The following is a sample schedule for this major – your actual schedule may vary.
Meet with your advisor and review the class schedule before confirming your schedule.
Missouri State is committed to helping you graduate in four years.
BS Four-Year Degree Plan: Physics - Career Prep Physics Track
It is recommended that students in the physics program do not finish all of their general education courses before beginning to take courses in physics. Some physics courses do require prerequisites, so it is important to meet with an advisor in the program before you schedule your first semester or as soon as you think you might be interested in this program.
The following degree plan is based on the 2021-22 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.
First semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| MTH 261 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| GEP 101 First-Year Foundations | 2 |
| COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| PHY 110 Big Ideas in Physics | 2 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Second semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 110 Big Ideas in Physics | 2 |
| PHY 203 Foundations of Physics I | 5 |
| MTH 280 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 5 |
| ENG 110 Writing I | 3 |
| Total hours | 16 |
Third semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 204 Foundations of Physics II | 5 |
| AST 115 Basic Astronomy | 4 |
| MTH 302 Multivariate Calculus | 3 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fourth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 291 Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| MTH 303 Differential Equations | 3 |
| ENG 321 Writing II: Beginning Technical Writing | 3 |
| General elective | 3 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fifth semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 333 Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 375 Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHY 353 Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship | 3 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Sixth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 385 Experiments in Modern Physics | 2 |
| PHY 386 Undergraduate Research I | 1 |
| PHY 319 Mathematics for Science and Engineering I | 3 |
| PHY 476 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics | 3 |
| General Education | 5 |
| Total hours | 14 |
Tips for success
- Know that you may take both PHY 203 and MTH 261 your first semester if you are eligible, based on a high math placement score.
- Enroll in MTH 138 your first semester and MTH 261 your second, if you are not immediately eligible for MTH 261. However, you will have to postpone PHY 203 until you are ready to enroll in MTH 280
Degree plan last reviewed 06-23-2021.