Typical Course Schedules
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Courses marked with an asterisk (*) include a lab component. The number in brackets [] after each course is the number of credit hours it's worth.
| Freshman Year | |
| First Semester | Second Semester |
| Major Requirements | |
| Goal 6: PHYS 201, University Physics I* [4] | PHYS 202, University Physics II* [4] |
| Goal 5: MATH 261, Calculus I [4] | MATH 262, Calculus II [4] |
| General Education Requirements | |
| Goal 1: LSEM 100, Longwood Seminar [1] | Goal 3: Literature [3] |
| Goal 2: ENGL 150, Writing and Research [3] | Goal 4: Artistic achievement [3] |
| Goal 7: HIST 100, Western Civilization [3] | Goal 11: PHED 101, Physical Education [2] |
| Total credit hours: 15 | Total credit hours: 16 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Third Semester | Fourth Semester |
| Major Requirements | |
| PHYS 321, Modern Physics I* [4] |
(Elective) PHYS 324, Thermodynamics or PHYS 326, Optics* [4] |
| MATH 361, Calculus III [4] | CHEM 112, Fundamental Chemistry II* [4] |
| CHEM 111, Fundamental Chemistry I* [4] | (Elective) CMSC 204 – Intro Programming [3] |
| General Education Requirements | |
| Goal 8: Social science [3] | Goal 10: Foreign language [3] |
| Goal 9: Diversity [3] | Goal 12: Humanities or social science [3] |
| Total credit hours: 18 | Total credit hours: 17 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fifth Semester | Sixth Semester |
| Major Requirements | |
| PHYS 352, Mechanics [4] |
(Elective) PHYS 324, Thermodynamics or PHYS 326, Optics* [4] |
| MATH 460, Differential Equations [3] | PHYS 342, Electronic and Circuit Theory* [4] |
| PHYS 332, Electricity and Magnetism [4] | Goal 15: Research project or internship [1 to 4] |
| (Elective) MATH 343, Linear Algebra [3] | |
| (Elective) MATH 461, Complex Analysis [3] | |
| General Education Requirements | |
| Goal 14: ENGL 400, Leadership/Writing [3] | |
| Goal 13: Ethics [3] | |
| Total credit hours: 17 | Total credit hours: 15 to 18 |
Important Notes:
- Please note that this schedule is only an example. Students should attempt to take the major requirements in the order shown. The general education requirements do not have to follow the order shown, but students must be sure to complete each requirement. Electives are optional.
- Physics majors remaining at Longwood for their 7th and 8th semesters may spread out the above course schedule over the additional two semesters. However, they must additionally take PHYS 400 – Unifying Principles of Physics, and PHYS 401 – Quantum Mechanics. If applicable, students should take additional physics, math, and/or computer science courses as electives.
- Physics/Pre-Engineering majors should consider taking CMSC 204 – Introduction to Computer Programming (3 credits). Taking this course, along with one additional math or computer science course, will earn physics/pre-engineering majors a minor in mathematics. Alternatively, any two additional math or computer science courses will allow physics/pre-engineering majors to earn a minor in mathematics. Students must fill out the appropriate applications for a math minor..
- Students may elect to fulfill Goal 15 over the summer instead of during fall and spring semesters. Students choosing to complete this goal during the summer will enroll in one of the three summer sessions. Students must pay for each credit hour taken before their enrolled session begins.