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Program checklist · B.S.

Physics B.S.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY

A checklist is the list of requirements to complete this program and receive the award, as the college publishes it in its catalog. It is the same for everyone. It does not say what you have completed; that comes from applying your own record.

Program
Award
B.S.
Credential class
ceterms:BachelorDegree
CIP
40.0810
Credits (computed from items)
186-189
Catalog edition
2026-2027
Checklist type
degree-program
Identifiers
IPEDS UNITID
194824
CourseShelf checklist
CK_194824_bb2be74f
CollegeTransfer.Net
Institution Transfer Profile
Source
CourseShelf publish 61

Requirements to complete

Every course or condition the catalog lists, in the catalog's order.

The RPI Experience

0 items

    First Year

    0 items

      Fall

      5 items
      1. CSCI 1100
        Computer Science I
        Not resolved to a course
        4
      2. MATH 1010
        Calculus I
        Not resolved to a course
        4
      3. PHYS 1140
        Introductory Modern Physics
        Not resolved to a course
        4
      4. PHYS 1010
        A Passion for Physics
        Not resolved to a course
        1
      5. HASS Core Elective
        Not resolved to a course
        4

      Spring

      5 items
      1. BIOL 1010
        Introduction to Biology
        Not resolved to a course
        3
      2. BIOL 1015
        Introduction to Biology Laboratory
        Not resolved to a course
        1
      3. Free Elective
        Not resolved to a course
        4
      4. MATH 1020
        Calculus II
        Not resolved to a course
        4
      5. PHYS 1150
        Introductory Classical Dynamics
        Not resolved to a course
        4

      Second Year

      0 items

        Fall

        4 items
        1. CHEM 1100
          Principles of Chemistry I
          Not resolved to a course
          4
        2. HASS Core Elective
          Not resolved to a course
          4
        3. MATH 2400
          Introduction to Differential Equations
          Not resolved to a course
          4
        4. PHYS 1250
          Introductory Electromagnetic Theory
          Not resolved to a course
          4

        Spring

        5 items
        1. ADMN 1030
          Career Exploration
          Not resolved to a course
          0
        2. PHYS 2210
          Quantum Physics I
          Not resolved to a course
          4
        3. HASS Core Elective
          Not resolved to a course
          4
        4. PHYS 4330
          Theoretical Mechanics
          Not resolved to a course
          4
        5. MATH 4600
          Advanced Calculus
          Not resolved to a course
          4

        Third Year

        0 items

          Fall

          5 items
          1. ILEA 4400
            The Discovery
            Not resolved to a course
            0
          2. MATH 2100
            Introduction to Linear Algebra
            Not resolved to a course
            4
          3. PHYS 2350
            Experimental Physics
            Not resolved to a course
            4
          4. Free Elective
            Not resolved to a course
            4
          5. HASS Elective
            Not resolved to a course
            4

          Spring

          4 items
          1. PHYS 4100
            Introductory Quantum Mechanics
            Not resolved to a course
            4
          2. PHYS 4210
            Electromagnetic Theory
            Not resolved to a course
            4
          3. PHYS 4420
            Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
            Not resolved to a course
            4
          4. Free Elective
            Not resolved to a course
            4

          Fourth Year

          0 items

            Fall

            4 items
            1. Free Elective
              Not resolved to a course
              4
            2. HASS Core Elective
              Not resolved to a course
              4
            3. Mathematics Elective
              Not resolved to a course
              4
            4. Culminating Experience
              Not resolved to a course
              4

            Spring

            3 items
            1. Free Elective
              Not resolved to a course
              4
            2. Free Elective
              Not resolved to a course
              4
            3. HASS Core Elective
              Not resolved to a course
              4

            Tracks

            0 items

              Electives

              13 items
              1. ASTR 4120
                Observational Astronomy
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              2. ASTR 4220
                Astrophysics
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              3. ASTR 4240
                General Relativity
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              4. PHYS 4240
                General Relativity
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              5. PHYS 4620
                Elementary Particle Physics
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              6. PHYS 4630
                Lasers and Optical Systems
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              7. PHYS 4720
                Solid-State Physics
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              8. PHYS 4810
                Computational Physics
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              9. PHYS 4960
                Topics in Physics
                Not resolved to a course
                1-4
              10. PHYS 6510
                Quantum Mechanics I
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              11. PHYS 6520
                Quantum Mechanics II
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              12. PHYS 6530
                Quantum Mechanics III
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              13. PHYS 6960
                Topics in Physics Credit Hours: Variable
                Not resolved to a course

              Additional Information

              4 items
              1. ASTR 2050
                Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              2. ASTR 4120
                Observational Astronomy
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              3. ASTR 4220
                Astrophysics
                Not resolved to a course
                4
              4. ASTR 4240
                General Relativity
                Not resolved to a course
                4

              Footnotes

              6 items
              1. HASS courses shall total 24 credits and meet distribution requirements in the catalog.
                Not resolved to a course
              2. PHYS 1100
                or PHYS 1110 ; and PHYS 1200 may be substituted for PHYS 1150 and PHYS 1250 , respectively.
                Not resolved to a course
              3. MATH 4000
                level electives to be chosen from the following: MATH 4100 , MATH 4300 , MATH 4400 , MATH 4500 , MATH 4700 , or MATH 4800 . A Physics course approved by the Physics Undergraduate Program Committee.
                Not resolved to a course
              4. Technical Electives are to be selected with the aid of an adviser in order to create a track in an appropriate applied physics field. See “Applied Physics Track” below.
                Not resolved to a course
              5. Students must complete a culminating experience, which may be fulfilled (1) through research participation; (2) by passing a designated 4-credit senior elective course; or (3) by passing a designated 3-credit course in Physics or Astronomy plus 1 credit of PHYS 4910 .
                Not resolved to a course
              6. These courses should be completed by the end of the second year / fourth semester. ADMN 1030 (or equivalent) is recommended as a prerequisite to ILEA 4400 (or equivalent). While both courses may be taken in any semester, the suggested sequence should be followed when possible.
                Not resolved to a course
              Source. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, catalog 2026-2027 — https://catalog.rpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=34&poid=10116&returnto=938. Captured page pages/0090.html.gz. Assembled from the institution's published catalog as captured; every record names its captured page and source URL. Assembled, not asserted.