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To preface, I'm starting my Physics degree this upcoming semester. For the past year, I've been doing all of my generals while I took care of the mathematical prerequisites for the degree (College Algebra Preparation Class, College Algebra, and Trigonometry). Now that those are complete, I can officially declare my major to Physics.
I am what the university calls a "non-traditional student", meaning I didn't go straight to college after high school. More specifically, after high school I enlisted in the Navy and did seven years, which is why I took the math preparation classes- because it had been a long time since I had done any mathematics.
This has put me in an awkward situation. I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and to receive the housing allowance, I need to be at least full time. However, now that I have completed all of my generals except one, I am not able to be a full-time student as just a Physics major (traditionally, a student would take the required Phys classes, and a couple generals and that would put them at full time). That is, due to the prerequisite structure of the degree, I will only be able to be about 3/4 time.
So what I can do in this situation, is do a double-major situation for a couple of years until I get out of the bottle-neck caused by all the prerequisites. Then once I am there, drop the additional degree and focus solely on the Physics.
Now since Mathematics and Physics are so related, I have chosen the second degree and Mathematics/Statistics Composite, which is basically an Applied Mathematics degree as I'm told.
So my question is, what classes would you suggest that I take from this degree that would best supplement my future Physics education?
To give you some context, here is a list of the requirements for the Physics degree at my university, and the classes offered for the Mathematics/Statistics degree.
Physics Requirements:
Thank you!
I am what the university calls a "non-traditional student", meaning I didn't go straight to college after high school. More specifically, after high school I enlisted in the Navy and did seven years, which is why I took the math preparation classes- because it had been a long time since I had done any mathematics.
This has put me in an awkward situation. I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and to receive the housing allowance, I need to be at least full time. However, now that I have completed all of my generals except one, I am not able to be a full-time student as just a Physics major (traditionally, a student would take the required Phys classes, and a couple generals and that would put them at full time). That is, due to the prerequisite structure of the degree, I will only be able to be about 3/4 time.
So what I can do in this situation, is do a double-major situation for a couple of years until I get out of the bottle-neck caused by all the prerequisites. Then once I am there, drop the additional degree and focus solely on the Physics.
Now since Mathematics and Physics are so related, I have chosen the second degree and Mathematics/Statistics Composite, which is basically an Applied Mathematics degree as I'm told.
So my question is, what classes would you suggest that I take from this degree that would best supplement my future Physics education?
To give you some context, here is a list of the requirements for the Physics degree at my university, and the classes offered for the Mathematics/Statistics degree.
Physics Requirements:
- Calculus I, II, III
- Linear Algebra
- Ordinary Differential Equations
- Phys I and II
- Intro to Computer Methods in Physics
- Intro Modern Physics
- Classical Mechanics
- E&M I and II
- Thermal Physics
- Intermediate Modern Physics
- Foundations of Waves
- Optics
- QM I and II
- Labs, research, etc
- All the mathematical requirements for the Physics degree
- Foundations of Analysis
- Intro Algebraic Structures
- Intro Analysis
- Intro Probability
- Intro Mathematical Statistics
- Statistics for Scientists
- Linear Regression and Time Series
- Design of Experiements
- Electives can include things such as Partial Differential Equations, Differential Geometry, Complex Variables, or whatever undergraduate math course that's offered really.
Thank you!