Bachelor of Science in Physics 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 Lower-Division 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 Lower-Division Prerequisite) 5 | 3 |
| MATH 227 | Calculus II (Major Lower-Division Prerequisite) | 4 |
| PHYS 220 & PHYS 222 |
General Physics with Calculus I and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory (Major Lower-Division Prerequisite, B1, B3) |
4 |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| MATH 228 | Calculus III (Major Lower-Division Prerequisite) | 4 |
| PHYS 230 & PHYS 232 |
General Physics with Calculus II and General Physics with Calculus II Laboratory (Major Lower-Division Prerequisite) |
4 |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences (Consider SF State Studies Course) 6 | 3 | |
| Select One: | 3 | |
| Linear Algebra (if selecting MATH 376) | ||
| Units | 14 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Lower-Division 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 Lower-Division Prerequisite) |
4 |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities (Consider SF State Studies Course) 6 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences (Consider SF State Studies Course) 6 | 3 | |
| Units | 13 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| PHYS 320 & PHYS 321 |
Modern Physics I and Modern Physics Laboratory (Major Upper-Division Core) |
5 |
| 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 | ||
| PHYS 360 | Electricity and Magnetism I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 457 | Introduction to Analog Electronics (Major Upper-Division Core) | 4 |
| Units | 10 | |
| Ninth Semester | ||
| PHYS 430 | Quantum Mechanics I (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 460 | Electricity and Magnetism II (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 490 | Physics Project Laboratory (Major Upper-Division Core) | 2 |
| Major Elective (10 units total) - Take One 7 | 3 | |
| Units | 11 | |
| Tenth Semester | ||
| PHYS 491GW | Advanced Laboratory II - GWAR (Major Upper-Division Core) | 1 |
| PHYS 695 | Culminating Experience in Physics (Major Upper-Division Core) | 1 |
| Major Elective (10 units total) - Take Two 7 | 7 | |
| 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 | Additional upper-division elective units in astronomy, mathematics, or physics may be substituted for CSC 309 by students proficient in computer programming, subject to approval by the department chair. |
| 6 | To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet U.S. and California Government (USG/CSLG) within Upper-Division GE. |
| 7 | Major Electives (10 units) Upper-division astronomy, physics, mathematics, or related sciences courses. |
| ± | Given catalog rights, fall 2022 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course. |