Advice for Physics Students

See these slides from September 2019, which cover all four Natural Sciences majors (Physics, Math, Biology, Chemistry) in a coherent way. The advice is also relevant to a number of related majors (see slide 4).

Engr 1 ("Want to Be an Engineer?”) is a one-unit course that was offered for the first time in Autumn 2018 and is designed for any student interested in learning more about the range of STEM majors at Stanford. The course introduces students to all the majors in the School of Engineering, all the majors in Stanford Earth, and many of the STEM majors in the School of Humanities and Sciences. 

Each summer, we present a SSEA module on a challenging but interesting physics topic (angular momentum, torques, gyroscopes, etc.). This usually includes a follow-up lunch with students interested in Physics or Engineering Physics. 

We also meet with the SSEA cohort to answer questions about introductory physics and math sequences, and the Physics placement diagnostic.

The Physics Placement Diagnostic is required if you intend to enroll in PHYS 40 or PHYS 41 or PHYS 45 or PHYS 61 and have never taken an entry-level Physics course at Stanford -- i.e., you have not taken at least one of PHYS 21, 23, 25, 41, 41A/E, 43, 45, 61, 63, 65.

Students can email choosingphysics [at] stanford.edu with questions on placement, suitable starting point, AP/IB/transfer credit, etc.

The STEM Roadmap to Your First Year 2020-2021  was designed by representatives from the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences. From the web page:

“Many paths lead successfully through Stanford's STEM majors. Because we know that students interested in math, science, and engineering may discover their academic home in many places across Stanford, the goal of this tool is to show some common plans to start a number of different STEM majors.”

Several changes to the current requirements for the Physics major and the Engineering Physics major take effect in Autumn quarter 2022. The changes and the motivation for each are described in these brief documents:

This pre-major advising lunch, which we do each Winter or Spring, is advertised to all the students in the Physics 40 series and PHYSICS 61, 71, 81, and more.  It is similar in content to the advising dinner in the Autumn, but without the alumni, extra faculty, and current students in attendance. And there is a bit more focus on requirements, etc.

Physics and Engineering Physics always arrange to have neighboring tables at the Majors Night organized by Academic Advising, staffed by faculty, staff and students who are on the UG Studies Committee, and members of the student groups (SUPS, PUWMAS, EPIC). For 2019/20, Majors Night will be held the evening of January 28, 2020.

Each Autumn, we schedule a pre-major advising dinner for prospective majors in Physics and Engineering Physics.  We invite instructors of the Physics 40 series and PHYSICS 61, 71, 81, the Undergraduate Studies Chair, the Physics Chair, co-directors of Engineering Physics, faculty advisors, SPS/PUWMAS/EPIC officers, and alumni who work in the local area to attend to help represent the Physics and Engineering Physics programs.   

The Peer Advisors webpage includes advising hours and bios for the current Peer Advisors, as well as a sampling of just a few of the topics you can ask the Peer Advisors about. 

Several changes to the current requirements for the Physics major and the Engineering Physics major will be implemented beginning in Autumn quarter 2022. The changes and the motivation for each are described in these brief documents:

See the recently updated sample plans for the start of the Physics and Engineering Physics majors for students matriculating in Autumn 2022 or later, and plans for Physics pathways.

Pre-major advising: Prof Patricia Burchat (burchat [at] stanford.edu), Chair of UG Advising in Physics, Co-Director of Engineering Physics

Advisors for Physics majors are listed below on this page. 

In addition to the description of the Engineering Physics requirements in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook (which is more complete and easier to parse than the Bulletin), see the recently updated sample plans for the start of the Physics and Engineering Physics majors for students matriculating in Autumn 2022 or later,  as well as the flowchart linked to this page.

See the Physics section of the Course Bulletin for requirements for the Physics major (including the Senior Thesis and Honors requirements) and the Physics minor.

Pre-major advising: Pat Burchat (Professor in Physics, burchat [at] stanford.edu), Mark Cappelli (Professor in Mechanical Engineering, cap [at] stanford.edu) 

Advisors for each specialty in Engineering Physics are listed on this page.

The Peer Advisors webpage includes advising hours and bios for the current Peer Advisors, as well as a sampling of just a few of the topics you can ask the Peer Advisors about. 

The Summer Research webpage contains resources for the Physics/AP/SLAC program, including a list of specific research opportunities at Stanford for the most recent summer, and a link to a compilation of opportunities outside Stanford.

Conferences for Students

Students may apply for a VPUE Conference Grant of up to $1,500, which supports students who have been accepted to present their own project results at a professional or scholarly conference.

The Undergraduate Resources page includes information on how students can apply for Physics Department support to attend a conference, if they are unable to secure other funding; see the application for funding for profeessional conference reimbursement.

Resources for students applying to graduate programs in physics-related fields (google doc)

The Peer Advisors webpage includes advising hours and bios for the current Peer Advisors, as well as a sampling of just a few of the topics you can ask the Peer Advisors about.