Prospective Physics/Math Schedule

[Dahaka14]

I am a sophomore that just got accepted into Upper Division for both Mathematics and Physics (I am double majoring, and plan to go for a PhD in physics), and now I have to plan out what to take for the next couple of years, I don't think I want to graduate in 2 years because I want to take as many advanced math courses as possible before going to grad school, it seems to me like I should exhaust most upper level math courses so that I can focus on learning the physics later without worrying about my math background, now I have to fill out what I want to take for the next year and turn it into my new advisor, what do you guys think of the following?

by the end of this semester, I will have taken calculus 1-4 and physics 1-3, for next semester I plan on:
Quantum Physics & Quantum Physics Lab (required and fixed for spring sophomore year)
Fourier Analysis
Complex Analysis

Fall junior year:
Methods 1
Quantum Mechanics (undergrad)
Honors: Fundamental Structures of Algebra
Honors: Introduction to Analysis (both math classes are grad level)

Spring junior year:
Methods 2
Electricity and Magnetism (undergrad)
" " Algebra 2
" " Analysis 2

 

[PhysicalAnomaly]

You take complex analysis before introduction to analysis?

 

[physics girl phd]

What might help is some (truncated please!) course descriptions?
And a four-year plan in math/physics?

with regards to math:
What I'm not seeing as one of your intermediate classes is a linear algebra class (and I don't THINK that's in your "Fundamental Structures of Algebra" is it?). I'd recommend this course if you haven't taken it (Lin. Alg. should be complementary to parts of undergrad Quantum Mechanics.. I think I took it simultaneous with some calculus though... so maybe you've taken it too ).

Taking the "Fourier Analysis class is a huge plus (it's complementary to both Quantum and E&M. I took this right after "Diff. Eq./ Calc 4" (although I was the youngest in the course), so it seems spaced fine.

Analysis courses: Your "Honors: Intro to analysis" is at the grad level, so I'm thinking it is perhaps like what I had as a "Real analysis" class that was simultaneously a 400/500 level course for undergrad/grad (I'm assuming Analysis 2 is a follow-up to this). I'm not sure which I took first (complex analysis or real analysis... and I don't know that one HAS to be before the other, but it probably depends on the text and how things are taught; I'm not sure... my complex class was independent study with the chair of the math department, so my perspective might be funny). I took these both at the second semester Junior and first-semester senior level (but I forget the order). You have these at second semester sophomore and first-semester junior... So I wonder too if these both might be pushed up too early... what are your math courses left for senior year?

also -- with regards to physics...
What's quantum physics and lab, and how does it compare to Quantum (undergrad)? I'm thinking it was like a holding ground "modern" course (that I skipped because I actually transferred to our department late from a chemistry major, and it wasn't required ).

But of particular note: Where's second semester Quantum (undergrad) and E&M (undergrad)? Thermo? and Classical mechanics (undergrad? -- typically there's a possible two semesters of this, and I'd recommend both) You should probably be taking a Thermodynamics (both bulk thermo and statistical thermo) and Classical mechanics about this time. And have you taken an electronics couse? upper level labs?

then: important!: start looking into research opportunities (both in your institution and at others)! This is critical to your application into physics programs.

 

[Vid]

I'm assuming you go to umn from the title of the courses.
http://www.math.umn.edu/courses/

The analysis and algebra courses aren't really grad courses. They're really junior/senior level ugrad classes that can count as grad credit for entering grad students who need a refresher or just didn't take them as an ugrad. They have the same content as classes pretty much every math major at every major university takes.

So I wonder too if these both might be pushed up too early... what are your math courses left for senior year?

Judging from that course list that won't be a problem. There are plenty of electives on the list or he could take a grad class or two. Not to mention plenty of people take analysis or algebra classes in their freshman or sophomore year.

It seems like you are missing out on quite a bit of physics classes that most physics majors take. Though, I'm not a physics person.

 

[George Jones]

What I'm not seeing as one of your intermediate classes is a linear algebra class (and I don't THINK that's in your "Fundamental Structures of Algebra" is it?). I'd recommend this course if you haven't taken it (Lin. Alg. should be complementary to parts of undergrad Quantum Mechanics.. I think I took it simultaneous with some calculus though... so maybe you've taken it too ).

I'm guessing that Dahaka14 has already taken linear algebra, and that Fundamental Structures of Algebra is a rings, fields, groups course for which linear algebra is usually a prerequisite.

 

[Dahaka14]

Yes, I am in my last calculus class this semester (Calculus 3: Linear Algebra and Diff Eq). George Jones was correct in describing the Algebra class that I proposed. All "I & II" classes are sequential for the class.

Quantum Physics and its respective lab are kind of a larger examination of quantum aside from Modern Physics. At Minnesota, they give you Physics 3: Waves, Optics, and Relativity, then this quantum class before taking junior/senior physics classes.

The Quantum Mechanics and E&M classes are 1 semester each. For my senior year I plan on taking, filling in all requirements:

Fall:
Geometry I (Advanced two-dimensional Euclidean geometry from a vector viewpoint. Theorems/problems about triangles/circles, isometries, connections with Euclid's axioms. Hyperbolic geometry, how it compares with Euclidean geometry.)
Quantum Mechanics I (grad level)
Statistical and Thermal Physics
Analytical Mechanics

Spring:
Geometry II (Projective geometry, including: relation to Euclidean geometry, finite geometries, fundamental theorem of projective geometry. N-dimensional Euclidean geometry from a vector viewpoint. Emphasizes N=3, including: polyhedra, spheres, isometries.)
Quantum Mechanics II
(then two classes to fulfill other requirements)

After this, I am considering staying another year to take more math and physics classes. It's quite possible that with this schedule, I may need to stay longer anyway due to miscellaneous requirements. Any suggestions?

 

[Monocles]

You take complex analysis before introduction to analysis?

At some schools, what is called complex analysis is just a complex variables class. For example, the only pre-req for complex analysis at my school is calc 2.

 

[Dahaka14]

ok, it turns out that complex analysis is not offered in the spring, so i will have a choice of 2 between:
Applied Fourier Analysis
Differential Geometry
Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
Basic Theory of Probability and Statistics

now i have talked with my new math adviser, and he pointed me towards these 4, and told me to choose, i am most likely going to choose the ODE class as one, which of the other 4 should i choose to go with it? i figured Fourier would be good, but i could just learn that on my own

 

[ice109]

a resounding vote for Differential Geometry. unless you want to be an experimentalist then Fourier analysis. all the modern theories are differential geometric in nature.