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Degree Pathway for the Bachelor of Science in Physics - Astronomy and Astrophysics Option - 2021

Suggested Degree Pathway for Physics - Astronomy and Astrophysics Option

For students who entered fall 2021 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.1610Honors Physics I4
PHYS.1610LHonors Physics I Laboratory2
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I / FYSH (CW)3
MATH.1310Calculus I (MATH)4
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Persp. (SS)3
Total16 (61)

Spring Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.1120Freshman Physics Seminar1
PHYS.1640Honors Physics II4
PHYS.1640LHonors Physics Lab II2
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
MATH.1320Calculus II (STEM)4
xxxx.xxxxArts and Hum. Persp. (AH)33
Total17 (71)

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.2690Honors Physics III4
PHYS.2610LThe Physics of Materials and Devices3
CHEM.1210Chemistry I (SCL)3
CHEM.1230LChemistry I Laboratory (SCL)1
MATH.2310Calculus III4
Total15 (71)

Spring Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.2100Introductory Modern Physics3
PHYS.2620LPrinciples in Laboratory Automation3
CHEM.1220Chemistry II (SCL)3
CHEM.1240LChemistry II Laboratory (SCL)1
MATH.2340 /
MATH.2360		Differential Equations / 
Engineering Differential Equations		3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Persp. (SS)33
Total16 (61)

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.3530Electromagnetism I3
PHYS.4130Mechanics3
MATH.3810Mathematical Physics3
PHYS.xxxxAstronomy Elective43
xxxx.xxxxArts and Hum. Persp. (AH)3
Total15 (91)

Spring Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.4350Introductory Quantum Mechanics I3
PHYS.3380Optics and Waves3
PHYS.3930LAdvanced Experimental Physics Laboratory I (CTPS), (QL)2
PHYS.3820Mathematical Physics II3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Persp. (SS)3
Total14 (111)

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.4540Physics Capstone (IL), (WOC), (AIL)3
PHYS.xxxxAstronomy Elective43
PHYS.xxxxAstronomy Elective43
xxxx.xxxxSpecial Elective23
xxxx.xxxxArts and Hum. Persp. (AH)3
Total15 (91)

Spring Semester

Course#Course NameCredits
PHYS.3940LAdvanced Physics Lab II2
PHYS.xxxxAstronomy Elective43
xxxx.xxxxSpecial Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSpecial Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSpecial Elective21
Total12 (51)

Total Minimum Credits = 120

1Number of specified physics credits.

2Special Electives:

  • Special Electives must be courses from outside the Physics Department.
  • Courses below the lowest-level required course in the Physics major cannot be used as Special Electives. For example, no MATH course below Calculus I is acceptable.
  • Any combination of 10 credits that meets the above two conditions is acceptable.

3The Arts and Humanities (AH) and Social Sciences (SS) perspectives are subsets of the Breadth of Knowledge (BoK) requirements in the Core Curriculum.  No more than two BoK courses can be taken with the same prefix.

The Core Curriculum also includes seven Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs).  The Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) and Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) are met outside this major.  See the DCA course list and SRE course list for a catalog of classes satisfying these requirements.

Please Note:  Use the Class Search tool to identify AH and SS courses that simultaneously satisfy the DCA or SRE requirement.

Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence.

Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for complete details.  Please meet with your college-based professional advisor and/or faculty advisor to determine how best to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements. 

4Astronomy Electives:

Twelve (12) credits of upper-level physics electives must be completed from the following list of approved Astronomy courses. 

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SiS. If you need assistance, please contact your adviser.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.

Last Updated: 4/22/2021