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Vanderbilt University
6301 Stevenson Center
VU Station B #351807
Nashville, TN 37235

Professional Physics Track

This track prepares students to undertake graduate work in physics and other technical fields. The complete program must begin in the freshman year; however, under exceptional circumstances a student who decides in the sophomore year to undertake graduate work in physics can complete sufficient work to succeed.

The Curriculum

1. Introductory Courses [8 or 10 hours]:
   • PHYS 116a-116b + 118a-118b: General Physics with lab, or
   • PHYS 117a-117b + 119a-119b: General Physics with lab, or
   • PHYS 121a-121b: Principles of Physics, or
   • PHYS 137 + 121b
2. Core Curriculum [19 hours]:
   • PHYS 225a-225b: Introduction to Quantum Physics and Applications [4+4]
   • PHYS 223: Thermal and Statistical Physics [3]
   • PHYS 227a: Intermediate Classical Mechanics [3]
   • PHYS 229a: Electricity, Magnetism and Electrodynamics [3]
   • PHYS 250: Physics Undergraduate Colloquium [1]
   • ASTR 250: Astronomy Undergraduate Seminar [1]
3. Additional Courses:
   • PHYS 227b: Intermediate Classical Mechanics [3]
   • PHYS 229b: Electricity, Magnetism and Electrodynamics [3]
   • PHYS 251a-251b: Quantum Mechanics [6]
   • PHYS 257 or ES 260: computational physics [3]
   • PHYS 291a-291b: Physics Research [variable]

Sample Professional Physics Program (allowing for honors in physics)

	Fall Semester	Spring Semester
First Year	Physics 121A Math 150A or equivalent English 100W Foreign language 1	Physics 121B Math 150B or equivalent History and Culture 1(W) Foreign Language 2
Second Year	Physics 225A Math 170A or equivalent Humanities 1 (W) History and Culture 2 General Elective	Physics 225B Math 170B or equivalent Humanities 2 Social Science 1 General Elective
Third Year	Physics 227A Physics 223 Math 194 or 204 Social Science 2 History and Culture 3	Physics 227B Physics 229A Physics 257 Physics 291B [1hr] Math 198 or 208 Social Science 2
Fourth Year	Physics 251A Physics 229B Physics 291A [3hrs] Physics or Astronomy 250A History and Culture 4	Physics 251B Physics 291B [3hrs] Math 229 Astronomy or Physics 250B Humanities 3

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