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
- 40.0801
- Total credits (published)
- 5-6
- Credits (computed from items)
- 653-782
- Catalog edition
- 2026-2027
- Checklist type
- degree-program
Identifiers
- IPEDS UNITID
- 232423
- CourseShelf checklist
- CK_232423_977f9c78
- CollegeTransfer.Net
- Institution Transfer Profile
- Source
- CourseShelf publish 59
Requirements to complete
Every course or condition the catalog lists, in the catalog's order.
Major Requirements
major core · 0 items
Core Requirements
major core · 17 items
- 1
- 1
- or: PHYS 240 University Physics I [C3PP]3
- or: PHYS 240L University Physics Laboratory I [C3L]1
- or: PHYS 250 University Physics II3
- or: PHYS 250L University Physics Laboratory II1
- 1
- 3
- PHYS 270& 270LModern Physicsand Modern Physics LaboratoryNot resolved to a course4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 1
- 4
- 4
- 4
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course40
Concentrations
concentration · 1 item
- Each student, in consultation with their faculty advisor, will choose one of the following program concentrations:Not resolved to a course22-44
Applied Physics
0 items
Fundamental Studies
0 items
Individual Option
0 items
Multidisciplinary Astrophysics
0 items
Multidisciplinary Biophysics
0 items
Multidisciplinary Business
0 items
Multidisciplinary Geophysics
0 items
Multidisciplinary Secondary Education
0 items
Multidisciplinary Technical and Scientific Communication (TSC)
0 items
Physics and Engineering Combined Program
1 item
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course22-44
Applied Physics Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Required Courses (In Addition to Core Requirements)
major core · 12 items
- CHEM 132& 132LGeneral Chemistry IIand General Chemistry LaboratoryNot resolved to a course4
- or: MATH 248 Computers and Numerical Algorithms3-4
- Choose one of the following:Not resolved to a course4-6
- 4
- MATH 300& MATH 336Linear Algebraand Elementary Differential EquationsNot resolved to a course
- 2
- 4
- 0
- 1
- 0
- 1
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course19-22
Research Courses
6 items
- Choose 2-6 credit hours from the following. At least two credits must come from research courses. (All students must take a minimum of 2 credits. Honors students completing the thesis take 6 credits). 1Not resolved to a course2-6
- As published: “Independent Study in Physics or Astronomy (repeatable to 4 credits)”or: ASTR 398 Independent Study in Physics or Astronomy1-3
- As published: “Undergraduate Research in Physics or Astronomy (repeatable to 6 credits)”or: ASTR 498 Undergraduate Research in Physics or Astronomy1-4
- As published: “Interscience Research (repeatable to 6 credits)”1-4
- 1-3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course2-6
Additional Courses
2 items
- Complete 9 credits approved by the head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Ideally these courses should form a coherent set of courses for the best possible academic experience. See below for some suggestions.Not resolved to a course9
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course9
Suggested Areas of Interest to Complete the 9 Credit Hours Required (Minimum)
0 items
Applied Nuclear Physics Courses
5 items
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Biophysics Courses
11 items
- 3
- 4
- 3
- 3
- BIO 140& 140LFoundations of Biology I [C3NS]and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L]Not resolved to a course4
- BIO 150& 150LFoundations of Biology IIand Foundations of Biology II LaboratoryNot resolved to a course4
- or: CHEM 361 Biochemistry I3
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 2
Computational Physics Courses
0 items
Students pursuing this area of interest should declare a minor in mathematics.
5 items
- 3
- or: MATH 364 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics4
- or: MATH 367 Introduction to Acoustics3
- 3
- 3
Electronics and Instrumentation Courses
7 items
- 1
- 2
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Geophysics Courses
0 items
Any 300- or 400-level GEOL or PHYS course not listed below (with advisor's approval)
15 items
- 3
- As published: “Materials Characterization (Lecture/Lab) (Lecture/Lab)”3
- or: GEOL 440 Geophysics (3, 2)4
- 3
- GEOL 110& 110LPhysical Geology [C3NS]and Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L]Not resolved to a course4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 4
- 3-6
- 3
- 3
Materials Physics Courses
7 items
- 3
- Choose one of the following:Not resolved to a course3-4
- PHYS/CHEM/MATS 375An Introduction to Materials ScienceNot resolved to a course
- 3
- 3
- PHYS/CHEM 455Lasers and Their Applications to Physical SciencesNot resolved to a course
- CHEM 485& 485LScience of the Smalland Science of the Small LaboratoryNot resolved to a courseor: PHYS 485& 485L Science of the Smalland Science of the Small Laboratory
Fundamental Studies Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Required Courses (In Addition to Core Requirements)
major core · 12 items
- or: MATH 248 Computers and Numerical Algorithms3-4
- 3
- 3
- 2
- 4
- 3
- 0
- 1
- 3
- 0
- 1
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course23-24
Electives
electives · 9 items
- Choose one of the following: 1Not resolved to a course3-4
- PHYS/ASTR 330RelativityNot resolved to a course
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course3-4
Research Courses
6 items
- Choose a minimum of two credit hours of research from this area. (All students must take a minimum of 2 credits. Honors students completing the thesis take 6 credits). 2Not resolved to a course2-6
- PHYS/ASTR 398Independent Study in Physics or Astronomy (repeatable to 4 credits)Not resolved to a course
- PHYS/ASTR 498Undergraduate Research in Physics or Astronomy (repeatable to 6 credits)Not resolved to a course
- As published: “Interscience Research (repeatable to 6 credits)”1-4
- 1-3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course2-6
Multidisciplinary Concentrations
concentration · 0 items
Required Courses
9 items
- Choose one of the following:Not resolved to a course4-6
- 4
- MATH 300& MATH 336Linear Algebraand Elementary Differential EquationsNot resolved to a course
- 3
- 0
- 1
- 0
- 1
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course9-11
Research Courses
6 items
- Choose a minimum of 2 credits. Honors students completing the thesis take 6 credits. 1Not resolved to a course2-6
- PHYS/ASTR 398Independent Study in Physics or Astronomy (repeatable to 4 credits)Not resolved to a course
- PHYS/ASTR 498Undergraduate Research in Physics or Astronomy (repeatable to 6 credits)Not resolved to a course
- As published: “Interscience Research (repeatable to 6 credits)”1-4
- 1-3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course2-6
Multidisciplinary Astrophysics Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Multidisciplinary Core Requirements
major core · 0 items
Astrophysics Requirements
5 items
- 3
- 4
- 3
- 4
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course25-31
Electives
electives · 9 items
- Choose one of the following: 1Not resolved to a course3-4
- ASTR/PHYS 330RelativityNot resolved to a course
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course3-4
Multidisciplinary Biophysics Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Multidisciplinary Core requirements
major core · 0 items
Requirements
5 items
- CHEM 132& 132LGeneral Chemistry IIand General Chemistry LaboratoryNot resolved to a course4
- 3
- 2
- BIO 140& 140LFoundations of Biology I [C3NS]and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L]Not resolved to a course4
- Choose one of the following options:Not resolved to a course4-12
Option 1:
3 items
- BIO 150& 150LFoundations of Biology IIand Foundations of Biology II LaboratoryNot resolved to a course
- BIO 240& 240LGeneticsand Genetics LaboratoryNot resolved to a course
- 4
Option 2:
2 items
- BIO 150& 150LFoundations of Biology IIand Foundations of Biology II LaboratoryNot resolved to a course
- 4
Option 3:
1 item
- 4
Option 4:
3 items
- 3
- CHEM 242& 242LOrganic Chemistry IIand Organic Chemistry LaboratoryNot resolved to a course
- or: BIO 361 Biochemistry I3
Multidisciplinary Business Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Multidisciplinary Core Requirements
major core · 0 items
Business Requirements
0 items
No more than 27 hours may be taken in the College of Business.
7 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2
Multidisciplinary Geophysics Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Multidisciplinary Core Requirements
major core · 0 items
Geophysics Requirements
21 items
- 2
- or: GEOL 210 Applied Physical Geology [C3NS]3
- Choose one of the following:Not resolved to a course3-4
- 3
- 3
- 4
- or: PHYS 440 Geophysics (3, 2)4
- Choose at least three credits from a field- or geographic-based course:Not resolved to a course3-6
- 3
- 3
- 3-6
- 3
- Choose at least nine credits from the following:Not resolved to a course9
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 3
- Any other 300- or 400-level geology or physics course (Upon approval from advisor)Not resolved to a course3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course34-44
Multidisciplinary Secondary Education Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Multidisciplinary Core Requirements
major core · 0 items
Secondary Education Requirements Courses
6 items
- BIO 140& 140LFoundations of Biology I [C3NS]and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L]Not resolved to a course4
- CHEM 132& 132LGeneral Chemistry IIand General Chemistry LaboratoryNot resolved to a course4
- GEOL 110& 110LPhysical Geology [C3NS]and Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L]Not resolved to a course4
- As published: “Linear Algebra with Differential Equations 1”4
- 3
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course30-36
Multidisciplinary Technical and Scientific Communication (TSC) Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Multidisciplinary Core Requirements
major core · 0 items
TSC Requirements
9 items
- 3
- 2
- 3
- 3
- Physics courses numbered above 300Not resolved to a course6
- Choose six credits of the following:Not resolved to a course6
- 3
- 3
- 3
Other upper-level courses with permission
1 item
- SubtotalNot resolved to a course34-40
Physics and Engineering Combined Program Concentration
concentration · 0 items
Additional Upper Level Courses (Required for the Combined Program)
2 items
- or: MATH 248 Computers and Numerical Algorithms3-4
- 2
Source. James Madison University, catalog 2026-2027 — https://catalog.jmu.edu/programs/physics-bs/. Captured page pages/0522.html.gz. Assembled from the institution's published catalog as captured; every record names its captured page and source URL. Assembled, not asserted.