Physics @ Berkeley
Undergraduate Student Learning Goals Print E-mail
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Physics is the study of the universe, from the very large (star formation, cosmic microwave background radiation) to the very small (nanotechnology, atomic cooling and trapping, string theory), and everything in between (biophysics, and the physics of solid state devices, just to name a few). Our undergraduate program aims to provide a broad and solid background in fundamental physics through introductory course work, and then to engage all our majors who are interested in current research with some of the top research groups worldwide.

We believe a Physics degree represents strong training for a broad range of careers. Approximately half of our recent graduates have continued to graduate school in Physics and related fields; others have taken jobs in high tech industries or as management consultants, and still others have entered medical school or law school. We aim to help our majors develop strong mathematical and analytical skills, good laboratory skills, effective written and oral communication skills, and of course a solid understanding of the fundamental laws that govern the universe.

Bellow is a description of the undergraduate major program emphasizing the academic goals of the program.

For more information, contact:
Claudia Trujillo
Undergraduate Student Affairs Officer
368 LeConte Hall
Phone 510-642-0481
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 Ask her for a copy of the really cool pamphlet covering not only the academic program but also a host of other valuable information about administrative matters, research opportunities, student organizations, etc.; or, click here for a copy.

Goals of the Physics Major

It is the goal of the Physics major to provide the student an educational experience equal to the other top ranked Physics departments in the country. The content of such a program is well understood in the physics community.  It is often the subject of papers in professional journals e.g. The American Journal of Physics and various publications of the American Institute of Physics.  A student graduating from Berkeley with a major in physics should not only know classical and modern physics but must be creative in applying principles to new and unfamiliar problems.  In the physics community this would be stated as, the student “thinks and acts like a physicist” and there would be agreement in the community as to its meaning.

The Physics Major

The physics major requires a detailed knowledge of a seemingly wide range of topics. Thus, the undergraduate major in Physics is a highly structured program of courses.  It is similar to the programs found in most post secondary institutions in this country.

The program has three levels or tiers.  These are described as follows: (Detailed course descriptions may be found here: lower division courses; upper division courses)

Tier 1: The lower division prerequisite to the major consists of five lower division courses:

  • Physics 7A-7C (or H7A-H7C),
  • Math 1A-1B, Math 53 and Math 54

    • Students may declare the physics major after completing these (or their equivalent) with a grade point average of 2.0 or greater and a grade point average of 2.0 or greater in all University courses.   The honors sequence H7A, H7B and H7C are recommended for students with advanced placement credit.  They cover the same topics but use more sophisticated mathematics and provide a stronger introduction and preparation for the Tier 2 courses.

    Tier 2: The core courses required in the major are:

  • Analytic Mechanics (105)
  • Quantum Mechanics (137A-137B)
  • Electromagnetism and Optics (110A)
  • Statistical and Thermal Physics (112).

    • These courses provide a detailed quantitative and conceptual base of the most important aspects required in understanding modern physics.  They usually require a written assignment weekly, one or two midterm examinations and a final examination.  The student’s grades in these courses provide the major system of evaluating performance at this level.

    Tier 3:  These are the advanced courses that give the student an introduction to at least one of the fields of modern Physics as well as an introduction to modern experimental techniques.

    First, an elective course chosen from one of the following:

  • Electromagnetism and Optics (110B)
  • Particle Physics (129)
  • Quantum and Nonlinear Optics (130)
  • Atomic Physics (138)
  • Special and General Relativity (139)
  • Solid State Physics (141A (and/or B))
  • Introduction to Plasma Physics (142)
  • Elective Physics: Special Topics (151)
  • Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology (C161)
  • Principles of Molecular Biophysics (177)
  • Quantum Information Science and Technology (C191)

    • Occasionally, the department will allow a course from another department to be used as an elective subject upon approval of the Head Undergraduate Advisor.

    Second, The Advanced Laboratory Physics (111) course.  This is a variable unit course of which the major must complete 6 units, usually 2 semesters. The Laboratory in addition to learning techniques of electronic instrumentation provides the students with a unique opportunity among physics departments nationwide to choose from many different experiments (they do 4 in a semester), ranging from classic Nobel Prize winning work (e.g., Optical Pumping or the Mossbauer Effect), to areas of current research interest (nonlinear dynamics and laser manipulation of atoms, among others).  The students give both written and oral reports on their work thus gaining experience in communicating scientific results as well as seeing the theory work in the Laboratory.

    The work in tier 3 provides a “capstone” to the students program. In the elective course, they apply the tools from the core courses to modern problems that are often at the cutting edge of modern research.

    Meeting the Goals

    Due to the highly structured program, performance in each course provides an ongoing measure of the student’s progress during most of the major. Every term the student discusses their program with a major advisor (this is mandatory). Frequently, there is feedback from the sum total of these interviews providing input useful in considering modifications of the major requirements.

    The major evaluation of how well we meet the goals is from student’s performances in the Advanced Laboratory (Physics 111).  It is here we see how well the students are able to bring together all the material they have learned in courses and apply it to real physics problems that are in many cases completely new to them.  This is where we see if we are making Physicists!

    Keeping the Major Program Current

    Two standing departmental committees monitor the program and consider the need for changes in the major. One committee is responsible for the lower division courses the other for the upper division program.  There is need to be sensitive to the natural evolution of knowledge that topics that were once considered very advanced will move down the intellectual chain.  Many of the topics we now teach in lower division courses were the province of graduate courses a mere 30 or 40 years ago.  These changes are usually made gradually as textbooks change or instructors add new material.  This leads to the question what traditional topics that are left out to make time for the new material.  These committees consider these questions or problems related to them and make recommendations for consideration by the faculty.