PHYS-BS - Physics (BS)

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:

(2020-21)

The Department of Physics counts all courses taken in 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. 

(2021-22)

The Department of Physics counts PHYSICS 41, 43, 45, 61, 63, or 65 taken in 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.

Students who have already learned the material in some of the required introductory physics and math courses may petition to substitute more advanced courses (generally Physics and Math Electives) instead for the major.  This petition must be approved by the Physics Major Advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies.  Interested students should contact the Student Services Officer in the Physics Department.  In no case will this reduce the total number of courses required for the major.

See these sample four-year plans that illustrate how to complete the required courses for all pathways for different starting points in the math and physics sequences.

All students who would like to enroll in either course Light and Heat or course Mechanics and Special Relativity must take the Placement Diagnostic if they have never taken an Introductory Physics course at Stanford (i.e., not taken at least one of the following courses: PHYSICS 21, 23, 25, 41, 41A/E, 43, 45, 61, 63, 65).

All frosh must take the Placement Diagnostic to enroll in course Mechanics.

For more information, see the department's Physics Placement Diagnostic page.

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.