A major in physics consists, at a minimum, of the following required courses:

PHY 201 University Physics I
PHY 202 University Physics II
PHY 203 University Physics III
PHY 360 Electronics
PHY 421 422 Mechanics I, II
PHY 451 Thermal Physics
PHY 471 Experimental Physics: X-Ray and Nuclear Physics
PHY 505 Electricity and Magnetism
PHY 507 Atomic and Nuclear Physics
PHY 510 Quantum Mechanics
PHY 575 Writing the Senior Thesis

*Only PHY 421 is required in the Mechanics sequence.

One course chosen from:

PHY 470 Experimental Physics: Mechanics and Light
PHY 472 Experimental Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
PHY 480 481 - 482 - 483 Research in Magnetism

The following chemistry courses are required:

CHM 101 General Chemistry I
CHM 102 General Chemistry II

And the following mathematics courses:

MTH 213 Differential Calculus
MTH 214 Integral Calculus
MTH 320 Calculus III
MTH 340 Differential Equations

At least 36 hours of physics courses and 23 hours of cognate courses are required. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) comprehensive physics test and the ETS Physics Assessment Test are also required. An acceptable score on the GRE physics test must be received by April 15 of the senior year. The ETS Physics Assessment Test will be given by the Department during the major’s senior year. Physics seniors also complete the Senior Survey. Physics course times are usually scheduled or arranged to allow interested physics majors to complete a second major.

The senior thesis topic should be determined and submitted to the Department for approval by the end of the junior year. Physics 480 or discussions with faculty members will help in the choice of a topic. During the first semester of the senior year, the student should take Physics 481-3 or Physics 597 and carry out the proposed research. Physics 575 should then be taken during the second semester of the senior year for defending the research results and the actual writing of the thesis.

Requirements for Physics Secondary Teaching Endorsement
The teacher endorsement for both majors and minors in physics consists of the regular required courses plus the following:

PHY 459 The Teaching of Secondary Physics (1 Credit)
PHY 120 Astronomy (3 Credits) OR
PHY 140 Cosmology (3 Credits)
BIO 318 Historical Geology (3 Credits) OR
BIO 350 Conservation (3 Credits)

The student must also take PHY 599, Teaching Assistantship (2 Credits) if his student teaching is not done in physics. Minors must also take PHY 597.

Physics Major with Secondary Teaching Endorsement
The required courses for a physics major with a physics endorsement at Hillsdale College are: Physics 120 (or 140), 201, 202, 203, 360, 421, 451, 459, 471, 505, 507, 510 and 575; one course chosen from Physics 470, 472 or 480 for a total of 40 credit hours in physics. Cognate requirements are Biology 318 (or 350); Chemistry 101 and 102; Mathematics 213, 214, 320 and 340. The total number of required cognate credit hours is 26. The education department courses and general requirements of 38 hours listed in the catalog are also needed as well as another education major or minor. The required education courses are: Education 295, 297, 299, 333, 456, 472, 492 and 559 for a total of 26 to 32 credit hours in education. Physics 599 is required if student teaching is not done in physics.