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Undergraduate


General

For a description of what Physics is and what you can do with a degree in Physics, please return to the department homepage where these and related questions are answered. The Department of Physics at CSUN offers a variety of courses and three major programs at the undergraduate level:

  • A Bachelor of Science degree in Physics with two options - Physics and AstroPhysics. This track is recommended for those students who plan on post-bachelor's education in Physics or closely related fields. It is also suitable for students who want a job in the technical field upon graduation.
  • A Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics. This track is recommended to students with keen interests in other non-technical fields and plan to go on to graduate or professional school in another field or seek general employment. A concurrent minor is encouraged in the other field of interest. This degree also meets the Commission-approved subject matter competency in Science: Physics. Thus, it is suitable for students who intend to complete the teaching credential program and become a high school Physics teacher.
  • A Bachelor of Arts degree in Biomedical Physics. This is a general degree that encompasses a broad background in the sciences. It is designed so that it is easy to double major along with Biology in this program. This track is recommended to students who plan to go on to graduate school in the life sciences or medical-related professional schools. It is also suitable for students who intend to move into the job market, like becoming a high school science teacher or a technician in a company that does life sciences, after graduation.


For advice on choosing one of the above degree programs, please consult with the Undergraduate Advisor. Students who plan to major in Physics at CSUN are strongly advised to meet with the Undergraduate Advisor in the Physics department as early as possible, preferably prior to high school graduation. We would like to better prepare the students for college with proper advisement and there are many things they can do during the summer in this regard. Please do not hesitate to call 818-677-5612 to make an appointment, even if the plan is tentative.

Degree Requirements

All entering freshmen must pass the Entry Level Math (ELM) exam and the English Placement Test (EPT), or be exempt, before they can proceed with most university courses. All non-exempt first time freshmen must take these exams prior to enrollment. These exams may be taken at other CSU campuses. For more information about these exams, please call 818-677-2369 or better yet, visit www.ets.org/csu where the complete description of the tests is given. These exams are given several times a year and the registration deadlines and dates of exams can be found at www.ets.org/csu. Students who do not pass these exams have one year to complete the remediation program or they will be forced to withdraw from the university (Executive Order 665 from the Chancellor's office).

In addition, there are two writing proficiency exams that must be completed by all undergraduates before a degree is granted. The lower division writing requirement is met either by completing the Freshmen Composition course or by receiving a satisfactory score on the English Equivalency Examination or the Advanced Placement Test. This should be completed no later than the semester in which 45 units are completed. The upper division writing requirement is met by taking an essay examination. This should be taken as soon as possible after the students have completed 56 units and have met the lower division writing requirement; and no later than the semester in which 90 units are completed.

For Physics majors, both the B.S. and B.A. degrees require a total of 120 units. However students who come in with less than ideal preparation, or who change major, may have to take more than this minimum. These units consist of required courses for the degree programs, and general education (GE) requirements of the university. In addition, Physics majors (as well as other science and engineering majors) are also required to take the Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) and the Math Placement Test (MPT) if they pass the ELM or are ELM exempt. These tests will place you into the proper Math and Chemistry classes that are required of the major. The dates for these exams can be found at www.csun.edu/~tc2020/tests.htm or by calling the CSUN testing center at 818-677-2369.

Also, the Physics majors have to take two assessment tests. All students who have completed the introductory Physics sequence (PHYS 225, 226 and 227 or their equivalent) will have to take the Junior Assessment Test. This test is offered on the Friday of first week of class in the Fall semester at 2:00 p.m. in LO 1100. All students who are planning to graduate in the Spring, Summer or Fall semester will have to take the Senior Assessment Test (on the core junior and senior level physics courses equivalent to PHYS 301, 311, 375 and 431). This test is offered on the Friday of the exam week in the Spring semester at 2:00 p.m. in LO 1100.

The many prerequisites and sequencing of courses mean that you have to plan your program of study carefully. The recommended sequences of courses that will allow the student to complete the degree in four or five years are given in the links below. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files below.



Application Procedure

For first time freshmen or transfer student admissions requirements, please visit www.csun.edu/anr and click under the appropriate category. The application deadlines can also be found on this site. Application material, and requirements may also be obtained by calling the Student Outreach & Recruitment Office at 818-677-2967 or you can apply online at www.csunmentor.edu.

Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Say-Peng Lim
Phone: (818) 677-5612
Office: LO1118
Email: say.peng.lim@csun.edu