College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: BS
Specialized Admission: No
Address: Keen Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4350
Phone: (850) 644-4473
Email: ugradstudentaffairs@physics.fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
In a job market that values intellectual flexibility and demands technological mastery, a bachelor’s degree in physics and astrophysics is one way to insure a lifetime of relevance. The physics and astrophysics major is based on the physics curriculum, with specialized coursework in astrophysics, such as radiation transport, extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. A B.S. degree in this major opens up a number of career opportunities, including programming, engineering, secondary education and managers in technical fields. Even so, many FSU students pursue graduate work in physics or astrophysics and continue into a variety of scientific fields.
Undergraduates at FSU enjoy the privilege of studying with and researching alongside internationally prominent faculty in astrophysics, atomic physics, biophysics, high energy physics, condensed matter physics and nuclear physics. In addition to working with faculty, FSU’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students provides a platform for physics majors to connect with one another, resulting in a supportive on-campus community and life-long relationships.
The FSU Physics Department also offers majors in: Physics and Physical Science.
Prospective transfer students should contact as-admissions@fsu.edu (Arts & Sciences Admissions) with specific questions about admission and mapping requirements.
Prerequisite Coursework: (0 beyond other requirements)
Students must complete the following prerequisites required for admission in preparation for the upper division Physics & Astrophysics major. The following may also apply toward the major and/or General Education.
MAC X311 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MAC X312 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
MAC X313 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
*CHM X045, X045L (3,1) General Chemistry I with Lab (or equivalent)
*CHM X046, X046L (3,1) General Chemistry II with Lab
PHY X048C (5) General Physics A or PHY X048/X048L
PHY X049C (5) General Physics B or PHY X049/X049L
*Chemistry I and II are State of Florida "common prerequisites" but are not required for this major at FSU.
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
We recommend that AA transfer students also take MAP 2302 (3) Ordinary Differential Equations before attending FSU.
Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include:
The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.
Requirements for Progression to the Upper-Division Major
In order to be admitted, students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with an adjusted GPA of 2.00 on FSU coursework, and at least half the required hours in Liberal Studies, including freshman English composition and mathematics. Students must earn a minimum grade of C minus or higher in each required physics and math course.
Departmental Policy on Grades and Continuation in the Major
A student who has received more than two unsatisfactory grades (U, F, D minus, D, D+) in courses required for the major, excluding the Term 1-4 State Common Prerequisites milestone courses, taken after enrolling at FSU will not be permitted to graduate with this major. Required courses at this level consist of the following: AST 3721L, AST 4211, AST 4419, AST 4722, MAP 2302, PHY 1090, PHY 3045, PHY 3101, PHY 3221, PHY 4323, PHY 4513, PHY 4604, PHZ 3113, PHZ 1140C.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (52 hours)
Required courses in Physics (40 hours)
AST 3721L (2) Astrophysics Laboratory
AST 4211 (3) Introduction to Astrophysics
AST 4419 (3) Extragalactic Astronomy
PHY 1090 (1) Discovering Physics
PHY 2048C (5) General Physics A
PHY 2049C (5) General Physics B
PHY 3045 (3) Physics Problem Solving
PHY 3101 (3) Intermediate Modern Physics
PHY 3221 (3) Mechanics I
PHY 4323 (3) Electricity and Magnetism I
PHY 4513 (3) Thermal and Statistical Physics
PHY 4604 (3) Quantum Theory of Matter A
PHZ 3113 (3) Mathematical Physics I
At least one Digital Literacy course selected from the following (3 hours)
COP 3014 (3) Programming I
COP 3363 (3) Introduction to Programming in C++ for Majors
PHZ 1140C (3) Computational Physics Lab
ISC 3313 (3) Introduction to Scientific Computing
At least three (3) courses selected from the following (9 hours):
AST 4217 (3) Physics of Stars
AST 4414 (3) Cosmology and Structure Formation
PHZ 4316 (3) Nuclear Astrophysics
PHZ 4390 (3) Particle and Nuclear Physics
PHZ 4530 (3) Fluid and Plasma Physics
PHZ 4601 (3) Special and General Relativity
Note: Students planning to conduct graduate work in astrophysics are strongly advised to include PHY 4222 (3) Mechanics II, PHZ 4117 (3) Math Physics II, PHY 4324 (3) Electricity and Magnetism II, and PHY 4605 (3) Quantum Theory of Matter B in their programs.
Collateral Coursework: (16 hours)
Physics majors must satisfy all of the courses listed below. As collateral courses, these may also be used to satisfy prerequisite, General Education requirements, and minor requirements. Coursework not used for General Education or the minor must still be taken and will raise the total hours of required coursework.
MAC 2311 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MAC 2312 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
MAC 2313 (5) Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
MAP 2302 (3) Ordinary Differential Equations or MAP 3305 (3) Engineering Mathematics I
Minor Coursework: At least 12 hours from an approved minor area or 15 hours from an approved interdepartmental minor or requirements as stated by the minor area. The required mathematics courses constitute a minor.
Digital Literacy: (0 hours beyond major)
COP 3014 (3), COP 3363 (3), PHZ1140C (3) or ISC3113 (3) fulfills the requirement for this major
Oral Communication Competency: (3 hours beyond major)
Complete a University approved course to fulfill the requirement for this major.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 52
Collateral Coursework 16*
Minor Coursework 0 beyond collateral coursework
Digital Literacy 0 beyond major
Oral Competency 3 beyond major
Foreign Language 0-12 (depending on placement)
Electives to bring total credits to 120
*NOTE: Collateral coursework may also be applied to General Education or the minor. Students who begin college prepared to start mathematics with calculus will have a greater number of hours available for electives.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored fall and spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be admitted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major; Baccalaureate level: Consultant, Data Analyst / Data Scientist, High School Teacher, Instrumental Technician, Medical Physics Technician, Physicist Technician, Quantitative Analyst, Software Developer/Engineer, Technical Writer. With additional education: Astrophysicist, Biophysicist, College Professor, Experimental Physicist, Geophysicist, Laser Physicist, Low Temperature Physicist, Nuclear Physicist, Solid State Physicist, Stress Analyst, Theoretical Physicist.
Representative Employers: Banks / Financial Institutions, Chemical Companies, College and Universities, Community Colleges, Electronics Firms, Engineering Firms, Governmental Agencies, Insurance Companies, Laboratories, Manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Companies, Research/Development Firms, School Boards, Software Companies, Technology Companies.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
This schedule assumes that you have credit for MAC1114 Analytic Trigonometry and MAC1140 Pre-Calculus. The required math courses are sufficient to obtain a minor in Mathematics.
Mapping Coordinator: Shellie Camp
Email: scamp@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| MAC2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 4 |
| GE Core or Foreign Language3-4 |
| PHY 1090 Discovering Physics1 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MAC2311 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| MAC2312 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II4 |
| PHY2048C General Physics A5 |
| PHZ 1140C Computational Physics Lab 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MAC2312 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PHY2048C ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Summer hrs |
| MAC2313 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III5 |
| PHY2049C General Physics B5 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| AST4211 Introduction to Astrophysics3 |
| PHY3101 Intermediate Modern Physics 3 |
| PHY3045 Physics Problem Solving 3 |
| MAP 2302 Ordinary Differential Equations 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete PHY2049C ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| AST 4419 Extragalactic Astro 3 |
| PHY3221 Mechanics I3 |
| PHZ3113 Mathematical Physics I3 |
| GE Course or Foreign Language3-4 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete PHY3101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PHY3221 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PHZ3113 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PHY3045 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MAC2313 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MAP2302 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PHY1090 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| PHY4604 Quantum Theory of Matter A3 |
| PHY4222 Mechanics II or Elective3 |
| PHZ 4117 Math Physics II or Astro Elective3 |
| Oral Communication Competency3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete AST4211 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| PHY4323 Electricity and Magnetism I3 |
| PHY4605 Quantum Theory of Matter B or Elective3 |
| AST3721L Astrophysics Laboratory 2 |
| Astro Elective or GE Elective 3 |
| GE Ethics or Foreign Language3-4 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete Scholarship in Practice course |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| Senior/Honors Thesis or Astro Elective 3 |
| PHY 4324 Electricity & Magnetism II or Astro Elective3 |
| Astrophysics Elective3 |
| Optional Astro/Physics courses or Foreign Language or Elective3-4 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete a Pre-Graduation Check |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| PHY4513 Thermal and Statistical Physics3 |
| Senior/Honors Thesis or Astro Elective 3 |
| Optional Astro/Physics courses or Foreign Language or Elective 6-7 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for graduation in 1st two weeks |