The mission of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics is to provide an education in fundamental areas of physics, including classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermal physicsstatistical mechanics, and laboratory, data analysis and computational skills, while offering maximum flexibility to pursue other interests. Compared to the BS degree, there are 27 fewer required credit hours of physics courses, including 3 fewer advanced laboratory courses. This makes the BA degree particularly attractive to students who wish to combine a study of physics with the pursuit of other interests or customize their physics degree with courses of their own choosing. Such students often complete a second major in the arts, humanities or social sciences and they may apply to a professional program in medicine, law or business after completing their BA. Understanding the scientific enterprise can be crucial in business, finance, medicine, law, the media, literature, the arts, general education, government, and any number of other pursuits.The required physics courses provide exposure to a broad range of physical phenomena as well as training in the scientific method, techniques of problem solving, data analysis, quantitative approaches to physical problems, and experimental procedures. Although less intense than the BS program, the BA program can, with a judicious choice of electives, provide an excellent preparation for graduate study in physics. At the same time, a reduced requirement for technical courses in the physics BA program provides an opportunity to explore other disciplines in depth.
