Bachelor of Science - Physics Extended Major
Physics is available as a minor, major and extended major.
Students completing the Physics major or extended major must complete MATH1051/MATH1071, MATH1052/MATH1072, MATH2001, and MATH2100 as an Applied Mathematics minor or as part of fulfilling the requirements for another major or program electives.
Program requirements
The program and course requirements set out the courses and rules you must follow to successfully complete this program.
You must also comply with UQ’s University Policies and Procedures.
What do the different requirements mean?
- Core - all students must complete this course
- Prerequisite for major - a course required for progression in this major
- Major compulsory - a course required for this major
- Major elective - required for the major, chosen from specific selection of courses
- Recommended - a course which complements the major, but can be substituted for an elective
Students commencing in Semester 2 (July intake)
The study planners provided outline the order of courses to be completed from semester 1 to semester 2. The planners identify semester offerings and in many instances, will be the same for students commencing the program from semester 2. You should check the course offerings to ensure that you are completing the courses in a way that ensures your progression in the program.
If the course sequencing in the planner does not work for you, please contact the School or book an appointment with an academic advisor to obtain individual advice.
Year 1
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| BSc core courses - complete 4 units | |
| SCIE10001 Theory & Practice in Science | [ STAT12011 Analysis of Scientific Data OR STAT1301 Advanced Analysis of Scientific Data ] |
| Prerequisite course for major - complete 2 units | |
| PHYS1001 Mechanics & Thermal Physics | Refer to Semester 1 for prerequsite course for major. |
| Compulsory course for major - complete 2 units | |
| Refer to Semester 2 for compulsory course for major. | PHYS1002 Electromagnetism & Modern Physics |
| Compulsory courses for Applied Mathematics Minor - complete 4 units | |
| [ MATH10511 Calculus & Linear Algebra I OR MATH1071 Advanced Calculus & Linear Algebra I ] | [ MATH10521 Multivariate Calculus & Ordinary Differential Equations OR MATH1072 Advanced Multivariate Calculus & Ordinary Differential Equations ] |
| Elective courses - choose 4 units | |
2 units from program electives or general electives Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | 2 units from program electives or general electives Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional information:
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
Year 2
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory courses for major - complete 8 units | |
| PHYS2020 Thermodynamics & Condensed Matter Physics | PHYS2041 Quantum Mechanics I or PHYS2941 Advanced Quantum Mechanics I |
PHYS2055 Fields in Physics I or PHYS2955 Advanced Fields in Physics I | PHYS2100 Dynamics & Relativity |
| Elective courses for major - choose 2 units | |
| Elective courses for major available in Semester 2 only. | COSC2500 Numerical Methods in Computational Science |
| MATH2504 Programming of Simulation, Analysis, & Learning Systems | |
| PHYS2082 Space Science & Stellar Astrophysics | |
| Compulsory courses for Applied Mathematics Minor - complete 4 units | |
| MATH20011 Calculus & Linear Algebra II | MATH2100 Applied Mathematical Analysis |
| Elective course - choose 2 units | |
2 units program elective or general elective Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | Elective courses are only available in Semester 1. Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional Information:
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
Year 3
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory courses for major - complete 8 units | |
| PHYS3040 Quantum Mechanics II | PHYS3020 Statistical Mechanics or PHYS3920 Advanced Statistical Mechanics |
PHYS3051 Fields in Physics II or PHYS3951 Advanced Fields in Physics II | PHYS3900 Perspectives in Physics Research |
| Elective courses for major - choose 2 to 4 units | |
| PHYS3080 Extragalactic Astrophysics & Cosmology | PHYS3071 Computational Physics I |
| PHYS3830 Physics of Modern Technology | |
| Research elective courses - choose 0 to 2 units | |
| SCIE3121 Research Project I | SCIE3122 Research Project II |
| Elective courses - choose 4 units | |
Program elective or general elective1 Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | Program elective or general elective1 Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional Information:
- Number of electives in each semester is dependent on course selection for Level 3 elective courses for major. Students must complete 8 units per semester.
Year 1
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| BSc core courses - complete 4 units | |
| SCIE10001 Theory & Practice in Science | [ STAT12011 Analysis of Scientific Data OR STAT1301 Advanced Analysis of Scientific Data ] |
| Prerequisite course for major - complete 2 units | |
| PHYS1001 Mechanics & Thermal Physics | Refer to Semester 1 for prerequsite course for major. |
| Compulsory course for major - complete 2 units | |
| Refer to Semester 2 for compulsory course for major. | PHYS1002 Electromagnetism & Modern Physics |
| Compulsory courses for Applied Mathematics Minor - complete 4 units | |
| [ MATH10511 Calculus & Linear Algebra I OR MATH1071 Advanced Calculus & Linear Algebra I ] | [ MATH10521 Multivariate Calculus & Ordinary Differential Equations OR MATH1072 Advanced Multivariate Calculus & Ordinary Differential Equations ] |
| Elective courses - choose 4 units | |
2 units from program electives or general electives Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | 2 units from program electives or general electives Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional information:
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
Year 2
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory courses for major - complete 8 units | |
| PHYS2020 Thermodynamics & Condensed Matter Physics | PHYS2041 Quantum Mechanics I |
| PHYS2055 Fields in Physics I | PHYS2100 Dynamics & Relativity |
| Elective courses for major - choose 2 units | |
| Elective courses for major available in Semester 2 only. | COSC2500 Numerical Methods in Computational Science |
| MATH2504 Programming of Simulation, Analysis, & Learning Systems | |
| PHYS2082 Space Science & Stellar Astrophysics | |
| Compulsory courses for Applied Mathematics Minor - complete 4 units | |
| MATH20011 Calculus & Linear Algebra II | MATH2100 Applied Mathematical Analysis |
| Elective course - choose 2 units | |
2 units program elective or general elective Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | Elective courses are only available in Semester 1. Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional Information:
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
Year 3
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory courses for major - complete 8 units | |
| PHYS3040 Quantum Mechanics II | PHYS3020 Statistical Mechanics |
| PHYS3051 Fields in Physics II | PHYS3900 Perspectives in Physics Research |
| Elective courses for major - choose 4 units | |
| PHYS3080 Extragalactic Astrophysics & Cosmology | PHYS3071 Computational Physics I |
| Research Project1 | PHYS3830 Physics of Modern Technology |
| Elective courses - choose 4 units | |
Program elective or general elective3 Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | Program elective or general elective3 Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional Information:
- Students can complete maximum 2 units towards major from Research Project courses: SCIE32502, SCIE30503
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
- Course offered in Summer Semester.
- Number of electives in each semester is dependent on course selection for Level 3 elective courses for major. Students must complete 8 units per semester.
Year 1
Students who have not successfully completed Queensland Senior Physics (or equivalent) should complete PHYS1171 in their first semester as an elective course.
Students completing the BSc Physics major or extended major must also complete (MATH1051 or MATH1071), (MATH1052 or MATH1072), (MATH2001 or MATH2901), and MATH2100. These courses may be completed as an Applied Mathematics minor or as part of fulfilling the requirements for another major or program electives.
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| BSc core courses - complete 4 units | |
| SCIE10001 Theory & Practice in Science | [ STAT12011 Analysis of Scientific Data OR STAT1301 Advanced Analysis of Scientific Data ] |
| Prerequisite course for major - complete 2 units | |
| PHYS1001 Mechanics & Thermal Physics | Refer to Semester 1 for prerequsite course for major. |
| Compulsory course for major - complete 2 units | |
| Refer to Semester 2 for compulsory course for major. | PHYS1002 Electromagnetism & Modern Physics |
| Elective courses - choose 4 units | |
2 units from program electives or general electives Refer to BSc course list for course selection. Recommended Courses: [ MATH10511 Calculus & Linear Algebra I | 2 units from program electives or general electives Refer to BSc course list for course selection. Recommended Courses: [ MATH10521 Multivariate Calculus & Ordinary Differential Equations |
Additional information:
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
Year 2
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory courses for major - complete 8 units | |
| PHYS2020 Thermodynamics & Condensed Matter Physics | [ PHYS2041 Quantum Mechanics I OR PHYS2941 Advanced Quantum Mechanics I ] |
[ PHYS2055 Fields in Physics I OR PHYS2955 Advanced Fields in Physics I ] | PHYS2100 Dynamics & Relativity |
| Elective courses for major - choose 2 units | |
| Elective courses for major available in Semester 2 only. | COSC2500 Numerical Methods in Computational Science |
| MATH2504 Programming of Simulation, Analysis, & Learning Systems | |
| PHYS2082 Space Science & Stellar Astrophysics | |
| Compulsory courses for Applied Mathematics Minor - complete 4 units | |
| MATH20011 Calculus & Linear Algebra II | MATH2100 Applied Mathematical Analysis |
| Elective course - choose 2 units | |
2 units program elective or general elective Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | Elective courses are only available in Semester 1. Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional Information:
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
Year 3
| Semester 1 (February - June) | Semester 2 (July - November) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory courses for major - complete 8 units | |
| PHYS3040 Quantum Mechanics II | [ PHYS3020 Statistical Mechanics OR PHYS3920 Advanced Statistical Mechanics ] |
[ PHYS3051 Fields in Physics II OR PHYS3951 Advanced Fields in Physics II ] | PHYS3900 Perspectives in Physics Research |
| Elective courses for major - choose 4 units | |
| PHYS3080 Extragalactic Astrophysics & Cosmology | PHYS3071 Computational Physics I |
| Research Project1 | PHYS3830 Physics of Modern Technology |
| Elective courses - choose 4 units | |
Program elective or general elective3 Refer to BSc course list for course selection. | Program elective or general elective3 Refer to BSc course list for course selection. |
Additional Information:
- Students can complete maximum 2 units towards major from Research Project courses: SCIE32502, SCIE30503
- Course offered in Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester.
- Course offered in Summer Semester.
- Number of electives in each semester is dependent on course selection for Level 3 elective courses for major. Students must complete 8 units per semester.