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Career Electives

Career Electives

12 hours of Career Electives are required for physics majors who started at OSU during or after autumn semester 2024.  

Here are the requirements for the Career Electives:

  • The course cannot already be required by the physics major program 
  • Students following the new General Education requirements can apply up to two Theme GE courses to their major as Applied Electives. The courses must be in different Themes (one in Citizenship for a Just and Diverse World and one in the “choice” Theme). No overlap is allowed between the Foundations GE categories and major coursework. 
  • The course must be graded A-E as opposed to pass/non-pass
  • The course must be 2000 level or above
  • Seminars and undergraduate research courses cannot count

Students are encouraged to choose a set of electives appropriate for their career plans.  Below is a list of popular elective options for Physics majors.  We encourage you to work with a physics advisor to come up with an appropriate set of Career Electives for your plans. (^ indicates that the course is also approved as a GE Theme): 

Physics Courses

Physics majors are required to take one Physics Elective that is separate from the 12 hours of Career Electives. A student can, however, take additional physics courses beyond the minimum required for the physics major. If a student takes several additional physics courses, one will be used to satisfy the Physics Elective requirement and the remaining courses can count toward the 12 hours of Career Electives.

The physics courses that can count toward the Physics Elective or Career Elective requirements are:

Physics 3470 - Optics
Physics 5261 - Environmental Soil Physics
Physics 5300 – Theoretical Mechanics 
Physics 5401H – Honors Electromagnetism II (note that a non-honors equivalent is not available)
Physics 5501 or 5501H – Quantum Mechanics II 
Physics 5600 – Statistical Mechanics

Non-Physics Courses

Astronomy 2140 – Planets and the Solar System^ 
Astronomy 2141 – Life in the Universe^ 
Chemistry 2510 & 2520 – Organic Chemistry I & II 
Chemistry 2540 & 2550 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory I & II 
Civil Engineering 3530 – Learning From Disasters: Extreme Events and Their Impact on Infrastructure, Engineering and Society^ 
Communication 2110 – Principles of Effective Public Speaking 
Communication 2331 – Strategic Communication Principles^ 
Communication 2596 – Communicating Science, Health, Environment, & Risk^ 
Communication 3240 – Science Communication 
Communication 3404 – Media Law and Ethics 
CSE 2221 – Software 1 
CSE 2371 - Quantum Circuits and Algorithms
CSE 5471 - Introduction to Cybersecurity (cross-listed with ECE 5561)
Earth Sciences 2203 – Environmental Geoscience^ 
Earth Sciences 2911 – The Climate Crisis: Mechanisms, Impacts, and Mitigation^ 
ECE 2020 – Introduction to Analog Systems and Circuits 
ECE 3030 – Semiconductor Electronic Devices 
ECE 5037 – Solid State Electronics and Photonics Laboratory 
ECE 5463 - Introduction to Real Time Robotics Systems
ECE 5537 – Semiconductor Device Characterization and Modeling Lab 
ECE 5561 - Introduction to Cybersecurity (cross-listed with CSE 5471)
English 3020 – Writing about Sustainability^ 
English 3022 – Media Sustainability^ 
English 3340 – Reimagining Climate Change^ 
English 3304 – Business and Professional Writing 
English 3305 – Technical Writing 
English 3405 – Professional Communication 
Engineering 2300 – Exploring Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Engineering Contexts^ 
Geography 3755 – Geography of the European Union and the Challenges of Sustainability^ 
Geography 5900 – Weather, Climate, and Global Warming 
Industrial and Systems Engineering 2040: Engineering Economics 
Math 2568 – Linear Algebra 
Math 4530- Probability
Math 4551 – Vector Analysis 
Math 4552 – Complex Analysis 
Math 4580 & 4581 – Abstract Algebra I & II 
Math 5756 & 5757 – Mathematical Methods in Relativity Theory I & II 
ME 3500 – Engineering Thermal Sciences 
MSE 2010 – Introduction to Engineering Materials 
Nuclear Engineering 4505 – Introduction to Nuclear Engineering 
Nuclear Engineering 5606 – Nuclear Reactor Systems 
Public Affairs 2120 – Public Service and Civic Engagement^ 
Public Affairs 2620 –  Science, Engineering, and Technology Policy 
Public Affairs 3620 – US Space Policy and the Global Space Economy 
Public Affairs 5620 – Rapid Innovation for Public Impact 
 

Contact your physics academic advisor if you have any questions about your degree requirements.