Physics - Bachelor of Arts

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for students who would like to have a firm foundation in physics combined with study in another area and greater flexibility in choosing elective courses. The program requires a minor in a second field of study chosen by the student in consultation with an advisor. A second major may be used to satisfy the program requirement for a minor.

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.

Prefix Title Credits
General Education
Area I: Communications10
English Composition - Level 1 1
English Composition - Level 2 1
Oral Communication 1
Area II: Mathematics
MATH 1511GCalculus and Analytic Geometry I 24
Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences10-11
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits) 1,3
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (3 credits) 1
Either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences Course or Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (4 or 3 credits) 1,3
Area V: Humanities 13
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 13
General Education Elective
MATH 1521GCalculus and Analytic Geometry II4
or MATH 1521H Calculus and Analytic Geometry II Honors
Viewing A Wider World 46
Departmental Requirements 5
PHYS 1111Introductory Computational Physics3
PHYS 2110
2110L
Mechanics
and Experimental Mechanics
4
PHYS 2140
2140L
Electricity and Magnetism
and Electricity & Magnetism Laboratory
4
PHYS 2120
2120L
Heat, Light, and Sound
and Heat, Light, and Sound Laboratory
4
PHYS 315Modern Physics3
PHYS 325Intermediate Experimental Physics3
PHYS 395Intermediate Mathematical Methods of Physics3
PHYS 451Intermediate Mechanics I3
PHYS 454Intermediate Modern Physics I3
PHYS 455Intermediate Modern Physics II3
PHYS 461Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I3
PHYS 462Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II3
PHYS 480Thermodynamics3
Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW) 5
MATH 2530GCalculus III3
MATH 392Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
Select 18 credits from a Minor in a second field from another department18
Second Language Requirement: (required - see below)0-8
Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 5,65-14
Total Credits120
1

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

2

MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1511G first.

3

See alternatives for meeting General Education requirements.

4

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses

5

May not be taken S/U and must earn a grade of C- or better.

6

Elective credit may vary based on General Education course selection, second language requirements, prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their Physics Advisor.

Second Language Requirement

For the Bachelor of Arts in Physics there is a one year second language requirement, the options to complete this requirement are listed below. The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with. Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.

Option 1:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete one of the following sequences:
CHIN 1110
CHIN 1120
Mandarin Chinese I
and Mandarin Chinese II
8
FREN 1110
FREN 1120
French I
and French II
8
GRMN 1110
GRMN 1120
German I
and German II
8
JAPN 1110
JAPN 1120
Japanese I
and Japanese II
8
SPAN 1110
SPAN 1120
Spanish I
and Spanish II
8
For Heritage Speakers:
SPAN 1220Spanish for Heritage Learners II3
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III
PORT 1110Portuguese I3
or PORT 1120 Portuguese II

Option 2:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better):
SIGN 1110American Sign Language I3
SIGN 1120American Sign Language II3

Option 3:

Prefix Title Credits
Challenge the 1120 level for the following courses:
CHIN 1120Mandarin Chinese II4
or FREN 1120 French II
or GRMN 1120 German II
or JAPN 1120 Japanese II
or SPAN 1120 Spanish II
OR
Challenge the 1110/1120/1220/2210 level for the following courses:
PORT 1110Portuguese I3
or PORT 1120 Portuguese II
or SPAN 1220 Spanish for Heritage Learners II
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III

Option 4:

Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.

Option 5:

Obtain college certification of completion of two years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.

Option 6:

By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.

Option 7:

By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.

Option 8:

In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.

Suggested Minors for the Bachelor of Arts Physics Major

Astronomy Minor— A Bachelor of Arts in Physics with a minor in Astronomy provides an excellent preparation for students who wish to pursue graduate studies in Astrophysics or Astronomy.

Pre-Medicine Studies Minor— Students wishing to attend a medical or dental post-graduate school are strongly encouraged to obtain a minor in a life science field such as biochemistry, biology, human biology or microbiology.

Prelaw Minor— Students wishing to attend a post-graduate law school should obtain a minor in a law-related field, such as government, accounting, finance, or international business.

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

This roadmap assumes student  placement in MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change. Full-time students are usually required to take at least 15 credits per semester.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1Credits
ENGL 1110G Composition I 1 4
MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 1 4
PHYS 1111 Introductory Computational Physics 1 3
PHYS 2110
2110L
Mechanics
and Experimental Mechanics 1
4
PHYS 2111 Supplemental Instruction to PHYS 2110 1
 Credits16
Semester 2
ENGL 2210G Professional & Technical Communication 1 3
MATH 1521G
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 1
or Calculus and Analytic Geometry II Honors
4
PHYS 2140
2140L
Electricity and Magnetism
and Electricity & Magnetism Laboratory 1
4
PHYS 2141 Supplemental Instruction to PHYS 2140 1 1
Area V: Humanities Course 2 3
 Credits15
Second Year
Semester 1
MATH 2530G Calculus III 1 3
PHYS 2120
2120L
Heat, Light, and Sound
and Heat, Light, and Sound Laboratory 1
4
PHYS 2121 Supplemental Instruction to PHYS 2120 1
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
 Credits14
Semester 2
MATH 392 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 1 3
PHYS 315 Modern Physics 1 3
PHYS 316 Supplemental Instructions to PHYS 315 1
PHYS 325 Intermediate Experimental Physics 1 3
COMM 1115G Introduction to Communication 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
 Credits16
Third Year
Semester 1
PHYS 395 Intermediate Mathematical Methods of Physics 1 3
PHYS 451 Intermediate Mechanics I 1 3
PHYS 461 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I 1 3
VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 3
First Course in Second Language Series 3-4
 Credits15-16
Semester 2
PHYS 462 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II 1 3
PHYS 480 Thermodynamics 1 3
VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 3
Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course 2 3
Next Course in Second Language Series 1 3-4
 Credits15-16
Fourth Year
Semester 1
PHYS 454 Intermediate Modern Physics I 1 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
Elective Course 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
PHYS 455 Intermediate Modern Physics II 1 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
Minor (or Elective) Course 3
Elective Course 3
Elective Course 2-0
 Credits14-12
 Total Credits120
1

These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all those requirements.

2

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

3

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.