Information For Prospective Undergraduates

The Department of Physics at Cornell offers an education hard to find at any other university.  From award-winning faculty to research and experimental facilities such as the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source and Cornell Center for Nanoscale Systems, your education at Cornell will include classroom and laboratory experiences that are second to none.

Prospective First-Year Students

Students interested in applying for admission to Cornell University can indicate their desire to major in physics on their application to the College of Arts and Sciences. Information on applying to Cornell can be found at the College of Arts and Sciences and the main Cornell Admissions site. 

Please email Professor Michael Niemack, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, at physicsdus@cornell.edu with any questions about the Physics Major at Cornell. 

Current Cornell Students

Current students meeting the entrance requirements for the major [two physics courses (and the associated mathematics) with a grade of B- or better] can apply to the major by filling out the Physics Major application.

Students should then arrange to meet with the Physics Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), Professor Michael Niemack during office hours, or by emailing physicsdus@cornell.edu.

Students who are not yet ready to join the major, but would like to find ways to become involved with Cornell Physics, are encouraged to join the Society of Physics Students.

Course Requirements at a Glance

The Physics Core – All physics majors must complete a core of physics and mathematics courses as follows:

Three-semester introductory physics sequence plus special relativity:

Either:
PHYS 1112 – Physics I: Mechanics (students who take PHYS 1112 must either complete PHYS 2216 (1cr) or take PHYS 1116 to learn Special Relativity).
PHYS 1110 – Intro. to Experimental Physics 
PHYS 2213 – Physics II: Heat/Electromagnetism
PHYS 2214 – Physics III: Oscillations, Waves, and Quantum Physics
PHYS 2216 – Introduction to Special Relativity

Or its more analytic “augmented” version:
PHYS 1116 – Physics I: Mechanics and Special Relativity
PHYS 1110 – Intro. to Experimental Physics 
PHYS 2217 – Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2218 – Physics III: Waves and Thermal Physics
PHYS 2210 – Exploring Experimental Physics 

Five upper-level courses beyond the three-semester introductory sequence, consisting of:

To learn more about the Physics Department and major, read the First-Year Brochure.  (Updates to the major requirements have been made since the First-Year Brochure was printed.  Please refer to the updated Major Requirements sheet here). 

You may fill out the visit request form here to schedule a visit.  We do not host weekend visits.  We require two weeks from the submission date of your visit form to plan your visit.