2020–2021 Bulletin Addendum BA in Physics & Computer Science

The joint Physics & Computer Science major at Boston University allows students to develop a fundamental knowledge of physics and computer science that they can apply in many fields. A curriculum that carefully combines courses in the two disciplines provides the students with an integrated view of the application of basic physics concepts to computer science and of computer science ideas to the study of physical phenomena. This integration is becoming ever more important as topics such as quantum computing and machine learning are the focus of major industrial developments. The student’s learning takes place in two departments that maintain a rigorous research program in their respective disciplines and will prepare them for a successful career. Physics & Computer Science majors should have advisors in both the Physics department and the Computer Science department.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the BA in Physics & Computer Science will have:

• Knowledge of fundamental concepts in physics and computer science.
• Knowledge of the application of advanced mathematical and computational methods to problems in physics and other fields.
• Programming and software engineering skills.
• Combined theoretical and technical skills to use on real-world applications.

Requirements

All first-year, first-time students will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, a general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements are flexible and can be satisfied in many different ways, through coursework in and beyond the major and, in some cases, through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Physics & Computer Science will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning 1 and 2, Scientific Inquiry 1 and 2, two units of Critical Thinking, two units of Teamwork and Collaboration, and one unit of Digital Literacy. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

Unless otherwise noted, all required courses are 4 credit hours.

Prerequisite Courses (11 Courses)

• MA 123 Calculus and MA 124 Calculus II, or one (1) of the following:
  • MA 127 Enriched Calculus, MA 129 Honors Calculus, or equivalent
• CS 111 and 112 Intro to CS I and II
• CS 131 Combinatoric Structures
• CS 235 Algebraic Algorithms or CS 237 Probability in Computing
• CS 210 Computer Systems
• PY 251 and PY 252 Principles of Physics I and II
  • or PY 211 and PY 212 General Physics I and II
• PY 351 Modern Physics or PY 313 Elementary Modern Physics
• PY 355 Methods of Theoretical Physics
• MA 225 Multivariate Calculus, recommended but not required. (Although PY 351 lists MA 225 as corequisite and PY 355 lists MA 225 or consent of instructor among the prerequisites, the required courses, especially PY 355, PY 410, and PY 421, will give the students the needed competence on multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and elementary differential equations. The Physics department will be asked to add “or consent of instructor” to the requisites for PY 351 in order to avoid the apparent conflict.)

Principal (Required) Courses (8 Courses)

• CS 330 Algorithms
• One other CS course at the 300 level
• Two other CS classes at level 300 or above
• PY 410 Statistical Thermodynamics
• PY 421 Introduction to Computational Physics
• CS/PY 536 Quantum Computing
• One additional upper-level (PY 400/500s) course or PY 371 Lab Electronics