Course suggestion for student interested in Condensed Matter

[crick]

I'm a bachelor student in Physics and I would like to continue with a MSc in the field of Condensed Matter Physics.

I have to choose between some courses at my university and, since I'm not already an expert in Condensed Matter I would like to have a suggestion. If you were in my situation and you could choose only one between these two courses, what would you choose?

• Electronics (Thevenin and Norton theorems - Quadripoles and transfer functions - DC Regime, AC, impulsive - diodes, BJTs, JFET, MOS - equivalent circuits for small signals - linear, amplification - Elements of statistical - stochastic processes and electronic noise )
• Advanced Linear Algebra and Geometry (Groups and Lie algebras, The classical matrix groups and their geometric meaning, Lie algebra of matrices and exponential application, differential geometry, Elements of differential geometry of curves: Frenet formulas., Differential geometry of surfaces., Fundamental quadratic form on the surfaces., Gaussian curvature, tangent and differential spaces of differentiable functions between varieties.)

Which of the two could be more useful or even necessary for the study of Condensed Matter (both experimental or theoretical)?

I would say that the linear algebra course gives notions that are touched more in other fields of theoretical physics, so I would go with Electronics, but I'm talking without being sure at all.

So which of the two courses would you suggest for a student at the end of the bachelor degree, willing to study Condensed Matter (but still not sure if theoretical or experimental)?

 

[Crek]

If you want any hope of a job, the first one. If you want to play the lottery and hope for getting an academic position, the second.

 

[radium]

For condensed matter theory people mostly learn the necessary math as they go so you don't really need to have a formal math background. I personally took one semester of algebra and topology but most of the math I learned on my own or in physics classes. Group theory can be very important in condensed matter but usually more along the lines of discrete groups and representations.