Physics
Welcome! Skidmore Physics invites you to study science in a true liberal arts environment. We are excited to offer new laboratories, a new machine shop, and research programs in experimental and theoretical physics and astronomy. We also have dual engineering programs with Dartmouth College and Clarkson University. Since 1998, Skidmore has offered merit scholarships in science and mathematics.
Physics Major and Minor at Skidmore
THE PHYSICS MAJOR
Students majoring in physics are required to:
For a physics major combined with an engineering program, see below for additional requirements.
THE PHYSICS MINOR
Students minoring in physics are required to complete six courses: PY207, 208, 210, and three elective courses in physics, two of which are at the 300 level. These electives must be approved by the student's physics advisor before they can be applied toward the minor.
For course listings, please see the Skidmore College Catalog.
Engineering Programs in Affiliation With Other Colleges
3/2 Program with Dartmouth College
Through a cooperative arrangement with the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, students majoring in mathematics, computer science or physics at Skidmore may earn both the bachelor of arts degree from Skidmore at the end of the fourth year and, at the end of the fifth year, the bachelor of engineering degree from Dartmouth.
An additional one or two years may lead to the master of engineering and/or the master of business administration degree from Dartmouth.
REQUIREMENTS
A student entering this combined program must major in mathematics or physics, must have a GPA of at least 3.30 in science and mathematics, and must have the approval of the Engineering Advisory Committee.
Students interested in this program must have the necessary course background before entering Dartmouth in the junior year. Therefore it is desirable to select the program at the earliest possible date, preferably during the first year, to ensure meeting the prerequisite requirements. The Engineering Advisory Committee does not recommend students accelerate in the program.
At the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year, the student shall apply to the Engineering Advisory Committee for consideration. The Committee will recommend to Dartmouth only those students whom it believes are likely to profit from the program.
Outlined below is the course of study required for the 3/2 program comprising first, second, and senior years at Skidmore and the junior and fifth year at Dartmouth.
Mathematics/Engineering Major
Physics/Engineering Major
First Year
Second Year
Junior Year at Dartmouth
During the junior year, while in residence at Thayer School, Dartmouth College, students are required to take:
Seven additional courses, including engineering core courses, and engineering, science and/or mathematics electives should be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor at Skidmore and with the Thayer School at Dartmouth.
Senior Year (Mathematics/Engineering)
Senior Year (Physics/Engineering)
Fifth Year at Dartmouth
During this year engineering courses are available that will allow the student to concentrate in a particular area of engineering science and/or to prepare for graduate study in advanced engineering or business. These courses should be selected in consultation with the student's Dartmouth advisor.
For more information on Dartmouth's program, see the Dual-Degree Program Web site.
3 + 2 Program with Clarkson University
The 3 + 2 Program in Engineering, offered in cooperation with the School of Engineering at Clarkson University, combines three years of study at Skidmore with two years of additional study at Clarkson. During their senior year in absentia, while continuing their studies at Clarkson, students fulfill the bachelor of arts requirements (including major and all-college requirements) and receive their degrees from Skidmore at the end of the fourth year of the program. Upon successful completion of the additional year of prescribed study, qualified students will be eligible for the bachelor of science degree in engineering from Clarkson.
REQUIREMENTS
A student entering this combined program must major in either mathematics, chemistry or physics, must have a GPA of at least 3.30 in science and mathematics, have the approval of the Engineering Advisory Committee, and be accepted for admission at Clarkson. Students interested in this program must have the necessary course background before entering Clarkson in the senior year. To ensure meeting the prerequisite requirements, students should take the following courses during their first year at Skidmore.
Courses for the sophomore and junior years at Skidmore will be chosen by the student in consultation with the engineering coordinator, based on the student's engineering interests (e.g., electrical, mechanical, civil).
At the beginning of the junior year, the student applies to the Engineering Advisory Committee for consideration. The committee will recommend only those students it believes are likely to profit from the program and who have met all prerequisite requirements.
Welcome! Skidmore Physics invites you to study science in a true liberal arts environment. We are excited to offer new laboratories, a new machine shop, and research programs in experimental and theoretical physics and astronomy. We also have dual engineering programs with Dartmouth College and Clarkson University. Since 1998, Skidmore has offered merit scholarships in science and mathematics.
Physics Major and Minor at Skidmore
THE PHYSICS MAJOR
Students majoring in physics are required to:
- Fulfill the general College requirements.
- Complete the following:
- a minimum of ten courses in physics including PY207, 208, 210, 341, 345, 346, 348, 373 or 374, and two additional courses from among PY211, 212, 213, 351, 352 or 399.
- MA111, 113, 200, 202, and 270.
- a minimum of ten courses in physics including PY207, 208, 210, 341, 345, 346, 348, 373 or 374, and two additional courses from among PY211, 212, 213, 351, 352 or 399.
For a physics major combined with an engineering program, see below for additional requirements.
THE PHYSICS MINOR
Students minoring in physics are required to complete six courses: PY207, 208, 210, and three elective courses in physics, two of which are at the 300 level. These electives must be approved by the student's physics advisor before they can be applied toward the minor.
For course listings, please see the Skidmore College Catalog.
Engineering Programs in Affiliation With Other Colleges
3/2 Program with Dartmouth College
Through a cooperative arrangement with the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, students majoring in mathematics, computer science or physics at Skidmore may earn both the bachelor of arts degree from Skidmore at the end of the fourth year and, at the end of the fifth year, the bachelor of engineering degree from Dartmouth.
An additional one or two years may lead to the master of engineering and/or the master of business administration degree from Dartmouth.
REQUIREMENTS
A student entering this combined program must major in mathematics or physics, must have a GPA of at least 3.30 in science and mathematics, and must have the approval of the Engineering Advisory Committee.
Students interested in this program must have the necessary course background before entering Dartmouth in the junior year. Therefore it is desirable to select the program at the earliest possible date, preferably during the first year, to ensure meeting the prerequisite requirements. The Engineering Advisory Committee does not recommend students accelerate in the program.
At the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year, the student shall apply to the Engineering Advisory Committee for consideration. The Committee will recommend to Dartmouth only those students whom it believes are likely to profit from the program.
Outlined below is the course of study required for the 3/2 program comprising first, second, and senior years at Skidmore and the junior and fifth year at Dartmouth.
Mathematics/Engineering Major
Physics/Engineering Major
First Year
- MA 111 Calculus I
- MA 113 Calculus II
- PY 207 General Physics I
- PY 208 General Physics II
- SSP 100 Scribner Seminar
- EN 105 Writing Seminar II, or a writing-intensive course
- Foreign language or breadth component courses
Second Year
- CS 106 Computer Science I or CH 105 Chemical Principles I
- MA 200 Linear Algebra
- MA 202 Calculus III
- MA 270 Differential Equations (for physics major)
- MC 215 Mathematical Reasoning and Discrete Structures (for mathematics major)
- PY 210 Foundations of Modern Physics (for physics majors)
- Physics Elective
Junior Year at Dartmouth
During the junior year, while in residence at Thayer School, Dartmouth College, students are required to take:
- ENGS 21 Introduction to Engineering
- ENGS 22 Systems I
Seven additional courses, including engineering core courses, and engineering, science and/or mathematics electives should be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor at Skidmore and with the Thayer School at Dartmouth.
Senior Year (Mathematics/Engineering)
- MA 303 Advanced Calculus
- MA 319 Algebra I
- MA 376 Seminar
- Two additional mathematics courses (at least one of which is at the 300 level) selected in consultation with the student's advisor.
Senior Year (Physics/Engineering)
- PY 341 Advanced Theory and Methods in Physics Research
- PY 345 Mechanics
- PY 346 Electricity and Magnetism (equivalent to ENGS 23)
- PY 348 Quantum Mechanics
- PY 373 Senior Research in Physics
- One additional physics course selected in consultation with the student's advisor.
- Elective
Fifth Year at Dartmouth
During this year engineering courses are available that will allow the student to concentrate in a particular area of engineering science and/or to prepare for graduate study in advanced engineering or business. These courses should be selected in consultation with the student's Dartmouth advisor.
For more information on Dartmouth's program, see the Dual-Degree Program Web site.
3 + 2 Program with Clarkson University
The 3 + 2 Program in Engineering, offered in cooperation with the School of Engineering at Clarkson University, combines three years of study at Skidmore with two years of additional study at Clarkson. During their senior year in absentia, while continuing their studies at Clarkson, students fulfill the bachelor of arts requirements (including major and all-college requirements) and receive their degrees from Skidmore at the end of the fourth year of the program. Upon successful completion of the additional year of prescribed study, qualified students will be eligible for the bachelor of science degree in engineering from Clarkson.
REQUIREMENTS
A student entering this combined program must major in either mathematics, chemistry or physics, must have a GPA of at least 3.30 in science and mathematics, have the approval of the Engineering Advisory Committee, and be accepted for admission at Clarkson. Students interested in this program must have the necessary course background before entering Clarkson in the senior year. To ensure meeting the prerequisite requirements, students should take the following courses during their first year at Skidmore.
- MA 111 Calculus I
- MA 113 Calculus II
- CH 105 Chemical Principles I
- CH 106 Chemical Principles II
- PY 207 General Physics I
- PY 208 General Physics II
- SSP 100 Scribner Seminar
- EN 105 Writing Seminar II, or a writing-intensive course
Courses for the sophomore and junior years at Skidmore will be chosen by the student in consultation with the engineering coordinator, based on the student's engineering interests (e.g., electrical, mechanical, civil).
At the beginning of the junior year, the student applies to the Engineering Advisory Committee for consideration. The committee will recommend only those students it believes are likely to profit from the program and who have met all prerequisite requirements.