Physics BS + MS SF State Scholars Roadmap
The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult your Degree Planner and an advisor for further guidance.
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units | |
| MATH 226 | Calculus I (Major Prerequisite, GE 2) 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 200 | Planning for Success as a Physics & Astronomy Major (Major Prerequisite) | 1 |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MATH 227 | Calculus II (Major Prerequisite) | 4 |
| PHYS 220 & PHYS 222 |
General Physics with Calculus I and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory (Major Prerequisite, GE 5A, GE 5C) |
4 |
| GE Area 1A: English Composition 3 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Core): | 3 | |
| Computer Programming | ||
| Mathematical Computing | ||
| MATH 228 | Calculus III (Major Prerequisite) | 4 |
| PHYS 230 & PHYS 232 |
General Physics with Calculus II and General Physics with Calculus II Laboratory (Major Prerequisite) |
4 |
| GE Area 5B: Biological Science | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Prerequisite): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Elementary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra | ||
| PHYS 240 & PHYS 242 |
General Physics with Calculus III and General Physics with Calculus III Laboratory (Major Prerequisite) |
4 |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics I (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 321 | Modern Physics Laboratory (Major Core) | 2 |
| PHYS 330 | Analytical Mechanics I (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 385 | Introduction to Theoretical Physics I (Major Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Major Prerequisite): | 3 | |
| Ordinary Differential Equations I (if MATH 225 taken) | ||
| Units | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHYS 360 | Electricity and Magnetism I (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 457 | Introduction to Analog Electronics (Major Core) | 4 |
| GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| GE Area 5UD or 2UD: Upper-Division Sciences or Upper-Division Mathematical Concepts | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHYS 430 | Quantum Mechanics I (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 460 | Electricity and Magnetism II (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHYS 491GW | Advanced Laboratory Techniques I - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| Graduate Core 4,5 | 3 | |
| GE Area 3UD: Upper-Division Arts or Humanities | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHYS 897 | Research (Graduate Research) | 1 |
| Graduate Core - Take Two 4,5 | 6 | |
| Graduate Elective 5,6 | 3 | |
| GE Area 4UD: Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 2 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHYS 897 | Research (Graduate Research) | 1 |
| Graduate Core 4 | 3 | |
| Graduate General Elective - Take Two 7 | 6 | |
| Units | 10 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHYS 897 | Research (Graduate Research) | 1 |
| Select One (Culminating Experience): | 3 | |
| Culminating Project | ||
| Culminating Experience Examination (and additional Graduate General Elective) | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Graduate Elective 6 | 3 | |
| Units | 7 | |
| Total Units | 138 | |
- 1
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 2 course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
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First-time freshmen must take one lower-division Area 4 course that meets US History (USH).
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Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 1A course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
Graduate Core
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 5
Students can double-count up to 12 units of Graduate Core/Elective courses towards the BS Major Elective requirement.
- 6
Graduate Physics and Astronomy Electives (6 units)
- 7
General Electives (6-9 units)
Advanced upper-division (numbered 400 and above) or graduate courses (numbered 700 to 885) in physics, astronomy, or appropriately related subjects, selected after advisement and approved by the Graduate Coordinator.Students who select PHYS 896EXM for their culminating experience must complete 9 units of electives. Students who select PHYS 895PHYS 895PHYS 895PHYS 895 or PHYS 898PHYS 898PHYS 898PHYS 898 for their culminating experience must complete 6 units of electives.
No additional supervision units are allowed. Maximum of 3 units in related fields outside physics & astronomy.
Students who plan to teach as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are strongly encouraged to take PHYS 885 (Inclusive Pedagogy for the Physical Sciences).