I Need some advice about my physics undergraduate options

[Sahan]

I Need some advices about my physics undergraduate options.

I did my A/L s in biological science stream which means I didn't took Applied mathematics and pure mathematics as my A/L subjects. I learnt certain amount of calculus during Past few months and I actually like the subject and good at grasping most of the content.

Here's the problem, during past year or so I developed a strong interest in theoretical physics(Not in a specific Field , but Theoretical aspects of the physics in any branch of physics) , but since I didn't took Applied and pure mathematics for A/L subjects the university doesn't let me take Applied and pure mathematics related courses for my undergraduate degree. They have a course called Mathematical methods for physics specially for physics majors and I can take that.

My degree program is structured in a way that students have to select 3 subjects for the first 2 years of study and then specialise in one of those 2 subjects in final 2 years which will lead to a Bsc(Honours) degree.

I have 2 options at the moment
1) Take chemistry , Computer Science and physics as my subject combination. Bsc(Honours) in physics is a 120 credit course and if I take this as my subject combination I will have 74 physics credits (including a research project) , 26 Computer Science credits and 14 chemistry credits. ( And 6 - continuing education credits)

2) Do a foundation course or retake the A/L s with mathematics as a subject and then take applied mathematics , pure mathematics and physics as my subject combination. 74 physics credits , 40 mathematics credits (And 6 - continuing education credits). This is without doubt the best combination for someone interested in theoretical physics.
2nd option will take me another 2 years to start my undergraduate degree.

With the 1st option I'll have the opportunity to take ,
Introduction to Algebra, Expressions, Equations and Functions, Trigonometry, Limits, Permuta-tions and combinations, Series and sequences -- I , Series and sequences -- II , differentiation , Integration, Complex Numbers – I, Complex Numbers – II, Introduction to Vectors, Vector Analysis, Polar coordinate systems, Matrices and Determinants, Eigen vectors and Eigen values, Graphs , errors , first order ordinary differential equations , second order differential equations , partial differential equations , applications of ODEs and PDEs in physics, Fourier Series

All these content are included in a single course called Mathematical methods for physics which has a credit value of 3.

If i take the 2nd option I can take ,
Vector Algebra - 3 credits
Basic statistics - 2 credits
Differential equations - 3 credits
Mathematical logic and mathematical proofs - 3 credits
Foundations of mathematics - 3 credits
Vector spaces - 2 credits
Real analysis I - 3 credits
Real analysis II - 3 credits
Linear Algebra - 3 credits
Group theory I - 3 credits
Newtonian mechanics I - 3 credits
Applied linear Algebra and differential equations - 3 credits
Introduction to complex analysis - 3 credits
Complex analysis I - 3 credits If my passion for theoretical physics stays the same( I think it will) and I go with chemistry , computer Science and physics as my subject combination , will it be a disadvantage for me when applying to a good theoretical physics graduate program , because I have less amount of mathematics related courses in my bachelor's transcript? And any other suggestions you have?

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

I did my A/L s in biological science stream

What is A/L? What country will you be attending undergrad in? What country(ies) are you considering for your graduate degree so far?

2nd option will take me another 2 years to start my undergraduate degree.

Are finances an issue, or will it be okay for you to take 6 years to complete your undergraduate degree?

 

[Sahan]

Welcome to PF. What is A/L? What country will you be attending undergrad in? What country(ies) are you considering for your graduate degree so far?Are finances an issue, or will it be okay for you to take 6 years to complete your undergraduate degree?

A/L is a university entrance exam. It's similar to the London A/L in UK. I'm planning to enroll in a university in Sri Lanka for my undergraduate studies and there will be no financial issues. For graduate studies , good theoretical physics program in USA or Europe will be a great achievement for me.

 

[berkeman]

Thanks for the info; it is helpful.

I don't think that Chemistry or Biology studies will help you much in your pursuit of Physics, so I personally would try to steer away from them sooner rather than later. Computer Science may be a little help, but only for learning a language or two and studying Numerical Methods and similar techniques that you are likely to use in your Physics work.

If finances for undergrad are not an issue, I personally would invest the extra time to get back on a mostly Physics track in school.

Others will reply with more thoughts. Best of luck!

 

[Sahan]

Thanks for the info; it is helpful.

I don't think that Chemistry or Biology studies will help you much in your pursuit of Physics, so I personally would try to steer away from them sooner rather than later. Computer Science may be a little help, but only for learning a language or two and studying Numerical Methods and similar techniques that you are likely to use in your Physics work.

If finances for undergrad are not an issue, I personally would invest the extra time to get back on a mostly Physics track in school.

Others will reply with more thoughts. Best of luck!

Thanks a lot for this valuable input

 

[gmax137]

but since I didn't took Applied and pure mathematics for A/L subjects the university doesn't let me take Applied and pure mathematics related courses for my undergraduate degree

Even if you take the physics approach?

I will have 74 physics credits

Without taking the math classes I don't see how this will be possible. You should talk to the university advisors to make sure you know what the rules really are. I find it hard to believe that they will enroll you in physics but prevent you from taking the necessary math courses. Nobody enters university with this math background.

With the 1st option I'll have the opportunity to take ,
Introduction to Algebra, Expressions, Equations and Functions, Trigonometry, Limits, Permuta-tions and combinations, Series and sequences -- I , Series and sequences -- II , differentiation , Integration, Complex Numbers – I, Complex Numbers – II, Introduction to Vectors, Vector Analysis, Polar coordinate systems, Matrices and Determinants, Eigen vectors and Eigen values, Graphs , errors , first order ordinary differential equations , second order differential equations , partial differential equations , applications of ODEs and PDEs in physics, Fourier Series

All these content are included in a single course called Mathematical methods for physics which has a credit value of 3.

Are you saying everything in that first paragraph is done in one, 3-credit course? That is no way to learn this material. The course sounds to me like a review of things you have studied individually (as you outline in your "Option 2" description). The math methods course is usually (?) to show you the applications of the stuff you learned in all those math classes, and/or to show you useful details glossed over by the more rigorous math classes.

In my opinion, this Option 1 approach is not likely to be very successful in meeting your desire to go into graduate level physics.

I'm planning to enroll in a university in Sri Lanka for my undergraduate studies and there will be no financial issues.

First, make sure you understand the university rules, and then take the time to build the base you need.

 

[Sahan]

First, make sure you understand the university rules, and then take the time to build the base you need

I perfectly understand the university rules and the way that I mentioned is the structure of the program.

 

[jtbell]

A/L is a university entrance exam. It's similar to the London A/L in UK.

Is this what I've heard of as "A levels" in the UK? (I'm in the US so I know about them only by hearsay, e.g. by reading here.)

 

[Sahan]

Is this what I've heard of as "A levels" in the UK? (I'm in the US so I know about them only by hearsay, e.g. by reading here.)

Yes it is.

 

[gwnorth]

Option 1 does not sound like it provides sufficient math preparation without additional course work. If you're serious about wanting to apply to Theoretical Physics programs for graduate school it would appear that you're going to have to take Option 2. Since that requires a foundation at the high school level that you don't have, it would appear that your only option is to take them first.

Maybe you can look into whether or not it would be possible to complete the 2 math courses back to back in 1 year rather than taking them over the 2 years that following the regular high school calendar would require. Perhaps there are online options that would allow you to do that.

 

[Sahan]

Option 1 does not sound like it provides sufficient math preparation without additional course work. If you're serious about wanting to apply to Theoretical Physics programs for graduate school it would appear that you're going to have to take Option 2. Since that requires a foundation at the high school level that you don't have, it would appear that your only option is to take them first.

Maybe you can look into whether or not it would be possible to complete the 2 math courses back to back in 1 year rather than taking them over the 2 years that following the regular high school calendar would require. Perhaps there are online options that would allow you to do that.

What about doing a theoretical physics masters after the bachelor's degree? I think it will be easier to get into a Theoretical physics masters program compared to a PhD and then use both the masters and bachelor's degree as resources to land a good TP graduate program. Is this realistic?

 

[gwnorth]

The program you've described (Option 1) in my opinion does not provide sufficient mathematical foundation to be a competitive applicant for a research master's in Theoretical Physics either. I get the sense that it's not really designed with prospective graduate applicants in mind.