Aug 13, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Physics, BS

Degree Map

Programs for physics majors vary with the student’s goals and interests. The recommended curriculum for the student preparing for graduate study in physics or employment as a professional physicist is detailed below. Students interested in both physics and engineering may wish to consider the engineering physics programs described on the department’s webpage. The program in physics requires students to concentrate in either general or applied physics. An optional JacksTeach concentration can be pursued to becomes certified to teach Physical Science in the secondary education setting.

Recommended Curriculum for Majors in Physics

The recommended degree mapping is shown below for a student entering precalculus.

Students majoring in physics regularly minor in mathematics or astronomy. Many elect to pursue an additional major in mathematics. The following recommended curriculum includes courses meeting the requirements for a major in physics and a minor in mathematics. To obtain an additional major in mathematics, students should take additional mathematics courses, as advised by a mathematics advisor, in place of electives to meet the additional major requiremetns. NOTE: An additional major will not result in an additional degree.

University Core Curriculum Requirements

Communication - 010

Three hours from:

ENGL 1301 - Rhetoric and Composition Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

INCM 1305 - International and Intercultural Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 2333 - Teamwork and Group Communication Credit(s): 3

Mathematics - 020

Three hours from:

MATH 2313 - Calculus I Credit(s): 3

Life and Physical Science - 030

Six hours from:

CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3

Language, Philosophy and Culture - 040

Three hours from:

ENGL 2309 - Introduction to Mythology Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2322 - British Literature to 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2323 - British Literature from 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2327 - American Literature to 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2328 - American Literature from 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2332 - World Literature to 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2333 - World Literature from 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2341 - Introduction to Literature Credit(s): 3
HIST 2311 - Western Civilization I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2312 - Western Civilization II Credit(s): 3
HIST 2321 - World Civilizations I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2322 - World Civilizations II Credit(s): 3
PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PHIL 1304 - Introduction to World Religions Credit(s): 3
PHIL 2306 - Introduction to Ethics Credit(s): 3

Creative Arts - 050

Three hours from:

ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1303 - Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th century) Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1304 - Art History II (14th Century to the present) Credit(s): 3
DANC 2303 - Dance Appreciation Credit(s): 3
MUMH 1307 - Intro to Music Literature Credit(s): 3
MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 1310 - Theatre Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 2366 - Film and Culture Credit(s): 3

American History - 060

Six hours from:

HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit(s): 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit(s): 3

Government/Political Science - 070

Six hours from:

GOVT 2305 - Federal Government Credit(s): 3
GOVT 2306 - Texas Government Credit(s): 3

Social and Behavioral Science - 080

Three hours from:

ANTH 2351 - Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit(s): 3
MCOM 1307 - Survey of Mass Communication Credit(s): 3
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3

Component Area Option - 090

Three hours from:

ENGL 1302 - Research and Argument Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

BUSI 2304 - Business Communication Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2311 - Technical and Scientific Writing Credit(s): 3
FREN 1311 - Elementary French I Credit(s): 3
FREN 1312 - Elementary French II Credit(s): 3
GERM 1311 - Elementary German I Credit(s): 3
GERM 1312 - Elementary German II Credit(s): 3
PORT 1311 - Elementary Portuguese I Credit(s): 3
PORT 1312 - Elementary Portuguese II Credit(s): 3
SPAN 1311 - Elementary Spanish I Credit(s): 3
SPAN 1312 - Elementary Spanish II Credit(s): 3
SGNL 1301 - Beginning American Sign Language Credit(s): 3
SGNL 1302 - Intermediate American Sign Language Credit(s): 3

College Requirements

Required Courses

CSCI 1302 - Computer Science Principles Credit(s): 3
MATH 2314 - Calculus II Credit(s): 3
MATH 2114 - Calculus II Lab Credit(s): 1
MATH 3315 - Calculus III Credit(s): 3
MATH 3115 - Calculus III Lab Credit(s): 1
MATH 3330 - Differential Equations Credit(s): 3

Core Labs

CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 1112 - General Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
MATH 2113 - Calculus I Lab Credit(s): 1

Physics Major

Physics Major Required Courses

PHYS 2325 - Technical Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 2125 - Technical Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 2326 - Technical Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 2126 - Technical Physics II Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 3320 - Mechanics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 3333 - Modern Physics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 3133 - Modern Physics Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 3347 - Mathematical Applications in Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4170 - Practicum in Physics Credit(s): 1 to 2
PHYS 4175 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1 to 4 PHYS 4175 can only be taken for 4 hours total on the degree
PHYS 4311 - Nuclear Physics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4330 - Thermodynamics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4331 - Introductory Quantum Mechanics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4340 - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Credit(s): 3

Concentrations

Students must select one of the following concentrations.

General Physics Concentration

Required Courses

CHEM 3038 - Physical Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 0
CHEM 3438 - Physical Chemistry II Credit(s): 4
PHYS 4071 - Introduction to Microanalytical Laboratory Techniques Lab Credit(s): 0
PHYS 4371 - Introduction to Microanalytical Laboratory Techniques Credit(s): 3

General Physics Concentration Electives

Students will select different courses from these groups of electives. PHYS 4175 can only be taken for 4 hours total on the degree.

Low-Level COSM Electives

Seven hours from courses within the College of Science and Mathematics. (Prefixes: MATH, STAT, ENGR, PHYS, BIOL, CHEM, ASTR, ERTH, MTEC) Except for: BIOL 1308/1108, 1309/1109, 2301/2101, 2402, 3417& 3420; CHEM 1305/1105, 1307/1107, 1370, 1371& 3402; ERTH 4406; Any BCIS, COSC or CSIT Course; PHYS 1305/1105, 1307/1107& 4410. It needs to be approved by the advisor before registering.

Upper-Level COSM Electives

Nine hours from any 3000 or 4000 level courses within the College of Science and Mathematics. (Prefixes: MATH, STAT, ENGR, PHYS, BIOL, CHEM, ASTR, ERTH, MTEC) It needs to be approved by the advisor before registering.

Advanced Physics Electives

Six hours from any 3000 or 4000 level courses with the PHYS prefix. It needs to be approved by the advisor before registering.

Biomedical Concentration

Required Courses

BIOL 1106 - Biology for Science Majors I Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 1306 - Biology for Science Majors I Credit(s): 3
BIOL 1107 - Biology for Science Majors II Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 1307 - Biology for Science Majors II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 3131 - Organic Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 3331 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 3132 - Organic Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 3332 - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
MATH 1342 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4175 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1 to 4 PHYS 4175 can only be taken for 4 hours total on the degree

Biomedical Concentration Electives

Nine hours from:

BIOL 2101 - Anatomy and Physiology I Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 2301 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credit(s): 3
BIOL 2002 - Anatomy and Physiology II Lab Credit(s): 0
BIOL 2402 - Anatomy and Physiology II Credit(s): 4
BIOL 3421 - Microbiology for Science Majors Credit(s): 4
BIOL 3453 - Genetics Credit(s): 4
BIOL 4422 - Virology Credit(s): 4
BIOL 4351 - Cellular Biology Credit(s): 3
BIOL 4352 - Molecular Biology Credit(s): 3
BIOL 4354 - Developmental Biology Credit(s): 3
BIOL 4455 - Animal Histology Credit(s): 4
BIOL 4458 - Immunology Credit(s): 4
CHEM 4352 - Comprehensive Biochemistry I Credit(s): 3

Physical Science Secondary Certification Concentration

Students can select this optional concentration, in lieu of a minor, to become certified to teach physical science in grades 6-12.

Required Courses

CHEM 3330 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 3130 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 1

JacksTeach

Students seeking secondary certification in physics must be accepted to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and complete the required JacksTeach coursework.

JacksTeach Step 1 and Step 2 Option

Complete two hours from:

JTCH 1101 - Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to STEM Teaching Credit(s): 1
JTCH 1102 - Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design Credit(s): 1
JTCH 1203 - Steps 1 and 2 Inquiry-Based STEM Lesson Design Credit(s): 2

Required Courses

JTCH 3301 - Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science Credit(s): 3
JTCH 3311 - Classroom Interactions Credit(s): 3
JTCH 3351 - Functions and Modeling Credit(s): 3
JTCH 3361 - Perspectives on Science and Mathematics Credit(s): 3
JTCH 4301 - STEM Unit Delivery and Design Credit(s): 3
JTCH 4351 - Research Methods Credit(s): 3

Student Teaching

JTCH 4901 - Apprentice Teaching Credit(s): 9

Minor

A minor of 18 to 24 semester hours in a single discipline is optional. At least six hours in the minor must be in advanced-level courses at SFA. Choosing a minor may take the student over the hours required for this degree. Degree hours are used to calculate excessive hour charges and Tuition Rebate eligibility.

General Electives

The student may be required to complete additional elective hours to complete the degree.

Total hours: 120

Grade Requirements

A grade of at least C in each first-year English course (ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 )
A C average in work completed in the major field
A C average in work completed in the minor field

The required averages are based on those SFA courses taken in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan (Degree Works). Transfer and advanced placement coursework are not included in GPA calculations.

In-Residence Requirement

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate degrees require at least 25% semester credit hours completed in-residence.

Undergraduate degrees with 120 hours total degree program hours require a minimum of 30 advanced (upper level) in-residence semester credit hours. The in-residence hour requirement will be fulfilled as part of the individual discipline major, which includes as least 12 advanced in-residence semester credit hours. Minor requirements also may contribute to the total in-residence hours as at least six advanced in-residence semester credit hours are required. The balance of in-resident hours will be fulfilled through additional advanced semester credit hours and may include further major and minor coursework.

Undergraduate degrees with more than 120 total degree program hour requirements will ensure semester credit hours for the specific discipline include at least 25% of total semester credit hours in-residence.

View HOP policy 02-214.

Texas Success Initiative Program

All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program. See the TSI information catalog page.