Stern College for Women
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Physics

Physics establishes the fundamental laws of our observable universe via a rigorous process of experimentation and abstract thinking. With their specific methods, physicists not only understand how matter behaves in various conditions, but they also know how to control it and force it to behave as needed in various applications. The technology we see around us builds heavily and crucially on the knowledge advanced by physicists. The goal of the Physics Department at Stern College for Women is to engage the students in this rigorous process and prepare them for industry and academic jobs, or for admission in competitive Master and PhD programs around the globe.

The department offers three majors:

1. Pre-Engineering major (50 credits): Starting with Fall 2023, Pre-Engineering Major becomes the flagship program at Stern Physics, requiring 50 credits and 3 years of on campus. With a recently revised curriculum, the program offers student-experiences in foundations, instrumentation and analysis, design and interfacing, as well as pre-professional knowledge. It has been designed to deliver knowledge and skills needed for a competitive job market, as well as to prepare the students for the cooperative engineering program with Columbia University.

 2. Physics Major (55 credits): The Physics Major weights more towards the fundamental issues, historical development and the mathematical framework of physics. The main goal is to train the students how to apply the extremely broad and general laws of physics to every situation of interest, as well as for them to recognize these laws at work when observing or studying natural phenomena. Our physics students also participate vigorously in fundamental and applied research funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and Army Research Office, where they develop additional specialized skills and knowledge.

2. Physical Science Major (50-57 credits): The Physical Science Major is designed for students who plan to pursue specific engineering programs under the cooperative plan with Columbia University or who target a specific job market after graduation. Under this program, the students can complete courses that are pre-requisites for those programs and are not already delivered by the Physics Department. A student majoring in Physical Sciences will have to choose a concentration in chemistry/electrical engineering/mechanical engineering/biology/computer science, and work with the Physics Department as well as the appropriate external department to establish and approve a path-to-major.

Mission Statement

The mission of the undergraduate Physics Department is to provide the highest possible educational experience for:

•Students majoring in physics
•Students majoring in physical sciences
•Students majoring in pre-engineering
•Students minoring in physics
•Students taking service courses as a prerequisite for their majors
 

Program Student Learning Goals

1. Students will master the fundamental laws of our physical reality to the level where they can apply these laws to any concrete situation and can recognize which of the fundamental laws are at work when observing new physical phenomena.
2. Students will understand the mathematical framework in which these laws operate, to a point where they can derive concrete mathematical relations and equations when given a concrete problem or application
3.Students will be able to solve the mathematical equations derived in the process of problem solving.
4. Students will explore the fundamental laws of physics in a laboratory setting, where they will learn the rigorous process that establishes and tests these laws. In the process, the students will be trained with specialized laboratory equipment and computer software for data analysis and reporting.
5.Students will learn how to communicate results of their studies, both orally and in writing, individually and as a part of a team.

For more information, please contact Professor Emil Prodan, prodan@yu.edu.

Program Information

 

Pre-Engineering Major (50+ credits):

  • The major student activities and experiences are organized in four major categories:
4 Categories of Pre-Eng Major
 
  • The major requires 50 credits and is to be completed in 6 semesters at Beren campus.
 
  • Students need to adhere to the following schedule in order to graduate on time:
Route through Major

*Download a pdf copy of the above graphic here

 
  • Students majoring in Pre-Engineering (and also other majors) have the opportunity to pursue a cooperative engineering program with Columbia University, where, after 2 additional years, a student can earn a degree in Engineering from Columbia U. Under this cooperative program, Columbia requires a student to complete all requirements of a regular STEM major at . Please understand that Columbia U has cooperative programs with more than 100 liberal arts college from US and has no privileged status in this larger picture see . The recruitment into the Columbia program is competition-based and the pre-engineering major at was design to meet and exceed the standards of average admissions, but be aware that, by no means, this guaranties acceptance into the Columbia program. Students who want to pursue this path should contact Dr. Emil Prodan (prodan@yu.edu) and Dr. Edward Berliner (berliner@yu.edu) for planning the  application process and for making sure the pre-requisites are covered by the major.

 

 

Requirements for Physics Major (48+ credits):

 

From Physics Department (29+ credits):

1051R (3 cr.)

1051Y (1 cr.) 

1052R (3 cr.)

1052Y (1 cr.)

2051 Phys III (3 cr.) or Wave Phenomena (3cr.)

2052 Phys IV (3 cr.) or Logic & Quantum Circuits (3 cr.)

1221 Classical Mechanics I (3 cr.)

1321 Electromagnetic Theory I (3 cr.)

1510 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.)

1621 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.)

1810 Advance Physics Lab (3 cr.)

Research in Physics (1+x cr.)

 

From Mathematics Department (15 credits):

MATH 1412 Calc I (3cr)

MATH 1413, Calc II (3cr)

MATH 2105 Linear Algebra (3cr)

MATH  1510 Mutivariable (3cr)

MATH MAT 5402 (Scientific Computing)

 

From Computer Science Department (3 credits):

 COMP 1300 (3 credits)

 

 

Requirements for Physical Sciences Major (48+ credits):

 

From Physics Department (15+ credits):

1051R (3 cr.)

1051Y (1 cr.) 

1052R (3 cr.)

1052Y (1 cr.)

2051 Phys III (3 cr.) or Wave Phenomena (3cr.)

2052 Phys IV (3 cr.) or Equivalent (3 cr.)

 

From Mathematics Department (15 credits):

MATH 1412 Calc I (3cr)

MATH 1413, Calc II (3cr)

MATH  1510 Mutivariable (3cr)

MATH 2105 Linear Algebra (3cr)

MATH MAT 5402 (Scientific Computing)

 

From Computer Science Department (3 credits):

 COMP 1300 (3 credits)

 

From Chemistry Department (3 credits):

 CHEM 1045 (3 credits)

 

Plus 4 additional courses in particular engineering fields (9credits)

Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings.

Physics (PHYS)

  • 1031C, 1032C Introductory Physics 4 credits
    Two-semester, algebra-based course, taken by students who intend to major in biology, chemistry, and the health professions. Topics covered: kinematics and dynamics of the particle and rigid bodies, conservation laws, momentum, energy and angular momentum, oscillations, waves, fluids, thermodynamics, optics, electromagnetism, modern physics. Laboratory experiments are designed to help students master the principles covered in lecture. (lecture: 3 hours; recitation: 1 hour; lab: 2 hours). Laboratory fee.
  • 1051C, 1052C General Physics 5 credits
    Two-semester, calculus-based course for Physics, Physical Sciences and Pre-Engineering majors. Topics covered: kinematics and dynamics of the particle and rigid bodies, conservation laws, momentum, energy and angular momentum, oscillations, waves, fluids, electromagnetism and optics. Laboratory experiments are designed to help students master the principles covered in lecture. Lecture: 4 hours; recitation: 1 hour; lab: 2 hours 45 minutes. Laboratory fee.
    Prerequisite for PHYS 1051C: MATH 1412 or more advanced or instructors permission.
    Prerequisite or co-requisite for PHYS 1052C: MATH 1413
  • 1140 Mathematical Physics 3 credits
    One-semester course covering the mathematical foundations of modern physics. Topics: functions of complex variables, multiple integrals, Fourier series, special functions, integral transforms (Laplace and Fourier), Green functions, distributions. Examples, problems and applications from different fields of physics.
    Prerequisite:  PHYS 1042C.
  • 1221 Classical Mechanics I 3 credits
    Newtonian mechanics; oscillations: simple, damped and driven; resonance; elements of nonlinearity; noninertial frames of reference; motion relative to the Earth; conservative forces and potential energy; central forces; planetary motion.
    Prerequisite: PHYS 1041C.
  • 1222 Classical Mechanics II 3 credits
    Lagrangian mechanics. Constraints. Variational calculus and Hamilton's equations. Rotations of rigid bodies in two and three dimensions. Eulers equations. Tensor analysis. Small coupled oscillations and normal coordinates. Classical waves: the wave equation, dispersion, interference, polarization. Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction.
    Prerequisite PHYS1221.
  • 1321 Electromagnetic Theory I 3 credits
    Vector calculus, Maxwell’s equations in integral and differential form; electrostatics, Poisson’s equation; magnetostatics; time-varying fields.
    Prerequisites: PHYS 1042C, MATH 1510.
  • 1322 Electromagnetic Theory II 3 credits
    Polarizability tensor, electrodynamics in matter. Electromagnetic radiation by accelerating charges; Lienard-Wiechert potentials, multipole radiation, bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, applications to materials science. Antennas. Electromagnetic wave propagation in matter. Electromagnetic basis of physical optics. Fresnel equations, Kirchoff diffraction theory. Wave-guides and cavity resonators.
    Prerequisite: PHYS1321
  • 1340 Computational Methods in Scientific Research 3 credits
    Use of computers to solve real problems in biology, physical sciences and economics. Numerical methods and data analysis, and how to visualize results with plots and movies.
    Prerequisites: MATH 1413. Recommended PHYS 1031C, 1032C or 1041C, 1042C
  • 1401 Introduction to Solid State Physics 3 credits
    A survey of the properties of condensed matter. Classification of crystalline lattices. Elements of crystallography. Cohesive forces in solids. Vibrations of crystals. Quantization. Debye and Einstein theories of phonons and thermal conductivity. Free electron theory of metals. Bloch functions and band theory. The Fermi surface. Semiconductors. Survey of advanced topics: excitations in lattices (plasmons and polarons), superconductivity, magnetic materials and models, theory of crystalline defects and alloys.
    Prerequisites: PHYS  1621.
  • 1510 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 credits
    The laws of thermodynamics. Entropy. Equations of state. Phase transitions. Thermodynamic potentials. The Third Law. Distribution functions. Theory of ensembles. Statistical formulation of temperature. Quantum and classical ideal gasses. Electronic conductance. Bose-¬Einstein statistics. Planck’s Law.
    Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 1510.
  • 1621 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3 credits
    Wave--particle duality. Uncertainty principle. Formalism: Hilbert Space, Observables, Hermitian Operators. Solutions to Schrodinger's Equation in One Dimension: Transmission and Reflection at a Barrier; Tunneling; Potential Wells; Harmonic Oscillator; Free Particle. Schrodinger's Equation in Three Dimensions: Hydrogen Atom. Angular Momentum and Spin. Perturbation Theory. Introduction to Quantum Information.
    Prerequisites: PHYS 1221, MATH 2105 or permission of instructor.
  • 1810 Intermediate Experimental Physics 3 credits
    Nonlinear oscillations, diffraction of waves, interferometry, measurement of electron charge/mass ratio, RC filters, propagation of electromagnetic waves. (lecture: 1 hour; lab: 3 hours)
    Prerequisite: PHYS 1042C.
  • 2051 Intermediate Physics I 3 credits
    This course examines wave phenomena with an emphasis on light and offers an introduction to thermal physics. Topics covered include mechanical waves, sound, light as an electromagnetic wave, geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, temperature, heat and the laws of thermodynamics.
    Prerequisites: PHYS 1042, MATH 1413. Co-requisite: MATH 1510.
  • 2052 Intermediate Physics II 3 credits
    This course introduces the main ideas of modern physics as they were historically developed during the great revolution that took place in Physics between 1880 and 1930, which shaped our current ideas in relativity, quantum mechanics and statistical physics.   It presents in a historical context how those ideas were generated, which were the great experiments that led to their development, and the theoretical underpinnings on which they rest.
    Prerequisite: PHYS 2051
  • 4901, 4902 Independent Study
    See Academic Information and Policies section.
  • 4931-4935 Topics in Physics (1-3 credits)

The following list includes faculty who teach at the Beren (B) and/or Wilf (W)

Graduate Schools

Planning for Graduate Studies in Physics and Related Fields

List of Graduate Programs

Visit a

GRE Tests

Fellowships (Partial List)

The Timeline

The best strategy is to decide on the list of graduate schools during your junior year and check the schools' deadlines. Then use the GRE bulletin to work backward and figure out the appropriate dates for the GRE tests. The timeline below is thus just a general advice, applicable to those schools that have application deadline of January 1 or later.

  1. August preceding the graduating year: study and register for the subject GRE test
  2. Fall of the graduating year: take general GRE test
  3. September of the graduating year: meet with career services and physics department faculty to determine which programs to apply and to try to determine which area of physics is of interest to you
  4. September of the graduating year: start researching fellowships. Their deadlines may be as early as October.
  5. November of your graduating year (tentatively): take subject GRE test
  6. November, December of your graduating year: send applications to graduate schools

Other Useful Links

Physics Forum:

Physics Colloquia at

The current schedule of physics colloquia schedule is available here.

Physics Colloquia in New York City

  • Queens College Physics Department

Physics Department Graduates

 Stern College for Women Physics Department Graduates