Current Students

Non Majors Switching to the Physics Major

You must meet with an undergraduate advisor prior to submitting a Change of Major petition. Change of Major petitions should be submitted through Student Success Hub - you will need to indicate which degree program (B.S or B.A) and the catalog year (i.e 2025-2026) you will be following. 

 Processing time may take four weeks, although delays are likely during certain times of the academic year and if volume is unusually high. The Registrar's Office also requires time to process the paperwork.

Requirements for Changing to the Physics Major

Freshman admits may declare after fall quarter. Complete MATH 3A and MATH 3B or an equivalent prior to fall quarter, otherwise the program may take longer to complete. PHYS 8 is required if you have not taken MATH 3A-B or received a score less than 5 of the Advanced Placement Calculus BC exam. PHYS 8 is only offered during the fall quarter.

At the time of petition, you must have a 2.0 or higher grade point average in all lower division physics lectures and all upper division physics courses attempted toward the major.

Switching from Physics to Another Major

Make an appointment with an advisor in the other department or in the College of Letters and Science to discuss switching and to discuss courses needed to complete the new major. The adviser in the other department will initiate the process.

The following majors complement the preparatory courses taken in physics: Chemistry BA, Chemistry BS, Earth BA, Earth BS Geophysics Emphasis, Geography BA, Geography BS, Mathematics BA, Mathematics BS, Actuarial Science, Financial Mathematics and Statistics and Statistics and Data Science.