Typical Program of Courses

Oberlin College
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Typical Program of Courses

Below are two course programs typically taken by Oberlin College physics majors, one for those who have studied calculus in high school and one for those who have not. Only "core" physics and math courses are shown--research and private reading courses, additional physics and math courses, and courses in other disciplines do not appear. Keep in mind that these programs are merely "typical". Just as very few people are of average height--most are either taller or shorter--so very few physics majors take exactly the program shown here. These typical programs are, however, useful springboards for discussion.

For those with high school calculus

Freshman year, Fall semester

Mechanics and Relativity (Physics 110)

Calculus II (Math 134)

Freshman year, Spring semester

Electricity, Magnetism, Thermodynamics (Physics 111)

Multivariable Calculus (Math 231)

Sophomore year, Fall semester

Modern Physics (Physics 212)

Differential Equations (Math 234)

Sophomore year, Spring semester

Classical Mechanics (Physics 310)

Junior year, Fall semester

Quantum Mechanics (Physics 312)

Intermediate Laboratory (Physics 314)

Junior year, Spring semester

Electricity and Magnetism (Physics 311)

Applied Quantum Mechanics (Physics 412)

Senior year, Fall semester

Statistical Mechanics (Physics 410)

Senior year, Spring semester

Electrodynamics (Physics 411)

Advanced Laboratory (Physics 414)

For those without high school calculus