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The Bachelor's Program in Physics

The Arts and Sciences Physics Major

[Looking for Engineering Physics? Here you go.]

The undergraduate physics major provides a thorough introduction to all core areas of physics.

General Degree Requirements

College Requirements

To earn a bachelor's degree with a major in physics, students must meet all requirements set forth by the College of Arts and Sciences. These include:

  • Completion of all university requirements for the bachelor's degree (e.g., grade point average, hours in residence, etc.) as explained in the University's Undergraduate Catalog.
  • Completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.
  • Completion of at least 42 credit hours in courses numbered 300 or above.
  • Appropriate work to satisfy basic skills and distribution requirements (e.g., English, foreign language, social sciences, etc.), counting no course in more than one area. See the Undergraduate Catalog, College of Arts and Sciences section.
  • Completion of at least one major.

Freshman Prerequisites

All physics majors following the Arts and Sciences track must take the following courses during their freshmen year:

  • Honors Fundamentals of Physics (Physics 137-138) or Introduction to Physics (Physics 135-136)
  • Calculus I, II (Math 141-142)
  • Introduction to Computer Science (Computer Science 102)

Engineering Fundamentals 151-152 and Physics 231-232, together, can replace Physics 137-138 or 135-136. Students may declare a physics major before completing these prerequisites.

Requirements for the Physics Major


In addition to the general degree requirements, listed above, the physics major consist of 38 hours. Physics 250, 311, 321, 361, 411, 421, 431, 461 (26 hours) are required. In addition, 12 hours chosen from 300 and 400 level physics courses, or from 200-400 level astronomy courses, are required.

Students who wish to apply physics to other career goals, such as chemistry, mathematics, education, law, medicine, or journalism should consult with the department curriculum chair about appropriate alternate courses.

Students planning graduate work in physics are advised to take Physics 312, 412, and 432. Physics 401 and Math 403, Math 435, and Math 443 are recommended. Students completing Physics 312, 401, 412, and 432 will have the Academic Concentration designation added to their transcripts.

Students planning work in applied fields related to physics are advised to take Physics 401, 453, and 454 among the additional 12 hours. Students completing these courses will have the Applied Concentration designation added to their transcripts.

Students planning graduate work in astronomy should take Astronomy 217, 218, 411, 490. Students completing these courses will have the Astronomy Concentration designation added to their transcripts.

Students are encouraged to pursue special interests through additional courses, research projects and/or independent study under the direction of members of the physics faculty.

Sonali Shukla received her Bachelor of Science in Physics (academic concentration) in 2003. Since then she has been pursuing her Ph.D in physics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Sonali researches the formation of young stars, in particular, X-ray and infrared signatures of disks around these types of stars. She uses data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope. She spent a year as a predoctoral fellow at the Spitzer Science Center at the California Institute of Techonology studying disks around brown dwarfs.

Sonali Shukla


Trey Forgety graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in applied physics before enrolling as a J.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee College of Law. As a law student, he was named an editor of the Tennessee Law Review, and captain of the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team. As a physics graduate, Trey is eligible for admission to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a credential that offers a nearly 50% starting salary advantage over other law graduates. When asked about his future plans, Trey states:

"My physics background has served me well in law school; without it, I would never have been able to pursue a career in intellectual property litigation. My plans for the immediate future include post-doctoral studies in international IP law and possibly a stint in government employment."

 Trey Forgety


Stacey Kaufman chose the general concentration in physics, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2005. She teaches AP and Honors Physics at The Franklin Academy (Charter High School) in Wake Forest, North Carolina. She writes:

"I LOVE my job! There aren't many people out there who can say that. I owe it to my professors and fellow classmates, who helped me gain the knowledge I needed. I had an awesome experience with the UT physics department. My profs were never too busy to help me, I made great friendships, and I had access to many valuable resources. It definitely was not easy, but I would do it all over again if given the chance. I am proud to be an alumni."

 Stacey Kaufman