Welcome and congratulations on your acceptance!
Spring 2023 Golden Bear Welcome is Saturday, May 6 on the UC Berkeley campus.
Requirements for the Physics Major
Lower Division Requirements and Recommendations
- Lower Division requirements should be completed by the time you transfer to UC Berkeley
- Many transfer students take either Physics 89 or Physics 77 during the summer or fall semester for additional foundation:
° Physics 89 (optional if you’ve completed the Math 54-equivalent requirement): Mathematical Physics
° Physics 77 (optional): Computational Techniques in Physics (Python-focused)
Upper Division Requirements (8 courses)
- Analytic Mechanics (105), 4 units
- Quantum Mechanics I (137A), 4 units
- Quantum Mechanics II (137B), 4 units
- Electromagnetism and Optics (110A), 4 units
- Modern Physics and Advanced Electrical Laboratory I (111A), 4 units
- Modern Physics and Advanced Electrical Laboratory II (111B), 3 units
- Statistical and Thermal Physics (112), 4 units
- A Physics Upper Division Elective Course, 3 or 4 units
Upper Division Recommended Courses
- Foundational Course for Physical Science Transfer Students (Physics 153), 1 unit
- Berkeley Connect (Physics 198BC), 1 unit
Other points of interest for incoming students
- Tutoring is available for most physics courses
- Mentoring and social & academic events are offered by physics student groups
- Research opportunities for students; learn more about faculty research here
- Physics advisors support academic planning & navigating post-Cal plans
- Students pursue physics grad school (PhD) or various technical career paths
- ~300 declared physics majors + ~200 intended physics majors
Berkeley Pre-Core Transfer Summer Program (Physics 198)
The Pre-Core Transfer Summer Program is a preparatory program for incoming Astrophysics, Physics and Earth and Planetary Science (EPS) transfer students to develop and bolster the technical skills needed to take on upper division physics, astrophysics, EPS, & STEM-related courses at Berkeley, as well as to build a strong sense of community. Students will be introduced to campus resources, learn about opportunities in research, industry, and academia, and become acquainted with student life at Berkeley.
Physics and Astrophysics students enrolled in this program must also concurrently enroll in Physics 77 or Physics 89 during the same summer session.
Follow the enrollment instructions on the Pre-Core website.