College of Science and Health > Academics > Physics and Astrophysics > Undergraduate > Physics (BS) > Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Common Core 

Physics
Course Title Quarter Hours
PHY 170UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I4
PHY 171UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II4
PHY 172UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III4
PHY 270UNIVERSITY PHYSICS IV4
PHY 300METHODS OF COMPUTATIONAL AND THEORETICAL PHYSICS I4
PHY 301METHODS OF COMPUTATIONAL AND THEORETICAL PHYSICS II4
PHY 330SENIOR CAPSTONE PHYSICAL SCIENCE (Liberal Studies Program Capstone)4
Mathematics
Course Title Quarter Hours
Select one of the following three-course Calculus sequences:12-18
Sequence One
MAT 150
CALCULUS I
MAT 151
CALCULUS II
MAT 152
CALCULUS III
Sequence Two
MAT 147
CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I
MAT 148
CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II
MAT 149
CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III
Sequence Three
MAT 160
CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS I
MAT 161
CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS II
MAT 162
CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS III
Sequence Four
MAT 155
SUMMER CALCULUS I
MAT 156
SUMMER CALCULUS II
MAT 260MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS I4

Sequencing of Coursework

Students interested in majoring in physics, applied computational physics, or pre-engineering should enroll in PHY 170 and ​MAT 160 in the autumn quarter of their first year, provided they are adequately prepared in mathematics.

The sequences of PHY 170, PHY 171, and PHY 172 and MAT 160, MAT 161, and MAT 162 are prerequisites to PHY 270, PHY 300 and PHY 301, and PHY 370, which should be taken in the sophomore year together with MAT 260 and MAT 261.

It is recommended that students interested in the standard concentration or pre-engineering also take the chemistry sequence (CHE 130, or CHE 120 and CHE 131 and CHE 132 or CHE 122 and CHE 133, CHE 134 and CHE 135) their first year. Because of the predominance of physics, mathematics, and chemistry sequences in the freshman and sophomore years, it is crucial that Physics and Pre-Engineering majors be advised by Physics faculty upon enrollment at DePaul. 

Concentration Requirements

Students must also complete the requirements from one of the following concentrations: Standard, Computational, Engineering, or Interdisciplinary Physics. Students are limited to declaring only one concentration.

Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited.  No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major. 

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