How Can I Prepare for a Theoretical Physics Course with a Math Minor?

[AlmenoFSigma]

Greetings from Portugal!
I hope I got the right forum section :)

I would greatly appreciate your help in the following matter:
I am a Physics Engineering student, just finishing 1st year and I've recently decided to change to Theoretical Physics with a minor in Mathematics, yet I think I am not quite prepared for this course, thus I am holding university on "standby" for a year (plus financial reasons).
What I need from you is guidance on a study plan that will prepare me for this course!
I was thinking I would restudy some of the classes I took in a more mathematical way cause I am really interested to go deeper in mathematics, although the main point is preparing myself for theoretical physics.

So far I thought I would try the following textbooks:
Linear Algebra Done Right by Axler
Calculus by Michael Spivak
An Introduction to Mechanics by Kleppner and Kolenkow

Which topics should I consider studying? (I would appreciate any textbook recommendations or critics on the ones above)
I also need an Electromagnetism textbook since the course I am transfering to had this covered in the 1st year.

Thanks in advance!

 

[zhermes]

What physics/math have you already taken? What will you be taking when you start theoretical physics?

 

[physiker_192]

Hi,


welcome to the forums.

In my uni, the engineering physics n theoretical physics lectures are the same for the first year.

I am not so sure about your mathematics minor,, but I think you will be able to get a better advise here if you can provide a link to your study programme courses/lectures.

Additionally, you can just drop by the offices of some of your professors n chit chat with them (e.g. about books,, general study advise etc..).

 

[AlmenoFSigma]

Hey, thanks for the replies :)
I have done pretty much the 1st year of the theoretical physics course except for electromagnetism. Here is the program:

1st Semester:
Mechanics
Calculus I
Linear Algebra & Analytic Geometry I
Introduction to Programming

2nd Semester:
Electromagnetism
Physics Lab I
Calculus II
Chemistry

3rd Semester:
Waves and something I can't translate
Thermodynamics
Infinitesimal Analysis
Algebra I

4rd Semester:
Topics in Modern and Astrophysics
Physics Lab II
Option
Option

5th Semester:
Quantum Mechanics
Physics Lab III
Option
Option

6th Semester:
Option
Option
Option
Option

Options:
Computational and Statistical Physics
Electrodynamics and Relativity
Optics
Condensed Matter Physics
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Algebra II
Mathematical Models of Physics
Number Theory and Criptography
Linear Algebra & Analytical Geometry II
Complex Analysis and Fourier Analysis
Geometry
Differential Geometry
Grafs and Aplications
Introduction to Dynamical Systems

although the options are a little bit more restricted lol