Within the physics major, UT offers several different degree plans to allow students to specialize their coursework around a particular field such as computation, radiation, or space. Fine tuning your degree can help prepare you to pursue your chosen field in grad school or give you an edge in the job market.
Most options overlap significantly in requirements, so it is not necessarily imperative to select one immediately, nor stick with the same one should your interests change.
Nonetheless, it can be helpful and reassuring to consider your goals and create a plan early so you can be confident in your course selections during registration season.
In this guide, we will review and break down the different degree options for the 2020-22 catalogue physics BS (listed here), BSA (listed here), and BA (listed here) offered by UT, and elaborate on the pros and cons of each. Helpful visual degree checklists and sample four-year plans can also be found here.
BS Option I: Physics
As you might have guessed, Physics is the most flexible and generic degree plan offered. The other plans can be seen as variations on this one. The main advantage of this option is that you are most free to mix and match the additional courses you want to take.
This option offers up to 5-7 elective course slots without accounting for AP/IB credits, varying on whether you take either a) 1 course in a foreign language & 1 three-hour course in the culture of the same language area, or b) 2 three-hour courses from the same foreign culture area. This allows for a significant amount of freedom to explore your interests and take lighter semesters to allot more time to research and extracurricular involvement.
| Elective Slots* | 5-7 |
| Required Physics Courses | 10 |
| Required Physics Labs | 5 |
| Required Math Courses | 6-7 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 4 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
BS Option II: Computation
This degree plan is designed for students with a bent towards programming and computer science. Programming is a profoundly useful (often necessary) skill for physicists, making this option a great way to bolster your resume and hone your skills and understanding deeply.
The computation specialization requirement for this plan offers several opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration into statistical methods within engineering fields (biomedical, mechanical, electrical, and chemical).
The requirements of this option substantiate a partial completion of the Scientific Computation and Data Sciences Certificate, an 18 hour certification sequence of math, computer science, and statistics classes.
| Elective Slots* | 2-4 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 9.5/4.5 |
| Required Math and Statistics Courses | 6-8 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 4 |
| Required CS Courses | 2-4 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
BS Option III: Radiation Physics
The radiation physics degree plan will be useful for students interested in medical physics, radiation engineering, or nuclear engineering.
A sequence of 18 hours of mechanical engineering courses on topics such as nuclear power systems, safety and environmental protections, and reactor operation and engineering, as well as radiation in the laboratory are required for this degree plan. This hefty additional series accounts for the minimal elective slots allowed for in this plan if you don’t come in with AP credits or cleverly strategize your flags requirements.
| Elective Slots* | 0-2 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 10/4 |
| Required Math Courses | 6 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 4 |
| Required Engineering Courses | 6 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
BS Option IV: Space Sciences
The space sciences option is well suited to students with an interest in the development of air and spacecraft. You get to pick from any upper division aerospace engineering courses, including aerodynamics, aircraft design, and aerospace materials.
You should note that “space sciences” here refers to the additional requirement of 4 or 5 aerospace engineering courses. While physics/astro double majors are relatively common at UT, this degree plan does not incorporate any astro courses, so the flexibility of Option I may be better suited to the double major.
| Elective Slots* | 1-3 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 10/4 |
| Required Math Courses | 6-7 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 4 |
| Required Aerospace Engineering Courses | 4-5 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
BS Option V: Teaching
The teaching degree option is meant to facilitate students’ attainment of a teaching certification that qualifies them to teach middle school or high school science teacher. The required courses significantly differ from Option I.
The degree plan functions in conjunction with the UTeach program, which is responsible for the additional requirements for certification not directly met via degree completion. A sequence of 18 hours of professional development pedagogical courses is included in the plan.
There are several options corresponding to different combinations of fields you will be expected to study. The composite science certification requires biology, chemistry, and geology courses in addition to the standard physics sequence. The physical sciences certification requires chemistry courses as well as additional upper division physics. The physics/math certification only requires additional math coursework. The mathematics, physical science, and engineering certification requires additional chemistry, math, and engineering courses.
Students in this plan are exempt from the foreign language and culture core requirements.
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 12/4 |
| Required Pedagogical Courses* | 6-9 |
| Required Certification Courses** | 6-10 |
| Min. Required Math Courses | 4 |
**Required certification courses refers to the classes required by the different certification pathways.
BS Option VI: Honors
Physics Honors requires students to be admitted into the Dean’s Scholars honors program, and Dean’s Scholars are required to follow this degree plan. The DS program accepts applications and reapplications for those who did not apply or were not accepted previously as long as you have completed 3 or fewer semesters.
This degree plan, like the DS program, is designed for students interested in pursuing scientific research, requiring and guiding students through a senior honors thesis and presentation. The core requirements differ considerably and the breadth requirements are pre-selected.
This plan includes a required 1 hour honors seminar each semester designed to facilitate community building in the program and exploration of interests outside of your major.
Students in this plan are exempt from the foreign language and culture core requirements.
| Elective Slots* | 4 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 10/5 |
| Required Math Courses! | 4-6 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 4 |
| Required Honors Courses | 6 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
!M408C and M408D are often skipped by DS’ers and the classes are not listed on the degree checklist, but you are not required to skip them to complete the degree.
BS Option VII: Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field well suited to students who are interested in biology, chemistry, and physics. The degree plan prepares students to pursue research and graduate school for physics as well as subjects like biochemistry, bioengineering, and medical physics among other options.
This degree requires introductory sequences of chemistry and biology courses, organic chemistry I, biochemistry, and an upper division biology course of your choice in addition to the usual battery of physics courses.
| Elective Slots* | 2-4 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 9/4 |
| Required Math Courses | 6-7 |
| Required Biology Courses/Labs | 2-4/1 |
| Required Chemistry Courses | 3 |
BA in Physics
A Bachelor of Arts degree in physics is generally recommended for students who are interested in physics but do not intend to become physicists as their careers. For example, one might go into business, education, or law with a BA in physics.
This pathway still requires a significant portion of the same coursework required by a BS.
| Elective Slots* | 1-3 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 8/4 |
| Required Math Courses | 6 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 4 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
BSA in Physics
A Bachelor of Science and Arts in physics offers students a way to not only develop a strong foundation in physics but also explore interests in other fields in the form of a minor or a certificate. For example, students interested in developing practical career skills or delving into a field like history or art without taking on an additional major might prefer this option.
This degree plan reduces the physics, math, and breadth requirements in order to make room for your minor or certification courses.
This plan may work best for students pursuing industry work or education after graduation, and general advice suggests a BSA may not be preferable for those pursuing graduate school.
| Elective Slots* | 4 |
| Required Physics Courses/Labs | 8-9/3-4 |
| Required Math Courses | 4-5 |
| Required Breadth Courses** | 1 |
**Breadth Courses refers to non-physics or math courses that are not included in the core or foreign language requirements, such as chemistry, biology, etc.
