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

PHY 201 University Physics I
PHY 202 University Physics II
PHY 303 Theoretical Physics I
PHY 304 Theoretical Physics II
PHY 310 Experimental Physics I
PHY 311 Experimental Physics II
PHY 410 Electronics
PHY 421 Mechanics I
PHY 451 Thermal Physics
PHY 460 Electricity and Magnetism
PHY 490 Quantum Mechanics
PHY 575 Writing the Senior Thesis

One course chosen from:

PHY 470 Advanced Experimental Physics: Mechanics and Light
PHY 471 Advanced Experimental Physics: X-Ray and Nuclear Physics
PHY 472 Advanced Experimental Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
PHY 480 Research in Magnetism

One course chosen from:

PHY 507 Nuclear and Atomic Physics
PHY 509 Light
PHY 511 Quantum Mechanics II
PHY 520 Condensed Matter Physics

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

At least 36 hours of physics courses and 20 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 teaching endorsement at Hillsdale College are: Physics 120 (or 140), 201, 202, 303, 304, 310, 311, 410, 421, 451, 459, 460, 507, 490, and 575; and one course chosen from Physics 470, 471, 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, and 320. The total number of required cognate credit hours is 23. The Education Department courses and general requirements of 38 hours listed in the catalog are also needed as well as another education minor or major. 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.