Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor’s Degrees

For the B.A. and B.S. Degree in Physics and also for the B.S. Degree in Chemical Physics,  See Suggested 4-Year Plan . This link will take you to SDSU’s “My Map” homepage. You can enter your incoming year and your major and the site will produce a suggested 4-year road-map.

For Degree Learning Goals (DLG) and Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) for the B.S Degree in Physics,  See BS Physics DLG and SLO.  For the Curriculum Mapping (CM) for the B.S Degree in Physics, See BS Physics CM

Minor in Physics:

The following courses are prerequisites to the physics minor and do not count toward the 15 units required for the minor. Physics 195, 195L, 196, 196L, 197, 197L; Mathematics 150, 151, 252.

The minor in physics consists of a minimum of 15 units to include:

  • Physics 350 (Mechanics)
  • Physics 354 (Modern Physics)
  • Physics 360 (Thermal Physics)
  • 400A (E&M)
  • Mathematics 342 (Mathematical Method for Physicists)

Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.

Graduate Degrees

M.A. Degree in Physics:

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing, the student must satisfy the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in the graduate bulletin.  The student’s graduate program must include:

  • Physics 604 (E&M),
  • Physics 606 (Statistical Mechanics),
  • Physics 608 (Classical Mechanics),
  • Physics 610A (Quantum Mechanics).

Eighteen additional units of 500,600, or 700 numbered electives must be selected with the approval of the Physics department graduate adviser.  The Master of Arts degree in physics requires the completion of Plan B, a Comprehensive Written Examination (CWE).

Download Suggested M.A. 2-Year Road Map »

M.S. Degree in Physics:

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing, the student must satisfy the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described the graduate bulletin.

The student must complete a graduate program to include:

  • Physics 604 (E&M) ,
  • Physics 606 (Statistical Mechanics),
  • Physics 608 (Classical Mechanics),
  • 610A (Quantum Mechanics),
  • Physics 797 (Graduate Research-3 units),
  • Physics 799A (Thesis).

Twelve additional units of 500, 600, or 700 numbered electives from physics or a related field such as Astronomy, Mathematics, Chemistry, & Engineering must be selected with the approval of the Physics department graduate adviser. Three additional units of 797 may be take as an elective.  The student is required to pass a final oral examination on the thesis.

Download Suggested M.S. 2-Year Road Map »

M.S. Degree in Medical Physics:

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in Part Two of the SDSU Graduate Catalog, the student in the Masters program in Medical Physics must meet the following requirements:

  1. A minimum of 30 units which must include PHYS 560, PHYS 561, PHYS 596, and PHYS 565. Eighteen additional units must be selected with the approval of the Medical Physics director and these should include the first four courses listed below under the elective courses.
  2. The thesis option requires the approval of the graduate advisor. Students in the thesis option must include PHYS 797 and PHYS 799A in the 30-unit program, and are required to pass a final oral examination on the thesis. Students in the non-thesis option are required to pass a comprehensive written examination.

Students are placed in clinical/research internships at the end of the first year. Students in clinical internship programs who choose the thesis option often work on their research thesis topic with their clinical internship mentors.

  • Required Courses
    • Radiological Physics (PHYS 560)
    • Nuclear Instrumentation (PHYS 561)
    • Radiation Biology and Radiation Safety ( PHYS 565)
    • Nuclear Medicine Physics (PHYS 596)
  • Electives
    • Radiation Therapy Physics (PHYS 670A)
    • Physics of Diagnostic Imaging (PHYS 670B)
    • Radiation Therapy Physics Lab Rotation (PHYS 672A)
    • Diagnostic Imaging Physics Lab Rotation(PHYS 672B)
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PHYS 680)
    • Medical Image Processing (PHYS 690)

Download Suggested M.S. Medical Physics 2-year road-map » 

DISCLAIMER:  Please note that ALL documents listed on this page are for information purposes only. Please refer to the undergraduate and graduate catalogs for official coursework guidelines and policies. These can be found on the main SDSU page.  This page was last updated December 2019.