Physics Major Course Map

The Physics Major Journey

A physics degree takes you from introductory mechanics and E&M through increasingly sophisticated treatments of the same phenomena—eventually revealing the deep mathematical structures underlying physical reality.

The transition from intro physics to upper-division courses is often challenging. Concepts that seemed straightforward in Physics 1—like Newton's Laws, energy, and rotational motion—become far more mathematically demanding when treated with calculus of variations, vector calculus, and linear algebra.

Students who develop strong problem-solving intuition and mathematical fluency early find the upper-division courses more manageable, while those who relied on memorizing formulas struggle with the increased abstraction.