Physics, B.S.
Acquire a broad understanding of the physical principles of the universe.
"You can gain access to top-rate facilities like the National Center for Physical Acoustics, explore the cosmos in Kennon Observatory, or work on experimental particle physics at Fermi Lab near Chicago. The opportunities are here, and the faculty help you reach your goals."
Daniel Pompa (B.S. in Physics, minors in Computer Science, Engineering, and Math ‘19)
Partner, Quantinium
About the Bachelor of Science in Physics
The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.S. in Physics. Physics majors acquire a broad understanding of the physical principles of nature, develop critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills, and become creative scientific thinkers. Physics teaches students to use fundamental laws of nature to discover new ideas in technology and new solutions to age-old problems.
Students may choose an optional emphasis in
- astrophysics
- biophysics
B.S. vs B.A. in Physics
- The Bachelor of Science degree is a rigorous degree path that provides deeper math and science training for graduate school in physics and related fields. Students may choose an optional emphasis in astrophysics or biophysics.
- The Bachelor of Arts degree provides a deeper and wider general education foundation. It has a broad training in physics and allows for combinations with other areas of study through a minor field of study (or double major). Students in the B.A. interested in a health profession may follow the informal premedical track.
The Value of a Physics Degree
Studying physics provides the foundation for graduate study or professional school such as medical school. Our course of study leads to a unique and effective approach to problem-solving which many employers value when looking for potential candidates. This makes our majors well prepared to enter the workforce in a wide variety of areas upon graduation.
Related careers in physics include STEM research, medicine, business, quality assurance, systems safety, military, energy resources, and law.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.S. in Physics
Emphases
Astrophysics ;
Biophysics
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements for the B.S. in Physics from the 2025-2026 catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.S. degree have a common set of 36-38 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
Students in the B.S. in Physics complete 45 credit hours of physics and astronomy.
- Phys 211: Physics for Science & Engineering I
- Phys 212: Physics for Science & Engineering II
- Phys 221: Lab Physics for Science & Engineering II
- Phys 222: Lab Physics for Science & Engineering II
- Phys 303: Physical Theory and Techniques
- Phys 308: Mathematical Physics
- Phys 309: Thermodynamics
- Phys 310: Mechanics
- Phys 317: Introduction to Modern Physics I
- Phys 319: Optics
- Phys 401: Electromagnetic Theory I
- Phys 402: Electromagnetic Theory II
- Phys 417: Modern Physics Laboratory
- Phys 451: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- Phys & Astr elective (3 hrs)
At least two hours from:
- Phys 463: Senior Research Project
- Phys 464: Senior Research Project
Students must also complete the following math courses.
- Math 261: Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry I
- Math 262: Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry II
- Math 263: Unified Calculus & Analytical Geometry III
- Math 264: Unified Calculus & Analytical Geometry IV
- Math 319: Introduction to Linear Algebra
- Math 353: Elementary Differential Equations
For an emphasis in Astrophysics students complete:
- Astr 325: Astrophysics
- Astr 436: Introduction to Cosmology
For an emphasis in Biophysics students complete:
- Phys 413: Introduction to Biophysics
- Phys 514: Physics of Medical Imaging
A minor in Physics consists of 18 credit hours of physics courses.
Required courses:
- Phys 211: Physics for Science and Engineering I
- Phys 212: Physics for Science and Engineering II
- Phys 221: Lab Physics for Science and Engineering I
- Phys 222: Lab Physics for Science and Engineering II
OR
- Phys 213: General Physics I
- Phys 214: General Physics II
- Phys 223: Laboratory Physics I
- Phys 224: Laboratory Physics II
And at least 10 credit hours of physics courses at the 300 level or higher.
Department Opportunities
Video: Get to Know the Department of Physics and Astronomy
Learn more about the Physics program from our faculty and students.
Jobs in Physics
- Senior Technical Advisor at FedEx
- Physician at Memorial Hospital Gulfport
- Radiation Safety at St. Thomas Hospitals
- OB-GYN at Delta Medical Group
- Physician at Vanderbilt Medical Center
- Faculty at Yale School of Medicine
- VP Instruction at Pearl River Community College
- Researcher at Los Alamos National Lab
- Aerospace Engineer at NASA
- Senior Research Fellow at DuPont
- Physicist at Tennessee Valley Authority
- Curriculum Developer at Science is Elementary
- Bioinformatician at Max Planck Institute
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?