This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2024-25.
Adviser B. Parks
Students taking courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics who do not wish to major in only one of them should consider a physical science interdisciplinary major.
Major Requirements
Students who receive Colgate credit, either through advanced placement or through transfer credit, for any courses that would normally count toward the major are allowed to apply that credit toward the major.
The requirement for completing CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 may be replaced by completion of CHEM 111. Students who are placed by the mathematics department into a higher level calculus course are exempted from the requirement for a lower level calculus course(s) (e.g. a student placed into MATH 162 is exempted from the requirement to complete MATH 161). Students who enroll in PHYS 232 without receiving credit for PHYS 131 are required to enroll in one additional physics class beyond those required for the major.
The major consists of thirteen courses divided among the three subjects (chemistry, math, and physics) as follows:
Required Courses
It is recommended that students complete these by the end of the sophomore year.
- CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II
- MATH 161 - Calculus I
- MATH 162 - Calculus II
- MATH 163 - Calculus III
- PHYS 131 - Atoms and Waves
- PHYS 232 - Introduction to Mechanics
- PHYS 233 - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
Additional Courses
Students also complete five more courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, or astronomy, which must be approved by the major adviser:
- One must be a chemistry course
- One must be a physics or astronomy course
- Three must be at the 300 level or higher
Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division
For more information about the division, please visit the Natural Sciences and Mathematics division catalog page.