How much math do you need for graduate study in physics?

[inknit]

Are these math classes enough?

Calc II
Calc III
Ordinary Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Basic Real Analysis
Survey of Algebra
Advanced Calculus
Partial Differential Equations

 

[eri]

That's more than I had when starting physics grad school, although the actual math classes I was missing (calc III, advanced calc, real algebra) were covered at least in part by two semesters of 'math for physicists'.

 

[Klockan3]

That's more than I had when starting physics grad school, although the actual math classes I was missing (calc III, advanced calc, real algebra) were covered at least in part by two semesters of 'math for physicists'.

You can get a major in physics without calc III?

 

[inknit]

I wish I can take more math, but I don't have enough room.

I've heard you need really advanced math classes like algebraic topology, and homology theory to be competitive at top schools. Is this true?

 

[NobodySpecial]

I managed to get through a couple of postdocs in experimental physics by knowing SOH,CAH,TOE

 

[Daverz]

I wish I can take more math, but I don't have enough room.

I've heard you need really advanced math classes like algebraic topology, and homology theory to be competitive at top schools. Is this true?

I don't know where anyone would fit those courses in, and they also have prerequisites of their own. Usually you'd have to pick those up by self-study if your research requires it.

 

[Daverz]

Are these math classes enough?

Calc II
Calc III
Ordinary Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Basic Real Analysis
Survey of Algebra
Advanced Calculus
Partial Differential Equations

Is a "math methods for physical sciences" course available? You'll want to pick up things like contour integration and Fourier integrals somewhere. If time is limited, you could skip the algebra course without much loss. Real analysis is useful for developing "mathematical maturity", but is not essential.

 

[inknit]

Doesn't PDE cover the topics you mentioned?

 

[inknit]

Btw, how much chemistry should you know? I'm not completely illiterate on chemistry subjects, but I haven't taken a single chemistry in course in college.

 

[NobodySpecial]

"Physics is the only real science. The rest are just stamp collecting."
-- Ernest Rutherford

knowledge of chemistry isn't required for a lot of physics - and the bits where it is you normally need a deeper knowledge than you would get in chem101

 

[Nabeshin]

Btw, how much chemistry should you know? I'm not completely illiterate on chemistry subjects, but I haven't taken a single chemistry in course in college.

The best proxy for this type of thing is just see what your university requires/recommends for its physics students. Chances are, these requirements are fairly uniform across the board, so there cannot be too much difference between one university to another. After all, the physics major exists primarily to prepare students for PhD programs, so I should think they know best what mathematics courses (or chemistry, biology, computer programming, or whatever else) are needed to succeed. Just look at your course website and stop worrying.