Courses Which undergrad courses are essential to graduate study success?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on an undergraduate student planning to transfer to UW-Madison for nuclear engineering while also considering a secondary major in physics. The student expresses uncertainty about their interests and views the physics major as a way to keep future options open, particularly regarding graduate school. They note that UW-Madison has lenient requirements for the physics degree, which include basic physics courses and an advanced lab, but they question whether this minimal coursework will adequately prepare them for graduate studies and the physics GRE subject test. The student seeks advice on which additional courses, such as upper-level E&M, Statistical Mechanics, Classical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics, would be necessary to ensure proper preparation for graduate school and the GRE.
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Hello,

I am an undergrad planning on transferring to UW-Madison for nuclear engineering and will also likely pick up a secondary major in physics.

The physics major is more of a safety, because I don't know what I am really interested in at this point... Having both leaves options open.

Being that I am doing this to "keep options open", the idea of graduate school is obviously looming in my head.

The reason for this post is that UW-Madison has VERY lenient requirements to fulfill for their physics degree.

All they require is that you take General Physics I and II (Mechanics, and E&M), Modern Physics, take an advanced lab (which is covered by a Nuclear Engineering lab I will have to take), and 9 other credits in upperclassman (300+) courses.

9 credits is essentially 3 classes.

Having a second major seems pointless to me if it does not qualify you for graduate studies or prepare you fully for the physics GRE subject test.


Will these bare-minimums do this?
If so, which courses are needed?
If not...which courses are needed?

Thanks,
Anonymous
 
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Upper-level E&M, Statistical Mechanics, Classical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics would be the obvious courses I'd consider "necessary" for graduate studies...
 
would you say that those would adequately prepare someone for the GRE, though?

What, in addition to that, would you say could be important?
 
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