Physical Science Major

  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Departments & Programs
  4. Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  5. Academic Program
  6. Physical Science Major

This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2024-25.

Adviser B. Parks

Students taking courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics who do not wish to major in only one of them should consider a physical science interdisciplinary major.

Major Requirements

The major consists of thirteen courses divided among the three subjects (chemistry, math, and physics) as follows:

Required Courses

It is recommended that students complete these by the end of the sophomore year.

Additional Courses

Students also complete five more courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, or astronomy, which must be approved by the major adviser:

  • One must be a chemistry course
  • One must be a physics or astronomy course
  • Three must be at the 300 level or higher

Stipulations

  • Students who receive Colgate credit, either through advanced placement or through transfer credit, for any courses that would normally count toward the major are allowed to apply that credit toward the major.
  • The requirement for completing CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 may be replaced by completion of CHEM 111. Students who are placed by the mathematics department into a higher-level calculus course are exempted from the requirement for a lower level calculus course(s) (e.g. a student placed into MATH 162 is exempted from the requirement to complete MATH 161). Students who enroll in PHYS 232 without receiving credit for PHYS 131 are required to enroll in one additional physics class beyond those required for the major.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division

For more information about the division, please visit the  catalog page.