Typical Plans of Study

The typical plans of study for the BS and BA can be found on the following pages.

• Typical Plan of Study for Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Physics
• Typical Plan of Study for Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics

The B.A. is typically for students who pursue careers in physics and astronomy that are not centered around performing research or industrial applications, including fields such as science policy, outreach and engagement, technical writing, or journalism and media.

The B.S. is typically for students who pursue careers in research and/or industry, working hands-on in fields including academia, engineering, technology and software development, defense and aviation, or data science and analysis.

There are a number of Areas of Emphasis (AoE) you can choose from to prepare you for your career of choice. The Professional Preparation area is for students who wish to attend graduate school and pursue a career in research. The Physics Teaching Area is for students who wish to pursue a career in physics education. All of the other areas — Applied Physics, Biophysics and Medical Physics, Computational Physics, Materials Science, and Space Physics — are designed to prepare you to enter the industrial workforce upon graduation.

All undergraduates are assigned a faculty adviser to answer questions you have and help guide you through the program.  Questions? Email us at physicsugradadvising@mail.wvu.edu.