UNLV Undergraduate Degree Requirements in Physics

Undergraduate Courses Listing


Undergraduate Program

Three baccalaureate degrees are offered by the department. The Bachelor of Science in Physics provides students with preparation for governmental or industrial positions or for graduate studies in physics or related areas. The Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics is designed to introduce the major branches of physics to those seeking double degrees and for those preparing for professions other than physics. The Bachelor of Science in Computational Physics is intended to train students with the state-of-the-art knowledge in physics and scientific computing for either professional positions or graduate studies in computational physics or related areas.

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Physics

The Bachelor of Science in Physics requires, in addition to the university's General Education Core requirements and College of Science and Mathematics requirements, at least 48 credits in physics and 36 credits in related subjects.
  1. Physics Courses. A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required in each of the following courses: PHYS 180, 180L, 181, 181L, 182, 182L, 411, 413, 414, 421,422, 423, 424, 467, 481, three credits of PH 493, and six additional credits of upper-division physics courses.
  2. Related Courses. CHE 115, 116; MAT 181,182, 283; six credits of upper-division MAT or upper-division CS courses; and 10 additional credits of science, mathematics, and engineering courses.
  3. Graduate Record Exam. All physics majors must take the GRE Advanced Physics Exam as a requirement for graduation.

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Physics requires, in addition to the university's General Education Core requirements and College of Science and Mathematics requirements, at least 36 credits in physics and 36 credits in related subjects, and must include any accepted minor in the College of Science and Mathematics or the College of Engineering or an equivalent program formally approved by the Department of Physics faculty.
  1. Physics Courses. A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required in each of the following courses: PHYS 180, 180L, 181, 181L, 182, 182L, 411, 413, 414, 421,423, three credits of PHYS 493, and six additional credits of upper-division physics courses. The Department of Physics recommends that students take PHYS 422 and 424.
  2. Related Courses. CHE 115, 116; MAT 181,182,283; six credits of upper-division MAT or upper-division CS courses; and 10 additional credits of science, mathematics, and engineering courses.
  3. Minor or Approved Program. Any accepted minor in the College of Science and Mathematics or the College of Engineering or an equivalent program formally approved by the Department of Physics faculty.
  4. Graduate Record Exam. All applied physics majors must take the GRE Advanced Physics Exam as a requirement for graduation.

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Computational Physics

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computational Physics requires, in addition to the university's General Education Core requirements and College of Science and Mathematics requirements, at least 39 credits in physics and 40 credits in related subjects.
  1. Physics Courses. A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required in each of the following courses: PHYS 180, 180L, 181, 181L, 182, 182L, 300, 404, 411, 413, 421, 423, 467, 481, and 493 (in computational physics).
  2. Related Courses. CS 135, 202; MATH 181, 182, 283, 365, 466; and 15 additional credits of science, mathematics, computer science, or engineering courses with at least 6 of them in upper-division courses (numbered 300 or higher).
  3. Graduate Record Exam. All computational physics majors must take the GRE Advanced Physics Exam as a requirement for graduation.

Minor in Physics

Completion of the following sequence of courses with a grade of C (2.00) or higher in each course constitutes an undergraduate minor in physics: PHYS 180, 180L, 181, 181L, 182, 182L, 411, 413, and nine additional credits (three courses) of upper- division physics course work.

UNLV General Education Core Requirements

Any AST or PHYS course may be used for fulfilling the UNLV General Education Core Science requirement, however the Department of Physics offers a number of courses which are particularly appropriate for use by non-science majors for that purpose. These include AST 103, 104, 105, and 190. Please consult the individual course descriptions.


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