Bachelor of Science in Physics: Concentration in Astrophysics Roadmap – Quantitative Reasoning Category III/IV and Stretch English
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 71
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 104 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice Stretch I 1 | 3 |
| MATH 197 | Prelude to Calculus I (Prerequisite for MATH 226) 2,3 | 3 |
| GE Area A 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 105 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice Stretch II (A2) 1 | 3 |
| MATH 198 | Prelude to Calculus II (Prerequisite for MATH 226, B4) 2,3 | 3 |
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| MATH 226 | Calculus I (Major Prerequisite, B4) 2,3 | 4 |
| GE Area B: Life Science (B2) | 3 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area E | 3 | |
| Units | 13 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| CSC 309 | Computer Programming (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| MATH 227 | Calculus II (Major Prerequisite) | 4 |
| PHYS 220 & PHYS 222 |
General Physics with Calculus I and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory (Major Prerequisite, B1, B3) |
4 |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| MATH 228 | Calculus III (Major Prerequisite) | 4 |
| PHYS 230 & PHYS 232 |
General Physics with Calculus II and General Physics with Calculus II Laboratory (Major Prerequisite) |
4 |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences (Consider SF State Studies Course) 5 | 3 | |
| Select One: | 3 | |
| Linear Algebra (if selecting MATH 376) | ||
| Units | 14 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| ASTR 300 | Stars, Planets, and the Milky Way (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Major Prerequisite): | 3 | |
| Elementary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra | ||
| Ordinary Differential Equations I | ||
| PHYS 240 & PHYS 242 |
General Physics with Calculus III and General Physics with Calculus III Laboratory (Major Prerequisite) |
4 |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities (Consider SF State Studies Course) 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences (Consider SF State Studies Course) 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| ASTR 301 | Observational Astronomy Laboratory (Major Upper-Division Core) | 2 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 330 | Analytical Mechanics I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 385 | Introduction to Theoretical Physics I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| Units | 11 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| ASTR 340GW | The Big Bang - GWAR (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Electricity and Magnetism I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| Units | 9 | |
| Ninth Semester | ||
| ASTR 400 | Stellar Astrophysics (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 430 | Quantum Mechanics I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| Major Elective (6 Units Total) - Take One 6 | 3 | |
| Units | 9 | |
| Tenth Semester | ||
| ASTR 470 | Observational Techniques in Astronomy (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Major Culminating Experience): | 3 | |
| Astronomy Research Literature and Culminating Experience in Physics |
||
| Senior Project | ||
| Major Elective (6 Units Total) - Take One 6 | 3 | |
| Units | 9 | |
| Total Units | 125 | |
| 1 | ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses. |
| 2 | To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start. |
| 3 | QR Category III students with a grade of B or higher in high school pre-calculus in the past year may be able to enroll in MATH 226. Please see a department advisor. |
| 4 | To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major. |
| 5 | To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet U.S. and California Government (USG/CSLG) within Upper-Division GE. |
| 6 | Major Electives (6 units) Chosen from upper-division courses in Physics or Astronomy with consent of an advisor. Three of the 6 units must be in a course(s) numbered 400–499. Up to 1 unit of a 600 level course in ASTR may count toward this requirement. |
| ± | Given catalog rights, fall 2022 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course. |