School of Science and Engineering: Physics and Astronomy
2008-2009 Academic Year
675
The intention of Tulane's physics major program is to encourage cross-
disciplinary preparation for students interested in public interest science or in
physics as a preparation for medical or other professional schools. Dual majors
are encouraged. Students pursuing a career in physics are advised to follow the
"Pre-graduate Training" sequence. The basic requirements for a physics major are
as follows. The minimum requirements are seven courses in Physics (including
Physics 131 and 132), four in Mathematics, and an additional four in any
Mathematics, Physics, or other Science courses at the two hundred level and
above, and approved by the Physics Department. Six credits of upper level
courses must be chosen from among contemporary topics (235, 236, 321, 327,
447, 607, 608, 621, 625, 627, 630, 675) and six credits from classical topics (363,
374, 423, 465, 601, 602). Three credits of Advanced Laboratory 353 are also
required. Satisfactory completion of one semester of Seminar 380 is required for
degree certification (one credit). At least 13 credits (four courses) of mathematics
are required including MATH 221 or one of MATH 224 or 424, or both MATH
221 and MATH 224/424. No more than two of the four mathematics courses may
be at the 100 level. Twelve additional credits above the 100 level of physics,
engineering physics, chemistry, biology, geology or mathematics must be selected
with the approval of the major advisor. This approval will normally be given only
for courses that have disciplinary prerequisites at the 100 level. It is recommended
that a course in computer science be taken early in a student's undergraduate
career.
Students are encouraged to consider a bachelor of science in physics as
preparation for graduate study in disciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences
(physics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemistry, neuroscience, materials science,
geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, and applied physics), for professional
study in medicine, in patent law, or in engineering, and for careers in
environmental science, in mathematical or computer modeling, in science writing,
or in science and public policy. Within the requirements above, programs can be
tailored to suit the needs of students who elect these career options.
In addition, we have a 4+1 program that allows students to obtain a Master's
Degree in five years, by enabling them to take graduate level courses as an
undergraduate.
Tulane University is a member of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
consortium.
A minor in physics consists of eight credits of general physics (normally 131,
132) plus twelve credits of physics courses at the 200 level or above. At least
three credits of the upper-level courses must be chosen from classical topics in