PHYS-BS - Physics (BS)

See these sample plans for the start of the Physics and Engineering Physics majors for students matriculating in Autumn 2022 or later; each plan assumes a different starting point in math and/or physics. Course plans for pursuing different Physics pathways are provided below the sample plans for the start of the major

Grade requirements for Physics Majors who entered Stanford in Autumn 2022 or later:

All courses for the Physics major must be taken for a letter grade, and a grade of 'C-' or better must be received for all units applied toward the major, with the following exceptions: a grade of S or CR is acceptable for PHYSICS 41, 43, 61, 61L, 71L, and 89L.

Grade requirements for courses completed for the Physics Major prior to Autumn 2022:

All courses for the Physics major must be taken for a letter grade, and a grade of 'C-' or better must be received for all units applied toward the major. The only exceptions for which a grade of S or CR is acceptable are PHYSICS 42, 44, 46, 62, 64, 67, and one and only one of the following courses: PHYSICS 41, 43, 45, 61, 63, 65. Temporary exceptions to this policy are as follows:

• Academic Year 2019-20: The Department of Physics counts all courses taken in Winter 2020 and Spring 2020 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of undergraduate Physics degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade. Physics majors who enrolled in Physics 43 or Physics 65 in Spring quarter 2020 are not required to take the associated lab courses (Physics 44 or Physics 67) since those classes were canceled due to COVID in that quarter.

   

• Academic Year 2020-21:  The Department of Physics counts all courses taken in the academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of undergraduate Physics degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade.  Students who took PHYSICS 61 and PHYSICS 63 in Autumn 2020 and Winter 2021 may count either PHYSICS 65 in Summer 2021 or EE 65 in Spring 2021 to complete the requirement of an introductory physics sequence for the Physics major. For all undergraduates who entered Stanford in Autumn 2019 and took PHYSICS 43 or PHYSICS 65 in Spring 2020, the requirement to take PHYSICS 44 or PHYSICS 67 for the Physics major is waived as these courses were not offered in Spring 2020.  This does not change the other introductory lab requirements. 

• Academic Year 2021-22:  The Department of Physics counts PHYSICS 41, 43, 45, 61, 63, or 65 taken in the academic year 2021-22 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or a letter grade of C- or higher towards satisfaction of undergraduate Physics degree requirements for introductory physics.

Note that students who entered Stanford in Autumn 2021 and completed Physics 41 and 43 during the academic year 2021-22 are allowed to use either the requirements that were in place when they entered Stanford if they took Physics 45, 70, and 120 during the academic year 2022-23 or the requirements that are described in the following sections for students entering in Autumn 2022 or later.

In addition to the courses listed within the Core Program Requirements section above (required for all majors), Physics Majors must also complete 6 additional courses as defined for one of the Individual Pathways listed below. A course taken to satisfy a Core Program Requirement (above) cannot also count for an Individual Pathway requirement.

Any course taken to satisfy a pathway requirement must be at least 3 units. Pathways are not declarable in Axess; they do not appear on the transcript nor on the diploma. A letter grade of 'C-' or higher is required for all courses in each pathway; therefore, any course in another department that does not offer a letter grade cannot count towards the requirement for a pathway, even if the course is listed as an option for a pathway.

Please note that in any given year some of the courses that satisfy certain Pathway requirements may not be offered.  There will always be a way to complete the Physics Major, but you may need to consider changes to the courses or Pathway you have planned in order to satisfy the Physics Major requirements.

course Intermediate Physics Laboratory II: Experimental Techniques and Data Analysis qualifies for WIM if taken in 2019-20 or earlier.

1. The student files for entry into the honors program by completing an Honors Thesis Application by the same deadline as the Senior Thesis Application. Eligibility is confirmed by the department.

2. The student completes course work with an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher, and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in courses required for the Physics major.

3. The student completes a senior thesis by meeting the deadlines and requirements described in the Senior Thesis section below:

The department offers Physics majors the opportunity to complete a Senior Thesis.

These are the guidelines:

• Students must submit a Senior Thesis Application form once they identify a physics project, either theoretical or experimental, in consultation with individual faculty members. Proposal forms are available from the undergraduate coordinator and must be submitted by the week prior to the Thanksgiving break of the academic year in which the student plans to graduate.

• Credit for the project is assigned by the adviser within the framework of course Senior Thesis Research. A minimum of 3 units of course Senior Thesis Research must be completed for a letter grade during the senior year. Work completed in the senior thesis program may not be used as a substitute for regular required courses for the Physics major.

• A written report and a presentation of the work at its completion are required for the senior thesis. By mid-May, the senior thesis candidate is required to present the project at the department's Senior Thesis Presentation Program. This event is publicized and open to the general public. The expectation is that the student's adviser, second reader, and all other senior thesis candidates attend.