Physics, BS

The Bachelor of Science in Physics, offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, requires formal admission with a minimum GPA of 2.00 and departmental approval. Students must complete 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher, fulfill college writing and university mathematics requirements, and meet general education standards: ten courses (two from each of five foundational areas), including at least one lab-based course in Area Five (Natural and Mathematical Sciences), with no more than two courses in the same discipline.Major requirements include 63 credit hours with grades of C or better, featuring core courses (51 credits) such as Calculus I, II, III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Principles of Physics I and II, Modern Physics, and others. Students choose one track—Chemical Physics, Computational Physics, or Traditional Physics—completing 12 additional credits from specified options. American University also offers combined bachelor's and master's programs for eligible students; see program details for more information.