Applied Physics (BS)

Undergraduate Program in Applied Physics

The applied physics program stresses the basic physics that underlies most developments in engineering and the mathematical tools that are important to both physicists and engineers. Since the advances in most branches of technology lead to rapid changes in state-of-the-art techniques, the applied physics program provides the student with a broad base of fundamental science and mathematics while retaining the opportunity for specialization through technical electives.

The applied physics curriculum offers students the skills, experience, and preparation necessary for several career options, including opportunities to minor in economics and to take business-related courses. In recent years, applied physics graduates have entered graduate programs in many areas of applied physics or physics, enrolled in medical school, or been employed in various technical or financial areas immediately after receiving the B.S. degree.

Opportunities for undergraduate research exist in the many research programs in applied physics. These include fusion and space plasma physics, optical and laser physics, and condensed matter physics. Undergraduate students can receive course credit for research or an independent project with a faculty member. Opportunities also exist for undergraduate students in the applied physics program to participate in this research through part-time employment during the academic year and full-time employment during the summer, either at Columbia or as part of the NSF REU program nationwide. Practical research experience is a valuable supplement to the formal course of instruction. Applied physics students participate in an informal undergraduate seminar to study current and practical problems in applied physics and obtain hands-on experience in at least two advanced laboratory courses.

Majors are introduced to two areas of application of applied physics (AP) by a course in each of two areas. Approved areas and courses are:

Dynamical Systems: APMA E4101 APPL MATH III:DYNAMICAL SYSTMS or PHYS GU4003 ADVANCED MECHANICS

Optical or Laser Physics: APPH E4110 MODERN OPTICS or APPH E4112 LASER PHYSICS

Nuclear Science: APPH E4010 INTRODUCTN TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE

Plasma Physics: APPH E4301 INTRO TO PLASMA PHYSICS

Physics of Fluids: APPH E4200 PHYSICS OF FLUIDS

Solid-State/Condensed Matter Physics: PHYS GU4018 SOLID STATE PHYSICS

Biophysical Modeling: APMA E4400 INTRO TO BIOPHYSICAL MODELING

In addition to these courses, courses listed in the Specialty Areas in Applied Physics can be used to satisfy this requirement with preapproval of the applied physics adviser.

All students must take 30 points of electives in the third and fourth years, of which 17 points must be technical courses approved by the adviser. The 17 points include 2 points of an advanced laboratory in addition to APPH E4018 APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY. Technical electives must be at the 3000 level or above unless prior approval is obtained from the department. A number of approved technical electives are listed in the section on specialty areas. The remaining points of electives are intended primarily as an opportunity to complete the absolutely mandatory four-year, 27-point nontechnical requirement for the B.S. degree, but if this 27-point nontechnical requirement has been met already, then any type of coursework can satisfy these elective points.

Applied Physics Program

An overview of the degree track in PDF format can be found here

First Year
Semester I
MATH UN11011CALCULUS I 
Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: 
INTRO TO MECHANICS & THERMO 
PHYSICS I:MECHANICS/RELATIVITY 
ACCELERATED PHYSICS I 
Choose one of the following Chemistry/Biology courses (taken Semester I or II): 
CHEM UN1403 (or higher)
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES 
BIOL UN2001
 
BIOL UN2005 (or higher)
INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC 
ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester I or II)UNIVERSITY WRITING 
Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) 
ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI 
PHED UN1001 
ENGI E1102 (taken Semester I or II)THE ART OF ENGINEERING 
Semester II
MATH UN11021CALCULUS II 
Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: 
INTRO ELEC/MAGNETSM & OPTCS 
PHYSICS II: THERMO, ELEC & MAG 
ACCELERATED PHYSICS II 
Choose one of the following Chemistry/Biology courses (taken Semester I or II): 
CHEM UN1403 (or higher)
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES 
BIOL UN2001
 
BIOL UN2005 (or higher)
INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC 
ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester I or II)UNIVERSITY WRITING 
Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) 
ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI 
PHED UN1002 
ENGI E1102 (taken Semester I or II)THE ART OF ENGINEERING 
Second Year
Semester III
APMA E2000
 - APMA E2001 (taken Semester I or II)1
MULTV. CALC. FOR ENGI & APP SCI 
Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: 
INTRO-CLASSCL & QUANTUM WAVES 
PHYSICS III:CLASS/QUANTUM WAVE 
INTERMEDIATE LABORATORY WORK 
Choose one of the following Required Nontechnical Electives: 
EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I 
CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I 
Global Core (3-4)
 
HUMA UN1121 or UN1123MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN ART 
Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) 
ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI 
Semester IV
APMA E2000
 - APMA E2001 (taken Semester III or IV)1
MULTV. CALC. FOR ENGI & APP SCI 
ODE1,3 
PHYS UN1494INTRO TO EXPERIMENTAL PHYS-LAB 
Choose one of the following Required Nontechnical Electives: 
EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTRPIECS II 
CONTEMP WESTRN CIVILIZATION II 
Global Core (3-4)
 
ECON UN1105
 - ECON UN1155
PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS 
Complete Required Technical Electives (Student's choice) (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV) 
ENGI E1006 (taken Semester I, II, III, or IV)2INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI 
Third Year
Semester V
APPH E3200MECHANICS:FUND & APPLICATIONS 
MSAE E3111THERMO/KINETIC THRY/STAT MECH 
APMA E3101APPLIED MATH I: LINEAR ALGEBRA 
APPH E4901SEM-PROBLMS IN APPLIED PHYSICS 
Tech Electives4 
Nontech or Tech Electives 
Semester VI
APPH E3100INTRO TO QUANTUM MECHANICS 
APPH E3300APPLIED ELECTROMAGNETISM 
APMA E3102APPLIED MATHEMATICS II: PDE'S 
Tech Electives4 
Nontech or Tech Electives 
Fourth Year
Semester VII
APPH E4300APPLIED ELECTRODYNAMICS 
APPH E4100QUANTUM PHYSICS OF MATTER 
Course in first AP area 
APPH E4903SEM-PROBLMS IN APPLIED PHYSICS 
Tech Electives4 
Nontech or Tech Electives 
Semester VIII
Course in second AP area 
APPH E4018APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY 
Tech Electives4 
Nontech or Tech Electives 
1

Students with advanced standing may start the calculus sequence at a higher level (see Advanced Placement Credit Chart), in which case students are suggested to add linear algebra in the first two years.

2

With permission of faculty adviser, students demonstrating familiarity with computational mathematics using Python may waive course requirement and use 3 credits for another technical course.

3

Applied physics majors should satisfy their ODE requirement with the Mathematics Department (ordinarily MATH UN2030 ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS). Students who take APMA E2101 INTRO TO APPLIED MATHEMATICS prior to declaring their major in applied physics may use this course to satisfy their ODE requirement with the permission of the faculty adviser.

4

They must include at least 2 points of laboratory courses. If PHYS UN3081 INTERMEDIATE LABORATORY WORK is taken as part of the first two years of the program, these technical electives need not include laboratory courses. Technical electives must be at the 3000 level or above unless prior approval is obtained.