If you’re looking for guidance in choosing courses, check out these sample schedules that are optimized for particular interests.
Below you will find many sample schedules to meet a variety of student interests. Or, you can speak to your adviser about tailoring a program to satisfy your particular interests. For example, previous majors have:
- Learned Chinese, studied in China for a semester, and pursued a PhD in linguistics.
- Earned a second major in theater, specializing in lighting and technical theater.
- Specialized in molecular gastronomy and opened a restaurant after graduation.
Students with AP calculus are strongly advised to complete the calculus sequence (through Math 163) during their first year.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 232
Physics 201
Math 163
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Second year | Physics 233
Physics 205
CORE
Optional elective | Physics 334
Physics 336
CORE
Optional elective |
Third year | Physics elective
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective/Global Engagements
Elective | Physics elective
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective
Elective |
Fourth year | Physics 410
Elective
Elective
Elective | Physics elective
Elective
Elective
Elective |
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
Students with AP calculus are strongly advised to complete the calculus sequence (through Math 113) during their first year.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 232
Physics 201
Math 163
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Second year |
Physics 233
Physics 205
Astronomy 210 or 312
Optional elective
| Physics 334
CORE
CORE
Optional elective |
Third year | Astronomy 210 or 312
Physics/astronomy elective
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective | Physics/astronomy elective
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective/Global Engagements
Elective |
Fourth year | Physics 410
Elective
Elective
Elective | Physics/astronomy elective
Elective
Elective
Elective |
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
Since the astrogeophysics requirements span several departments, the ordering of the courses can be easily re-arranged. For example, a student might start with an interest in geology and complete courses in geology and mathematics in his/her first year, and then take physics courses in later years. The schedule below may not be possible for all students because not every course is offered in every year. Students should therefore consult with their advisors to map out their course schedules.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Introductory elective (see list)
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Elective | Physics 232
Math 163
CORE
Area of inquiry elective |
Second year | Physics 233
Physics 205
Geology 215
CORE | Geology 201
CORE
Area of inquiry elective
Elective |
Third year | Astronomy 210
Astronomy 313
Area of inquiry elective
Elective/Global Engagements | Geology 305
Physics 336
Area of inquiry elective
Elective |
Fourth year | Astronomy 414
Elective
Elective
Elective | Geology 441
Elective
Elective
Elective |
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
This schedule takes advantage of lab credits gained in other semesters to allow the student to take reduced loads both semesters (3.75 credits in the fall and 3.5 credits in the spring). Note that students who choose this option cannot go abroad in the spring of their junior year because they need to take Physics 336 while on campus.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 232
Physics 201
Math 163
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Second year | Physics 233
Physics 205
CORE | Physics 334
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Third year | Physics elective
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective/Global Engagements
Elective | Physics 336
Physics elective
Elective
Elective |
Fourth year | Physics 410
Elective
Elective
Elective | Physics elective
Elective
Elective
Elective |
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
This approach is not recommended for students who know in their first year that they may be interested in a physics major. Some upper-level physics courses are offered only in alternate years, so students who don’t complete the sophomore-level courses until their junior year will only have fewer options in choosing their advanced classes.
If you realize after your first semester that you are interested in a physics major, it may be possible for you to enroll in Physics 232 in the spring semester. Please speak with the instructor and/or the department chair. You will need to take an extra upper-level course in order to complete the major, but the advantage is that you will be able to take both years of upper-level physics electives.
But, for those who don’t get started in their first year, it is still possible to complete the major in this way, and many graduate schools will allow students to enroll in undergraduate classes to make up for classes they missed. Better late than never!
| Fall | Spring |
First year | First-year seminar / CORE
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective
Elective | CORE
Area of Inquiry elective
Elective
Elective |
Second year | Physics 131
Math 161
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 232
Physics 201
Math 163
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Third year | Physics 233
Physics 205
Elective (or Astronomy 210/312 for astronomy-physics conc.) | Physics 334
Physics 336 (not required for physics-astronomy major) |
Fourth year | Physics 410
Physics/astronomy elective
Elective/Global Engagements
Elective (or Astronomy 210/312 for astronomy-physics conc.) | Physics/astronomy elective
Physics/astronomy elective
Elective
Elective |
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
This schedule includes extra math courses—take as many as you can—and suggests that in addition to the fundamental sequence Physics 431-432-433-434, you also enroll in as many physics electives as possible in order to discover areas you’d like to study in graduate school. Note that if you complete Math 250 in addition to these courses, you are eligible for a minor concentration in applied mathematics.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 232
Physics 201
Math 163
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Second year | Physics 233
CORE
Physics 205
Optional elective | Physics 334
Physics 336
CORE
Physics 205
Optional elective |
Third year | Physics 431
Math 308: Differential Equations
Physics elective
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 432
Physics elective
Physics elective
Area of Inquiry elective |
Fourth year | Physics 433
Physics 410
Math 214: Linear Algebra
Elective/Global Engagements | Physics 434
Math 311: Partial Diff. Equations
Math 313: Complex Variables
Elective |
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
You’ll find some additional helpful guidance on our
health sciences advising page.
This schedule assumes that the student has no AP credit in chemistry or math, and also wants to complete all the pre-med requirements by the end of junior year in order to be able to take MCATs before senior year. (Students with more advanced high school chemistry courses may be able to enroll in Chemistry 111 instead of Chemistry 101/102. These students should take Biology 182 in the spring of their first year.)
Students can gain flexibility by postponing some of these courses to the senior year and planning to spend a year gaining other experiences while applying to medical school. Students who want even more flexibility might consider the Physical Science major, since it’s possible to fill all the Physical Science requirements and pre-medical requirements in a total of 17 courses, plus 4 CORE courses, 1 Global Engagements course, and 2 additional Areas of Inquiry requirements.
For maximum flexibility, consider enrolling in a “post-baccalaureate” program in which you can complete pre-medical requirements in a one-year program.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Chemistry 101
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE | Physics 232
Physics 201
Chemistry 102
Math 163
CORE |
Second year | Physics 233
Biology 182
CORE
Physics 205 | Physics 334
Social Rel., Inst., and Agents elective (sociology is suggested)
CORE
English elective
|
Third year | Physics elective
Chemistry 263
Writing & Rhetoric elective
Elective (psychology is suggested) | Physics 336
Physics elective
Chemistry 264
Biology elective |
Fourth year | Physics 410
Elective/Global Engagements
Free elective (biology suggested)
Free elective | Physics elective
Social Rel., Inst., and Agents elective
Free elective
Free elective |
Note on the English and Writing & Rhetoric courses:
Filling the Areas of Inquiry requirement in Human Thought and Expression requires two courses in different departments, while medical schools require two courses that focus on English language, literature, and communication. You can fulfill both these requirements with the same two courses as long as one is in the English department and the other is in Writing and Rhetoric.
The English elective is placed in the sophomore year because 200-level English courses are not open to juniors or seniors. Of course, you’re free to delay this requirement and take an upper-level English course.
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
You’ll find some general guidance and a description of the pre-engineering program on our
pre-professional planning page.
This schedule prepares students to enter an engineering program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Washington University (St. Louis), or Columbia University. At the conclusion of the five-year program, students will earn a B.A. degree from Colgate University as well as an undergraduate engineering degree from the cooperating institution.
It is also possible for students to complete a four-year degree at Colgate and then earn a master's degree in engineering in 1.5–2 years. There are no formal requirements for these programs, although the schedule below is a useful starting point. Additional physics electives that are particularly useful for engineers include Physics 451: Computational Physics, and other courses related to their area of interest within engineering, such as biophysics, electromagnetism, or optics. Students in the past have been very successful in gaining admission to master's programs in engineering and related fields.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Area of Inquiry elective | Physics 232
Physics 201
Math 163
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective |
Second year | Physics 233
Physics 205
CORE
Optional elective | Physics 334
Physics 336
CORE
Optional elective |
Third year | Physics 431 or 451
Area of Inquiry elective
Global Engagements elective
Chemistry 101 | Physics elective
Area of Inquiry elective
Computer Science 101
Free elective |
Fourth and fifth years | At RPI, Washington University, or Columbia |
This is the basic schedule, and would work for 3-2 programs in electrical engineering or mechanical engineering. Some areas of engineering require additional courses. For example, chemical and biomedical engineering require additional chemistry courses, and environmental engineering requires both chemistry and environmental studies coursework. Pre-engineering students are encouraged to consult with the pre-engineering adviser as early in their careers as possible.
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physics and astronomy academic program page.
The certification program includes a ninth semester for student teaching and professional seminars. Colgate currently waives tuition for this semester, but the student is responsible for finding off-campus housing.
| Fall | Spring |
First year | Physics 131
Math 161
First-year seminar / CORE
Free elective or CORE | Physics 232
Math 163
CORE
EDUC 101: The American School
Physics 201 (1/4 credit) |
Second year | Physics 233
CORE
Physics 205
EDUC elective | Physics 334
Physics 336
CORE
Area of Inquiry elective (see note) |
Third year | Physics elective
EDUC elective
EDUC elective
Free elective | Physics elective
EDUC elective
Area of Inquiry elective (see note)
Area of Inquiry elective (see note) |
Fourth year | Physics 410
EDUC elective
Area of Inquiry elective (see note)
Free elective | EDUC elective
Physics elective
Free elective
Free elective |
Ninth Semester | EDUC 419: Diagnosis & Remediation of Reading Problems
EDUC 455: Student Teaching
EDUC 453: Curr. and Instruction
| |
It is important for students interested in certification to consult with the education department as soon as possible in order to ensure that they will be able to fulfill the certification requirements.
The certification program has specific requirements for Area of Inquiry requirements. Within the area of Human Thought and Expression, students need to take one course in "Artistic Expression" which can be ARTS 100, MUSI 151, ENGL 252, ENGL 254, ENGL 257, ENGL 321, or ENGL 332 The other Humanities distribution can be anything. Within Social Relations, Institutions, and Agents, students should choose one course in American History (HIST 103, 104, 301, 303, 306, 308 or 314) or an AP credit. The second Social Science needs to be one of the following: POSC 150, POSC 206, POSC 210, POSC 212, ECON 201, GEOG 101, GEOG 102, GEOG 310, GEOG 312.
See here for requirements for
educational studies electives.
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physics and astronomy academic program page.