There is no single physics program suitable for all, since students arrive at the University with diverse scientific goals and backgrounds.
Many students enter Penn with advanced placement credit in physics, mathematics, or both.
On occasion, they may wish to substitute courses taken in other departments for physics department courses.
Physics majors are strongly encouraged to take elective courses in physics, astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, or other sciences.
The department offers mixed undergraduate and graduate courses in modern optics, condensed matter physics, and nuclear and elementary particle physics, special and general relativity, and astrophysics.
And for the really.
The Physics minor consists of any 6 Physics courses (not units, but courses).
No more than two of these can be at the 100 (introductory) level.
A recommended minor is Physics 150, 151, 230, 250 and TWO advanced course at the 300 level or above.
This program provides an introduction to physics through the 100 level courses, a full survey of the fiel.
The major in physics is divided into a core requirement plus all of the courses in one of five concentrations: Advanced Physical Theory and Experimental Techniques, Chemical Principles, Computer Techniques, Astrophysics, or Business and Technology.There is an overall requirement of 17 1/2 or 18 1/2 credit units (c.u.), depending on the concentratio.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy endeavors to provide a variety of informal opportunities for undergraduates to acquaint themselves with aspects of current research.
For lack of a better term we dub these activities the "informal curriculum." Included in this category are Physics Club activities, departmental colloquia and seminars,and simil.
Advanced students may enroll in the Physics submatriculation program.
A total of 8 courses are required for the Master of Science (MS) degree.
All 8 courses must be at the pure graduate level.
Specifically, the requirements are a) 2 from the core grad courses PHYS5500/5516/5531/5532/6611 (PHYS500/516/531/532/611) with a B or better in each course, .
The department encourages students to enter the honors program.
This program augments the regular major with the requirement that the student plan and carry out an individualized research project under the guidance of a faculty member.
Research experience of this kind is invaluable to a future scientist: research is very different from course work,.
Pennsylvania is a research university.
Physics majors are encouraged to participate in this aspect of the department's activities.
Apart from the individual research done as part of the honors program, students can carry out supervised research projects under the rubric of Physics and Astronomy 299 and 499.
Other students gain valuable research exp.
The Penn Undergraduate Biophysics Major Is designed to provide education in depth in the physical sciences in associationwith an understanding of biological phenomena and problems, and to providethe background necessary for understanding the sophisticated methods ofcontemporary biophysical and biomedical research.
As one of the first departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the nation, we are proud of our strong tradition of combining cutting-edge technology with impactful biology.
We continue to leverage this interdisciplinary approach to yield break-through discoveries in biomedicine.
