Upper Division E&M: Can I Handle It?

[hitmeoff]

So I kinda got painted into a corner this upcoming quarter. I am trying to do a Math/Physics double major and with all the req's for both majors, I pretty much got no time to be taking easy quarters (unless I want to waste time going to school an extra year. I am 31 y/o, I still want to do grad school, so no...there is no more 'taking my time').

With a few scheduling conflicts, I couldn't find/fit an extra math class for winter, so I decided to enroll in the first quarter of upper division E and M.

Heres the thing: I took lower division E and M over the summer, I have not taken the first quarter of upper division classical mechanics, nor have I taken the first quarter of lower division modern physics (quantum and special relativity). Is upper div E and M doable for me? The pre-reqs only require Multi-Var calc, Math Methods for Physics and lower div E and M of which I've done all three.

My schedule would look like this:
Upper Div Linear Algebra II
Abstract Algebra I
Lower Div Modern Physics I
Lower Div Experimental Physics Lab II (basically a experimental techniques lab)
and of course Upper Div Electromagnetic Theory I

Does this sound like a doable scenerio? I should mention that I am retaking Abstract Algebra (had to drop it due to severe illness this past quarter).

 

[Monocles]

As long as you're comfortable with vector calculus you'll be fine. It's all reasonably straightforward as long as you are buddy-buddy with div, grad, and curl.

 

[hitmeoff]

As long as you're comfortable with vector calculus you'll be fine. It's all reasonably straightforward as long as you are buddy-buddy with div, grad, and curl.

Yeah, I am solid with it now. I took Multi-Var calc last fall, then took Math Methods (with Boas' text) over the summer which was pretty much a crash course on the first two years of Uni math, which included vector calc, so I'm pretty much up to date on that stuff.

 

[ies0716]

E&M is totally doable with your background. I took it as an EE major and I also only had the first semester of modern physics and no classical mechanics or any other upper-division physics classes. I got an A in the class and actually did better than some of the physics majors! I will warn you though, that while the problems don't require any math higher than vector calc and linear algebra/diff eq, they are often extremely long, complex, and time-consuming. Expect to take at least 10 hours to finish a homework assignment with 4-5 problems (if you're very good at vector calc and generally mathematically competent) or as many as 30-40 hours per assignment (if you struggle).

 

[hitmeoff]

E&M is totally doable with your background. I took it as an EE major and I also only had the first semester of modern physics and no classical mechanics or any other upper-division physics classes. I got an A in the class and actually did better than some of the physics majors! I will warn you though, that while the problems don't require any math higher than vector calc and linear algebra/diff eq, they are often extremely long, complex, and time-consuming. Expect to take at least 10 hours to finish a homework assignment with 4-5 problems (if you're very good at vector calc and generally mathematically competent) or as many as 30-40 hours per assignment (if you struggle).

Hahaha...after having plowed through some of these abstract algebra problems, I am no longer fazed by marathon problems.