Undergraduate Physics Major & Pre-Graduate Programs

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:

• The minimum requirements are seven courses in Physics (including Physics 131 and 132), four in Mathematics, and an additional five elective courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering at the two hundred level or above. Electives from other Science departments at the two hundred level and above are not normally accepted. Students should always confirm with the Major Advisor that all their electives are acceptable. All courses or electives counting towards the requirements must be at least three credits.
• Two upper level courses must be chosen from among contemporary topics (235, 236, 321, 447, 607, 608, 621, 625, 630, 675) and two courses (at least six credits) from classical topics (363, 374, 423, 465, 601, 602). Students are strongly urged to take Physics 235 and 236.
• The Advanced Laboratory 353 is also required.
• Satisfactory completion of one semester of Seminar 380 is required for degree certification (one credit).
• At least four courses of mathematics (totaling at least 13 credit hours) are required. No more than two of the four mathematics courses may be at the 100 level.
• It is recommended that a course in computer science be taken early in a student’s undergraduate career.

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).

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.