Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Interdisciplinary Science, BS (Physics)


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About the Program

The interdisciplinary science major is designed to provide College of Science students with a broad base in the sciences. By combining a primary area of science study, an interdisciplinary science core, a supporting area of academic interest and the core curriculum shared by all College of Science programs, students explore how the disciplines of science come together to identify and solve scientific challenges. Students customize the major by selecting a departmental or interdepartmental primary area based in science and a supporting area that complements or enhances the primary area. This supporting area may be an approved minor from any college or school at the University or a concentration of 18 credits of courses with a unifying theme. There is a primary area representing each department in the College of Science, however, cross-disciplinary areas may be explored and added as appropriate. With the help of either a faculty member or an academic advisor, students are encouraged to petition for approval of their supporting area.

The Interdisciplinary Science Major is designed to give a student a broad base in the sciences with more depth in a Primary Area of Science and a Supporting Area, usually outside of Science. The Core courses are common across the major but the student customizes the major by selecting a departmental or interdepartmental Primary Area based in Science and a Supporting Area which may come from any college or school at the University. There is a Primary Area representing each department in the College of Science and cross-disciplinary areas will be explored and added as appropriate. Several Supporting Areas will be suggested and a student may petition for approval of others.

Students completing the interdisciplinary science major have gone on to a variety of careers - some in, and others out of, the world of science. These careers include medicine, lay and other advanced-study professions, scientific sales, technical and scientific writing, computer programming and engineering.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Curriculum and Degree Requirements for College of Science


A College of Science degree is conferred when a student successfully completes all requirements in their degree program.  Students will complete coursework or approved experiential learning activities to meet the following three degree components:

  1. Major
  2. Science Core Curriculum
  3. Electives

Students may use any of the following options to meet College of Science degree requirements:

  • Purdue Coursework
  • Ap, IB, and CLEP credit.  The use of AP and IB coursework varies between College of Science degree plans.
  • Transfer Credit. Students should consult the Admissions Transfer Credit Resource page for all available transfer options.

College of Science degree programs vary widely in their approval and use of the proceeding options and thus students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their academic advisors and to regularly consult their MyPurduePlan to view the use of each option in their degree plan. 


Most College of Science degree programs contain elective credits students may use to pursue courses that relate to their interests or which support their major area of study. The elective area of a degree plan may also be used to complete minors, second majors and certificates such as the Entrepreneurial Certificate. With the exception of courses on the No Count List, any Purdue course may be used to meet the elective area of a student’s degree plan.

College of Science Core Requirements

All Students starting Purdue University Fall semester, 2007 or later are required to pursue the 2007 Science Core curriculum.

The College of Science Core Curriculum requires the completion of approved coursework and/or experiential learning opportunities in the following academic areas:

Earning Core Curricular Requirements through Experience

Students may meet selected core curriculum requirements through approved experiential learning opportunities. Interested students should contact their academic advisor for more information on this option and incorporating experiential learning into their four-year program of study. For more information on earning requirements through experience, please click here.

Departmental/Program Major Courses (86-109 credits)


Required Interdisciplinary Core Courses (68-78 credits)


Required Biology Courses (7-8 credits)


Required Chemistry Selective Courses (5-10 credits)


Required Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science Selective Courses (3 credits)


Required Mathematics Courses (8-10 credits)


Required Physics Courses (8 credits)


Required Physics Primary Area Courses (13-14 credits)


Required Supporting Area Courses (18 credits)


MUST BE APPROVED BY COLLEGE.

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (18-31 credits)


  • Calculus I Option - (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) ♦
  • Calculus Option II - (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) ♦
  •  

  • (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) ♦ or
  • (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) ♦ or
  • (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) ♦
  • Language I Option* (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
  • Language II Option* (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
  • Language III/Culture/Diversity Option* (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
  • Technical Writing Option and Technical Presenting Option (Select courses COULD satisfy Oral Communication for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00-6.00
  • Laboratory Science I Option (within major) (satisfies Science Selective for core)
  • Laboratory Science II Option (within major) (satisfies Science Selective for core)
  • General Education I Option (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science or Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education II Option (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science or Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education III Option  (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science or Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • STAT 35000 - Introduction To Statistics
  • Computing Option (within major)
  • Teambuilding and Collaboration Experience* - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
  • Great Issues Option - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Multidisciplinary Experience* (Select courses COULD satisfies Science, Technology, and Society Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 3.00

    *Requirement may be met with a zero credit experiential learning option. See your advisor for more information.

Electives (11-34 credits)


University Core Requirements


  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning

For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.

Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


 

Program Requirements


15-18 Credits


15-17 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


15-17 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


  • PHYS 30000+  Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education I Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Computing Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • or Technical Presentation - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Teambuilding Experience - Credit Hours: 0.00

15-16 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • PHYS 30000+  Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Chemistry Selective I - Credit Hours: 4.00 - 5.00
  • General Education II Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

16-17 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • EAPS Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Chemistry Selective II or Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00 - 5.00
  • General Education III Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

16-17 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • STAT Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Multidisciplinary Experience - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
  • Biology Selective I - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • Technical Writing or Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 2.00

15-18 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Great Issue Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Biology Selective II - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • Biology Selective II or Elective - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 2.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 6.00

15-18 Credits


Note


2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.

Foreign Language Courses


Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program. 

For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

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