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Undergraduate Physics Major/Minor/Pre-Graduate Programs


Physics Major | Engineering Physics Major | Dual Degree Engineering Program | Physics Minor
Physics Pre-Graduate Training

Physics Major Program

The intention of Tulane’s physics major program is to encourage students to continue on to graduate education in Physics and related disciplines or to pursue cross-disciplinary preparation in physics for medical or other professional schools. Dual majors are encouraged. Students pursuing a career in physics are advised to follow the “Pre-graduate Training” sequence.

The basic requirements for a physics major are as follows:

Students are encouraged to consider a bachelor of science in physics as preparation for graduate study in disciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences (physics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemistry, neuroscience, materials science, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, and applied physics), for professional study in medicine, patent law, business, or engineering, and for careers in environmental science, in mathematical or computer modeling, in science writing, or in science and public policy.

Within the requirements above, programs can be tailored to suit the needs of students who elect these career options. In addition, the department offers a 4+1 program that allows students to obtain a Master’s Degree in five years, by enabling them to take graduate level courses as an undergraduate. Tulane University is a member of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) consortium.

Research opportunities are often available for undergraduate Physics majors in conjunction with faculty, on a case by case basis.

Students are responsible for fulfilling all humanities, language, social science elective and distribution requirements, etc., established by their School(s).

Engineering Physics Major Program

This interdisciplinary program provides students with a broad science and mathematics background equal to that of Tulane’s traditional physics major, combined with a strong grounding in engineering design and the application of physics principles to practical engineering problems. The curriculum is characterized by a strong emphasis on modern physics and its application to 21st century technology, including new materials, quantum electronics, nanofabrication, and devices.

Our students will be well equipped to pursue research and development careers in new and emerging technologies that cut across traditional engineering and science disciplines, to pursue graduate studies in science or engineering, or to enter professional fields including law, management, and medicine. Graduates will have substantial experience with laboratory methods, data analysis, and computation.

A centerpiece of the curriculum is the design sequence, consisting of a two-semester Introduction to Design sequence, a summer industry internship, and a two-semester capstone Team Design Project. As an intrinsic part of the curriculum, students develop strong oral and written communication skills, multidisciplinary teamwork skills, experience in public service, and knowledge about the high ethical standards of the engineering profession.

The program builds on cross-cutting areas of research strength in the School of Science and Engineering, including: novel 21st century materials; materials for energy; biomolecular materials; macromolecules; “quantum mechanics to devices”; surfaces, interfaces, and nanostructures; and computation.

The Engineering Physics Major curriculum consists of the following requirements:

Please note: Many intermediate and advanced courses in the program have prerequisites listed under the Basic Science and Mathematics categories; several of the allowed electives may have additional prerequisites. Many of the required and elective courses may not be offered every year. Students must work closely with the departmental undergraduate advisor to develop an individualized schedule of courses that fits their needs and interests, while satisfying all of the above requirements along with the university’s core requirements for graduation.

Dual Degree Engineering Program

Dual Degree Students may earn a B.S. degree in physics from Tulane and a B.S.E. degree in mechanical, electrical, civil, or environmental engineering from a partner institution (currently Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University). This program involves three years of study at Tulane followed by two at the partner institution.

The Tulane part of the Dual Degree curriculum consists of the following requirements:

Total: 60 credits minimum in major.

The student is responsible for completion of all Tulane University and School of Science and Engineering requirements at Tulane, including the Cultural Knowledge requirement, the writing requirement, and the two-part public service requirement. The one exception is the Tulane capstone requirement, which is fulfilled at the partner institution, through a senior design experience in the 5th year of study. The student will need to work closely with Prof. Wayne Reed (the physics undergraduate advisor), the advisor from the partner institution, and Tulane’s advising office, to make sure that his or her three-year program satisfies both Tulane’s requirements and the requirements of the partner school.

Physics Minor Program

A minor in physics consists of Physics 131 and 132 (eight credits) plus four courses (at least 12 credits) of physics courses at the 200 level or above. At least 1 course (three credit minimum) of the upper-level courses must be chosen from classical topics in physics (363, 374, 423, 465). It should be noted that some of the upper-level physics courses have certain mathematics prerequisites

Physics Pre-Graduate Training

The student who intends to continue graduate work in physics should complete at least 32 credits in physics including 131, 132, 235, 236, 363, 374, 423, 447, 465. Students are encouraged to undertake a research project and write a senior honors thesis under the supervision of a physics faculty member. The student should also take MA TH 347 or its equivalent. Other recommended mathematics courses include 305, 309, 406, 421, and 430. Courses in scientific computing, e.g., PHYS 317 or MATH 331 are also recommended.

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