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Physics Major Requirements (Autumn 2024 - Present)

Physics Major Requirements (Autumn 2024 - Present)

The B.S. in Physics is a degree conferred by the College of Arts and Sciences. It is a degree which prepares a student for either direct employment after graduation or in the pursuit of an advanced degree.

Beginning in autumn 2024, the physics curriculum is streamlined to allow students more flexibility and continuity. Students can tailor their electives to their career plans and interests as they would have under the previous curriculum but they now have even more elective choices and flexibility than before. Please work with a physics advisor for assistance choosing electives that are appropriate for you.

Sample Curricula

Degree Requirements

Required Physics: 39-43 credit hours

  • Introductory Calculus based Physics I & II: Physics 1270-1271 or 1250-1251 or 1250H-1251H or 1260-1261 or 1248-1249-1251 (10-12 hours)
  • Physics 2095: Physics Seminar (1 hour) 
  • Physics 2300-2301: Intermediate Mechanics I & II (8 hours total; 4 hours each)
  • Physics 3700: Data Analysis Lab (3 hours)
  • Physics 5400 or 5400H: Intermediate Electromagnetism (4 hours)
  • Physics 5500 or 5500H: Intermediate Quantum Mechanics (4 hours)
  • Physics 5700: Physics Senior Lab (3 hours)
  • Third Physics Lab (choose one):
    • Physics 4700: Electronics Lab (3 hours)
    • Physics 5680: Big Data Analytics (3 hours)
    • Physics 5810: Computational Physics (4 hours)
  • Physics Elective (choose one):
    • Physics 3470: Optics (3 hours)
    • Physics 5300: Theoretical Mechanics (4 hours)
    • Physics 5401H: Honors Electromagnetism II (4 hours)
    • Physics 5501 or 5501H: Quantum Mechanics II (4 hours)
    • Physics 5600: Statistical Mechanics (4 hours)
    • Physics 4700, 5680, or 5810 if not taken as a third lab outlined above.

Note: Information about physics courses, including semesters offered and course content is available on the Physics Courses page.

Career Electives: 12 credit hours

Students are required to take at least 12 credit hours of Career Electives that are appropriate for their goals, interests, and career plans. Career Electives can come from outside the Department of Physics. Career Electives must meet the following criteria: 

  • Cannot be a course already required by the program as outlined above (e.g., Physics 2300).
  • Students can apply up to two Theme GE courses to their major as Career Electives. The courses must be from different Theme categories (one from “Citizenship for a Diverse and Just World” and one from 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 or satisfactory/unsatisfactory
  • The course must be 2000 level or above
  • Seminars and undergraduate research cannot count
  • Per university policy, no overlap with a minor is permitted

A list of recommended Career Electives are in the sample curricula above and on the Career Electives webpage.

Required Math & Programming: 16-25 credit hours

  • Calculus (one of the following sequences):
    • Math 1140-1141-1152-2153 (17 hours)
    • Math 1151-1152-2153 (14 hours)
    • Math 1151-1172-2173 (13 hours)
    • Math 1181H-2182H (10 hours)
    • Math 4181H-4182H (10 hours)
  • Differential Equations: Math 2415 (preferred) or 2255 or 2174 or 5520H (3-5 hours) 
  • Computer Programming: CSE 1222 or CSE 1223 or CSE 1224 or Astronomy 1221 (3 hours) (or, for students who started in an Engineering program, we also accept ENGR 1221 or ENGR 1281H)

General Education and College Requirements (47-52 hours, 10 of which overlap with the major)

College, GE, and overall degree requirements are outlined in PDF files available on the College of Arts and Sciences website. Be sure to review the "Bachelor of Science New GE Requirements" document. This document also lists the various courses available for each of the below GE categories. 

  • World Language Proficiency (12 credit hours): Complete levels 1101, 1102, and 1103 of a World Language. Alternatively, students can test out of these classes or receive a waiver if English is their second language.
  • College survey (1 hour) - ASC 1100.xx or completion of any OSU survey course
  • Launch Seminar - GenEd 1201 (or GenEd 2601.01 for certain transfer students) (1 hour)
  • Foundations GE requirements (25 hours) - complete all of the following:
    • Writing and Information Literacy (3 hours)
    • Mathematical and Quantitative reasoning (fulfilled by major requirements) (5 hours)
    • Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts (3 hours)
    • Historical and Cultural Studies (3 hours)
    • Natural Sciences (fulfilled by major requirements (5 hours)
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)
    • Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Diversity (3 hours)
  • Thematic Pathways GE requirements (8-12 hours) - complete the following:
    • Citizenship for a Diverse and Just World 
      • Requirement: take either two 3-credit hours classes or one 4-hour class. If two 3-hour courses are taken, they must be from two different subjects
    • Choice Thematic Pathways 
      • Requirement: choose one of the following Thematic Pathways categories and complete either two 3-credit hours classes or one 4-hour class from that category. If two 3-hour courses are taken, they must be from two different subjects
        • Health and Wellbeing
        • Lived Environments
        • Migration, Mobility, and Immobility
        • Number, Nature, Mind
        • Origins and Evolution
        • Sustainability
        • Traditions, Cultures, and Transformations
  • Reflection Seminar - GenEd 4001 (or GenEd 2601.01 for certain transfer students) (1 hour)

Free Electives

The Ohio State University requires completion of at least 121 total credit hours to be eligible for a degree. This includes major requirements, General Education (GE) requirements, College requirements, and electives. If a student has completed all GE, college, and major requirements and is short on completing 121 hours, they will need to take Free Electives. A Free Elective can be any class offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. In some cases, a Free Elective can come from a different college (College of Engineering, College of Business, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, etc.) but you should check with your assigned academic advisor for details.