year.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Fall<\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Spring<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

\n

First Year<\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

 <\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

 <\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

\n

Sophomore<\/p>\n<\/td>

MATH 137, Applied Multivariable Calculus II<\/em>
PHYS 226, Principles of Physics I<\/em><\/td>		MATH 236, Linear Algebra<\/em>
MATH 237, Applied Multivariable Calculus III<\/em>
PHYS 227, Principles of Physics II<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Junior<\/p>\n<\/td>

PHYS 331, Modern Physics<\/em>
PHYS 443, Electromagnetic Theory I
<\/em>PHYS 468, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 348, Lab Instrumentation<\/em>
PHYS 461, Mechanics<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Senior<\/p>\n<\/td>

PHYS 370, Computational Physics<\/em>
PHYS 481, Quantum Mechanics
<\/em>PHYS 468, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 468, Statistical Mechanics<\/em>
PHYS 468, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sample schedule 3: Physics with Astronomy emphasis major.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Fall<\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Spring<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

\n

First Year<\/p>\n<\/td>

MATH 137, Applied Multivariable Calculus II<\/em>
PHYS 226, Principles of Physics I<\/em><\/td>		MATH 237, Applied Multivariable Calculus III<\/em>
PHYS 227, Principles of Physics II<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Sophomore<\/p>\n<\/td>

MATH 236, Linear Algebra<\/em>
PHYS 331, Modern Physics<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 440\/460, Observational Astronomy or Astrophysics<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Junior<\/p>\n<\/td>

PHYS 370, Computational Physics<\/em>
PHYS 443, Electromagnetic Theory I
<\/em>PHYS 468, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 440\/460, Observational Astronomy or Astrophysics<\/em>
PHYS 461, Mechanics<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Senior<\/p>\n<\/td>

PHYS 481, Quantum Mechanics<\/em> (strongly recommended)
<\/em>PHYS 468, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td>		PHYS 468, Statistical Mechanics<\/em>
PHYS 468, Physics Seminar<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The sample schedules illustrate three possible pathways for students to complete the major while complying with all pre-requisite requirements. Students who are contemplating a Physics or Physics with Astronomy emphasis major are encouraged to consult with a Physics and Astronomy faculty member at an early stage to plan a schedule that fits their situation. Sample […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":913,"featured_media":0,"parent":92,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-103","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/913"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/103\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1323,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/103\/revisions\/1323"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}