CAS: Physics – Graduate option

Sample Pathways

Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing a degree in physics.  Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the Department of Physics to plan their own pathway to a physics degree.

Gap Semester Recommended external course: Calculus I (equivalent to CAS MA 123). Note: Prior approval must be granted for all external coursework.
  Semester I Semester II
Freshman Year

 

 

 

 CGS RH 103
CGS SS 103
CAS MA 124
CAS PY 211		 CGS Required Courses (London or Boston-New England semester)
Summer Term CAS PY 212
Sophomore Year CGS HU 201
CAS MA 225
CAS PY 351 or CAS PY 313
Elective*		 CGS HU 202
CGS SS 202
MA Elective (200 level or higher)
CAS PY 355
Junior Year CAS PY 405
CAS PY 408
Elective*
CAS Second Language (if needed)		 CAS PY 406
CAS PY 451
Elective*
CAS Second Language (if needed)
Senior Year CAS PY 581
CAS PY 452
Elective*
CAS Second Language (if needed)		 CAS PY 410
Physics Elective (300 level or higher)
Elective*
CAS Second Language (if needed)

*Choose your electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. You will find a list of all of the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit.

Physics courses that carry Hub Units can be found on the Physics Department webpage.

College of General Studies Program Requirements

  • Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
    • CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
  • Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
    • Physics majors in good standing will be exempted from CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202.
  • Three social science courses:
    • CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
    • Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
  • Three humanities courses:
    • CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
    • Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection

Note: Students who are exempt from CGS NS 202 must enroll in at least one CGS course in semester II of sophomore year.

Major Requirements – Graduate Option

This option provides students with a comprehensive and rigorous education in classical and modern physics. It is well suited for students intending to pursue graduate study in physics or a closely related field, or those planning to enter a technical physics-related career upon graduation. The Physics BA Graduate Option requires roughly 16 courses.

For more information about the major, please see the Physics Department webpage and the CAS Bulletin.

For further questions, please contact Margaret Barch in the Physics department.

Continuation Requirements

  • Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
  • Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00

Graduation Requirements

Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements.

  • BU Hub requirements
    • Students who take the specific CGS courses noted on the pathway above will fulfill all BU Hub requirements except the units listed below. These remaining Hub units will be fulfilled through the following courses:
    • Quantitative Reasoning I (I unit) fulfilled by CAS PY 211
    • Quantitative Reasoning II (I unit) fulfilled by CAS MA 225
    • Scientific Inquiry I (I unit) fulfilled by CAS PY 211
    • Teamwork/Collaboration (2 units) fulfilled by CAS PY 211, 212
    • You will fulfill the remaining Hub units – Creativity/Innovation (1 unit), Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy (1 unit), and Writing-Intensive Course (1 unit) – through the courses you take for your CAS major and/or other electives
  • CAS requirements:
  • Physics major requirements
  • CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.

This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.

It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.

Last revised: 05/08/2022