Department of Physics and Astronomy

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 Mathematics 3, 8, 13, 23; Physics 13, 14; Chemistry 5; and Computer Science 5 or Engineering Sciences 20.

The engineering physics major is a ten-course program consisting of three engineering sciences core courses (Engineering Sciences 22, 23, 24); three physics core courses (Physics 19, 24, 43 [Students taking Physics 15 and 16 may substitute a third elective for Physics 19]); and four electives, two from each department. Two electives must be selected from the following list: Engineering Sciences 25, 33, 34; Physics 42, 68, 91; Physics 73 or Engineering Sciences 131; Physics 66 or Engineering Sciences 120; Physics 44 or Engineering Sciences 140. The other two electives may be courses from the engineering sciences department (numbered above 20, excluding Engineering Sciences 80 and 87) or courses from the physics and astronomy department that fulfill the straight physics major.

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, Engineering Sciences 86, 88 or 190 (Engineering Sciences 190 must be taken as part of the two-course design sequence Engineering Sciences 190/290); or an advanced course (Engineering Sciences 63, 76, 91, 92 or any graduate course available for A.B. credit. Effective with the Class of 2010, the course option consists of 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 Physics 68, 72, 73, 74, 76, 82, 87, including the senior honors thesis option.

All major programs require an average GPA of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the major, including prerequisites.

For further information regarding the Engineering Physics Major, please contact either Professor Mary Hudson, Physics and Astronomy or Professor William Lotko or Christopher Levey, Engineering Sciences

For more information on the Thayer School of Engineering, visit their web site.