Programs How could I get Bachelor degree in physics?

AI Thread Summary
Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in physics while studying computer science is challenging, and self-teaching to the level of a degree is considered highly difficult. No reputable institution offers a degree solely based on passing a comprehensive exam, as a degree typically requires extensive coursework and lab experience. The discussion suggests two main paths: switching to a physics major or exploring a computational physics program that may align with computer science studies. Additionally, while anyone can take the Physics GRE subject test, it primarily serves as proof of knowledge rather than a substitute for a degree. Ultimately, enrolling in a formal physics program is recommended to gain the necessary credentials and education.
ultrasmart
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Hi, I'm a computer science student (2nd year). and I LOVE physics and hope to get a bachelor degree in it. because It's very hard to be a physics and computer science student at the same time, I decided to study physics when I'm not busy in studying computer science. So, is there any institute, university, college or any academy that could give a bachelor in physics without being a student in it?
In other words, I want to take a comprehensive physics exam and then have a bachelor in physics as I'm real physics undergraduate.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm not aware of any such exam, and I think that you are probably underestimating the level of difficulty in upper-division physics courses. To self teach up through a Bachelor's degree level would be quite an astounding feat.

In my department, physics majors need to take (at a bare minimum) the Intro Sequence, Waves and Optics, Modern Physics, Mechanics II, E&M II, Quantum I, II and III, Statistical Mechanics, and two advanced Labs. Math requirements are Diff EQ, Advanced Calc II, and 3 additional upper-division math courses.

The two solutions, if you really want a physics degree, are:
1) Switch into physics, or double major. I imagine a double major would take quite some time to complete, so that may not be feasible for you.

2) I'm actually a Computational Physics major. If your school has multiple physics degree plans, they might have something similar that might interest you. The requirements for me are basically the above listed Physics courses, minus one of the labs and Quantum III, but plus a Computational Physics course and an Electronic Techniques course. I have to take 4 core computation/programming classes. The upper-division math requirement is changed to 2 upper-division "Math or Scientific Computation" courses. Since your only a 2nd year student, you could transfer into a program like this (at your school or maybe even another) and likely still graduate on time or close to it.

Edit: I should have mentioned that I believe that anyone can take the Physics GRE subject test. Unless you wanted to apply to grad school though, I am not sure it would benefit you substantially, other than serving as proof of your knowledge. See:http://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about/content/physics
 
Last edited:
Thank you very much bossman27 ^_^... You really gave very useful information.

Isn't there anyone that want to give further info??
 
Last edited:
ultrasmart said:
So, is there any institute, university, college or any academy that could give a bachelor in physics without being a student in it?
In other words, I want to take a comprehensive physics exam and then have a bachelor in physics as I'm real physics undergraduate.

No reputable school would give a degree purely for completing a comprehensive exam. No exam is equivalent to four years of classwork, sorry.

(At best, you *might* be able to place out of a few lower division courses.)
 
Defo not in physics
Labs is like a quarter of the degree, not to mention the final research project
 
ultrasmart said:
because It's very hard to be a physics and computer science student at the same time, I decided to study physics when I'm not busy in studying computer science.
...
In other words, I want to take a comprehensive physics exam and then have a bachelor in physics as I'm real physics undergraduate.

If you plan on studying physics in your spare time to the extent that you have the same knowledge as someone with a BS degree, why not simply enroll in a physics BS program?

It seems that you'd like to get the same credentials (a BS) without putting in the same amount of work (by studying in your "spare time") - which isn't how it works.
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

Similar threads

Replies
16
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
4K
Back
Top