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Santa Cruz, CA

Physics / Physics is located in Santa Cruz, CA, in a small setting.

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University of California, Santa Cruz

4 year • Santa Cruz, CA

University of California, Santa Cruz is a public institution that was founded in 1965. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,502 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 2,000 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of California, Santa Cruz's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #82. Its in-state tuition and fees are $15,288; out-of-state tuition and fees are $47,862.

At the University of California, Santa Cruz, one of 10 schools in the state's university system, residence life can define a student's experience. Nearly 100 percent of freshmen live on campus and choose one of 10 residential colleges to join. These small groups have their own campus locations, as well as unique architecture and programming. Kresge College, for example, is home to an organic garden where students can take classes; students who are members of the College Nine community are often active in volunteer efforts and the college's Alternative Spring Break trips. Students living in residence halls may only have overnight guests 15 times a school year, for a maximum of three nights each visit. Students also have the option to reside in single-occupant recreational vehicles in the Camper Park, a unique community of students who live in university-maintained, home-like vehicles and share a common bathroom and lounge.

On campus, there are more than 25 miles of hiking and jogging trails, and more than 150 student clubs and organizations. Only about 1 percent of students are members of the school's small Greek system. The UC Santa Cruz sports teams are independent competitors in the NCAA's Division III. Athletes are cheered on by the Banana Slug, a nontraditional, yellow earthen creature that has been recognized among the best mascots in the country. For fun, students can tour Dead Central, a room full of Grateful Dead memorabilia donated by the band to UCSC, or explore the small beach town of Santa Cruz, located on Monterey Bay. There are rides and games on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and opportunities for swimming, sailing and kayaking on the bay. To get around, students can travel on the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District buses for free with school ID. For longer road trips, Monterey is 45 miles away, and San Francisco is a 75-mile trip.

In particular, this public research institution’s academic prowess looks to the skies. The school is nationally known for astronomy and space sciences programs. Other creative programs include a computer game design major, and UCSC was the first school in the University of California system to offer the degree. Female engineers are in especially good company at UCSC; the school is noted for offering one of the highest percentages of engineering graduate degrees to women. Notable alumni include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Priest, NPR broadcast producers Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson, known as The Kitchen Sisters, and romance novelist Jayne Ann Krentz, who often writes under the pseudonyms Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.

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• #82 in National Universities  (tie)
• #40 in Top Public Schools  (tie)
• #170 in Best Value Schools

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* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

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Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

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Room & Board

$18,785 (2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

*Average in-state cost after aid

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% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Psychology, General

Business/Managerial Economics

Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

Sociology, General

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

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Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

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Division of Graduate Studies

Welcome to UC Santa Cruz's Graduate Application Page

UC Santa Cruz

Applications are now open, apply for fall 2024 or summer 2024* graduate admissions  , before you begin.

Please  visit our Graduate Admissions website to learn more about:

• Our Available Graduate Programs
• Application Deadlines  
• Who to Contact About Application Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Only one application may be considered from each applicant within a given admission-processing period (winter through fall of the same calendar year). Simultaneous applications to multiple departments are not accepted, and any application processing fee paid for multiple applications will be forfeited.

• Accreditation
• Non-Discrimination Policy
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• Sexual Violence Prevention & Response

Application Deadlines

A list of all academic programs & application requirements is available through the Graduate Programs page . All materials must be received by the deadline date for the department to which you are applying. This includes the online application, letters of recommendation, test scores and transcripts.

The online application is available beginning October 1st (unless otherwise noted), and closes at 11:59 pm PST on the day of the program's deadline. Admission is for fall quarter only, there is no year-round admission.

If you can not view the table below, view the table in Google Docs ; you may also download this list as PDF (last updated 12/2023).

* The application for the Ph.D. program in Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics is maintained by the Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering. Applicants will choose the "Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering: Bioinformatics & Computational Biology" in the online graduate application. 

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Astronomy And Astrophysics

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Home / Academics / Graduate Program / For Prospective Students

Application Process

2023 First Year Students At the Automated Planet Finder Telescope with Professor Skemer

Application Materials and Deadlines : Application materials and detailed instructions are available online through the  UC Santa Cruz Graduate Division . Applications open on  October 1, 2023.  Applications are due  January 4, 2024. Applicants may check the status of their application online or by emailing the department graduate advisor at [email protected] .

For questions about the application process, please visit the UCSC Grad Admissions FAQ  site.

Fee Waiver: 

Applicants who do not qualify for a fee waiver through the application portal (including International Students) may apply directly to the Astronomy & Astrophysics Department. The department has a limited number of waivers available and will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis. 

Requirements and Instructions:

At a minimum, have completed, uploaded, and submitted the following items to your application: statement of purpose, personal history statement, statement of financial need, and your resume.

Have not yet paid for your application to the University. (we can not reimburse after the fact)

Requesting the fee waiver:

Domestic Students:

In the application portal, follow the directions for requesting a fee waiver.

If you are denied a fee waiver, please contact  [email protected]  to state why you are requesting a fee waiver and attach your statement of need. 

• The Statement of Financial Need should not exceed one page and should fully explain, in your own words, your need for financial assistance. Please also address personal resources and other fellowships or grant opportunities that you will pursue to help cover your graduate education expenses.

If you are granted a fee waiver by the department, we will provide additional directions for how to complete the fee waiver section in the application portal.

International Students:

International students are not eligible to request a fee waiver in the application portal.

Instead, contact  [email protected]  to state why you are requesting a fee waiver and attach your statement of need.

If you are granted a fee waiver, we will provide additional directions for how to complete the fee waiver section in the application portal.

NOTE: The Department is unlikely to grant a fee waiver to individuals for more than one application cycle.

Decision on fee waivers will be made right after our application deadline.

General Qualifications of the Applicants :  Each year we receive over 300 applications. Of these, we accept 15 or fewer into our program. The majority of successful applicants have an undergraduate degree in physics or astrophysics with strong classroom performance.  We will not accept scores from the GRE General or Physics Tests in our reviews during the 2023-2024 application process . A research background in astrophysics is very helpful, but research experience in any field is valuable. We look for strong letters of recommendation and read the "Statement of Purpose" and "Personal History Statement" carefully. Our goal is to identify enthusiastic students who are well-prepared to thrive in an exciting research environment, and who will make the best use of the particular strengths and opportunities in our department.

Site Visits : We encourage prospective students to visit. Students accepted into the program are invited to a departmental visit in winter quarter. During the visit, prospective students meet with faculty and current graduate students, learn about the program and research being done and explore the campus. We encourage students to combine visits (and travel reimbursements) with other west-coast schools. Nothing replaces a visit, but there are many beautiful photos of the campus available on our  astronomy website galleries . Additional photos of Lick Observatory are available at the Lick Picture Gallery .

Student Financial Support : The department will make a best effort to provide 100% support for its students during the normative time to degree.

Other links and resources for prospective students

• Degree Requirements
• Department Fact Sheet 
• Financial Support
• Prize Graduate Fellowships
• Graduate Handbook
• Program Learning Outcomes
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• Student Awards
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Last modified: January 16, 2024 128.114.113.87

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• Physics Department
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Home / Faculty

• Faculty Directory

Anthony N Aguirre

• Faggin Family Presidential Chair for the Physics of Information
• Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP)
• Phone 831-459-2449
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 325 ISB

Aris Alexandradinata

• Assistant Professor
• Phone 831-459-2824
• [email protected]
• Personal webpage
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 245

Wolfgang Altmannshofer

• Associate Professor
• Phone 831-459-2359
• [email protected]
• Publication list from INSPIRE
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 329 ISB

Sue A Carter

• Graduate Studies Division
• Phone 831-331-1050
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 349 Nat Sci II

Joshua Deutsch

• Phone 831-459-2265
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 219 ISB

Amy K Furniss

• Associate Teaching Professor
• Phone 8314592844
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 341

Stefania Gori

• Phone 831-459-3033
• [email protected]
• My publications
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, ISB 322

Michael Hance

• Phone 831-502-7321
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 317 Nat Sci II

Tesla E. Jeltema

• Associate Director of the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics
• Phone 831-459-2235
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, ISB 305

Robert P Johnson

• Distinguished Professor
• Phone 831-459-2125
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 323 Nat Sci II

David Lederman

• Director, Materials Science & Engineering Program
• Phone 831-459-1217
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Lab Web Site
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 212 ISB

Onuttom Narayan

• Phone 831-459-4123
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 241 ISB

Jason Nielsen

• Professor / SCIPP Director
• Phone 831-459-3457
• [email protected]
• Personal Web Page
• Research Group Web Page
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, Room 315

Stefano Profumo

• Deputy Director for Theory, Santa Cruz institute for Particle Physics
• Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, Physical and Biological Sciences Division
• Phone 831-459-3039 , 850-980-7974
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 328 ISB

Arthur P Ramirez

• Phone 831-239-2300
• [email protected]
• Research Group Website
• UC Santa Cruz Westside Research Park, A158

Steven M Ritz

• Phone 831-459-3018 , 831-459-2635 , 831-332-7764
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 331

Bruce A Schumm

• Department Chair
• Phone 831-459-3034
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 329 Nat Sci II

Edgar Shaghoulian

• [email protected]
• http://edgarshaghoulian.com
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, N/A

B. Sriram Shastry

• Distinguished Professor of Physics
• Phone 831-459-5849
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 214 ISB

Alexander Sher

• Phone 831-459-5701
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 309 ISB

David M Smith

• Phone 831-459-2183
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 321 Nat Sci II

Sergey Syzranov

• Phone 831-459-2326
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 218 ISB

Jairo Velasco Jr.

• Phone 831-459-1806
• [email protected]
• Group website
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 249 ISB

• [email protected]
• UC Santa Cruz Westside Research Park, A170

Adjunct Faculty

William atwood.

• Research Physicist
• Adjunct Professor
• Phone 831-459-2202
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 325

Marco Battaglia

• Phone 022-767-2661
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, NS2 #337

• Peter Fischer
• Phone 831-459-5324  (office) , 925-395-7846  (cell)
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Remote work location, 256 ISB
• Office Hours TBA

Matthew Gignac

• Assistant Adjunct Professor
• Phone 831-201-3307
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 315

Alan M Litke

• Phone 831-459-4842
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 303 ISB

Hendrik Ohldag

• Phone 5104865364
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 256 ISB

• Phone 831-459-3744
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 256

Hartmut F.‑W. Sadrozinski

• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 315 ISB
• Office Hours Thursday all day you

• Phone 831-459-2635 , 831-459-2996
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 327 Nat Sci II

David A Williams

• Phone 831-459-3032
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 319 Nat Sci II

Emeriti Faculty

Thomas banks.

• Professor,Emeriti
• Phone 831-459-4297
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 211

Frank G Bridges

• Research Professor
• Phone 831-459-2893
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 217 & 213

George Stephen Brown

• Phone 831-459-2327
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 176

David E Dorfan

• Emeritus Professor
• Phone 831-459-2844
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Bldg., 211

George D Gaspari

• Professor Emeritus
• Phone 831-459-2329 , 831-459-4695
• [email protected]
• C364 Earth & Marine Sci Bldg

Joel R Primack

• Professor Physics
• Phone 831-459-2580
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 318 ISB

Zack Schlesinger

• Phone 831-459-3714
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, ISB

Peter L Scott

• Phone 831-459-2329
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 318
• Office Hours rarely

Abraham Seiden

• Sc Inst For Particle Physics
• Phone 831-459-2923
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 333

Allan Peter Young

• Phone 831-459-4151
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 220 Interdisciplinary Sci Bldg

• Phone 831-459-5010
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 290

Eliina Sylvi Karyndinha

• Phone 831-459-5283
• [email protected]
• Jack Baskin Engineering Building, 199/195C

Research Faculty

David belanger.

• Phone 831-459-2871
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 245 ISB

Michael Dine

• Phone 4086038156
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 322 ISB

Howard Haber

• Phone 831-459-4228
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 326 ISB

Visiting Scholars

Postdoctoral scholars, william andrew derocco.

• Phone 203-326-0839
• [email protected]
• Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 324

• Faculty Awards
• Report an accessibility barrier
• Land Acknowledgment
• Accreditation

Last modified: October 4, 2022 128.114.113.87

Applied Physics

Why study applied physics at uc santa cruz.

If you want to transform the fundamental laws and theories behind our universe into practical uses, such as developing new technologies that are not accessible using current tools available to engineers, come to UC Santa Cruz. Here you’ll study alongside innovative experts who are leading the charge to develop quantum computers , new solar cell applications , medical imaging techniques , and advanced laser instrumentation . Research access When you declare the Applied Physics B.S. major at UC Santa Cruz, you’ll have unparalleled access to research laboratories, hands-on training with state-of-the-art equipment, mentorship from renowned faculty and researchers, and crucial résumé-boosting research experiences. Unique student experiences include:

• Strong research internship connections with industry leaders in Silicon Valley
• Opportunities to be published in scientific journals as first-time research coauthors
• Vibrant research programs empowering underrepresented student communities in STEM
• Robust research funding opportunities through our competitive student research awards
• Annual research poster symposiums for developing next-level science communication skills
• Extensive upper-level research courses to choose from
• Intensive senior exit research project requirements before graduation

Research mentorship

• Connect with our faculty experts in physics
• Connect with our faculty experts in astronomy & astrophysics

Research facilities & partnerships

• Center for Adaptive Optics
• Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN
• Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP)
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)
• UC Observatories (UCO)

Research courses

Current research and course offerings include the latest in theoretical and experimental applications of condensed matter and materials physics, the behavior of exotic many-electron systems and quantum materials, magnetic phase transitions, magnetic and magnetoelectric surfaces, interfaces, two-dimensional materials and heterostructures, biophysics, the development of new electronic devices using novel materials, optical physics, magnetometry, magnetotransport, X-ray, heat measurement techniques, and thin film growth and characterization. Explore current course offerings in physics . Career advancement The most telling success metrics for our applied physics degree program are the quality of the students we attract and—more importantly—the professional success they achieve after they graduate. Physics at UC Santa Cruz is proven to give you:

• A strong interdisciplinary research network
• Mentorship by internationally distinguished faculty and researchers
• Involvement with large research projects, both government and private
• The latest high-impact theory and practical instrumentation knowledge
• Project management and leadership skills in the lab
• Minimal to no debt

First job success

More than one half of our physics undergraduates are employed within six months after graduation, and nearly 20 percent receive multiple job offers ( data from 2015 ). The majority report working in the tech or manufacturing industry. In fact, UC Santa Cruz ranks 13th worldwide for being one of the “top 20 universities that are most likely to land you a job in Silicon Valley.” For example, high-performing students who decide to delay graduate school and work in California report annual earnings of more than $100,623 within five years after graduation ( data as of 2015 ).

Graduate school success

We’re also ambitious: 78% percent of our Applied Physics B.S. graduates plan to pursue graduate school within five years after graduation. Nearly one half are accepted to graduate school before graduating ( data from 2015 ). Funding opportunity In addition to being highly employable and competitive graduate school candidates, our students also graduate with minimal debt. UC Santa Cruz is the second-best university in the nation for undergraduate social mobility, including financial support for students who come from households that earn less than $50,000 annually. We strongly encourage and support all our students in the process of securing academic scholarships and research funding. As a result, our students receive many distinguished awards, honors, and accolades. A few of our undergraduate funding opportunities for applied physics majors include the:

• Elmer A. Fridley Scholarship
• Marilyn Stevens Memorial Award
• Ronald H. Ruby Memorial Scholarship
• Undergraduate Research in Science & Technology Award

Alumni network Banana Slugs help each other out. Get connected with 900 physics alumni who hold leading positions at universities, private companies, medical institutes, government agencies, and renowned research centers throughout the world. Here are just a few of our notable alumni:

• Alan M. Dressler: Award-winning astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science known for his work on Nova. He is a Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy recipient, National Academy of Sciences member, and NASA Public Service Medal recipient ( ‘70, B.S. Physics )
• J. Doyne Farmer: Award-winning econophysicist and pioneer of chaos theory, professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and Director of the Complexity Economics at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School ( ‘81, Ph.D. Physics )
• Hume A. Feldman : Award-winning physicist specializing in cosmology and astrophysics ( ‘84, B.A. Physics )
• Robert Shaw: Pioneer of chaos theory and MacArthur Fellow (’81, Ph.D. Physics)

Recommended for you

Student academic support resources Student research awards & opportunities B.S. degree policies and resources

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree policies

Department: Physics Program size: ~65 Students Student to faculty ratio: 8.2:1

Our Applied Physics B.S. program provides a comprehensive coverage of the field and the background necessary for graduate school or industrial careers. We teach you how to analyze complex problems and strengthen your quantitative reasoning—valuable skills that can be applied in any technical field. A senior research thesis mentored by our faculty experts is required, providing you with the opportunity to tackle theoretical or experimental problems that interest you. Get advising Contact your adviser Academic planning tools Online forms & processes View requirements Degree information & policies Degree requirements & planners Qualifications for freshmen Qualifications for transfers Senior exit requirements How to declare You may declare a major as early as you would like, if you have satisfied prerequisites or qualification requirements for the major. Students who enter UC Santa Cruz as freshmen are required to be formally declared in a major before enrolling in their third year (or equivalent). Upper-division transfer students are required to be declared in a major by the deadline in their second term at UC Santa Cruz. To initiate the process to declare, please complete the Department of Physics online declaration petition form in the link below. For assistance, please contact the physics advising team .

Petition to Declare Online

PLEASE NOTE Students enrolled in their final qualification policy course at the major declaration deadline may submit the petition, but will not be declared until satisfactory grades have been posted. To view the Petition to Declare Major form, you must be logged in to your UCSC email account.

How to apply

Undergraduate student admissions to UC Santa Cruz are handled through the University of California’s online application system. Be sure to review the steps you must take, and when, to ensure that your application is considered.

Apply as a freshman Apply as a transfer

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2021-22 UCSC General Catalog > Academic Units > Physical and Biological Sciences Division > Physics > Physics B.S.

Information and Policies

Academic advising for the program.

The department undergraduate advisor ( [email protected] ) works closely with students interested in pursuing the major to ensure that they begin the program immediately and follow the appropriate steps toward its completion.

Getting Started in the Major

Students begin the major with PHYS 5A , after having completed MATH 19A or equivalent. (Students who take PHYS 6A instead of PHYS 5A , and do very well in it, may contact the department chair for permission to enter the major.) Students are strongly encouraged to begin their major coursework in their first quarter. Those who start later should consult the department undergraduate advisor and the Alternatives webpage . Students who do not begin the lower-division requirements during their first year will have difficulty completing the program within four years.

High school students coming directly to UC Santa Cruz should emphasize their mathematics preparation with the expectation that they will take calculus, MATH 19A , before their second quarter at UC Santa Cruz in order to take the Physics 5 series in time. Students who come to UC Santa Cruz with credit for MATH 19A will be able to start the Physics 5 series in the first quarter. The courses in the PHYS 5 and PHYS 6 series are offered multiple times per year.

Program Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes summarize the most important knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that students are expected to develop over the course of their studies. The program learning outcomes communicate the faculty’s expectations to students, provide a framework for faculty evaluation of the curriculum based on empirical data, and help improve and measure the impact of implemented changes. Students graduating with a B.S. in physics will demonstrate:

PLO 1. Ability to solve problems using concepts in classical and quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and electromagnetism.

PLO 2. Proficiency in mathematics and the mathematical concepts needed for a proper understanding of physics.

PLO 3. Ability to take measurements in a physics laboratory and analyze the measurements to draw valid conclusions.

PLO 4. Ability to communicate scientific content effectively, both orally and in writing.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major qualification.

To qualify to declare the physics major, students must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.70 or greater in the following courses, or their equivalents:

When determining qualification to declare the major:

• All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• If PHYS 5A is satisfied with AP credit based on an AP examination score of 5, students may substitute a grade of A for PHYS 5A when calculating their cumulative GPA.
• If PHYS 5C  is satisfied with AP credit based on an AP examination score of 5, students may substitute a grade of A for PHYS 5C  when calculating their cumulative GPA.
• Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the major qualification policy courses are not eligible to declare even if the courses are retaken and the grades replaced.

Students who achieve a GPA of 2.66 or higher (but less than 2.70) in the three courses may declare the major if they receive a B or better in PHYS 5D .

Appeal Process

Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the department chair by the later date of either 15 days from the date the notification was sent, or one week after the start of instruction during the quarter after the final relevant grade was received (generally in PHYS 5C or PHYS 5D ). They also must arrange to meet with one of the faculty mentors listed  for  Declaring the Major . Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, after consulting with the faculty mentor, the department chair will either finalize the denial of admission or specify further conditions for admission, and will notify the student and their college of the decision. For more information about the appeal process, see Appeal Process .

How to Declare a Major

Students should submit a petition to declare as soon as they complete the major qualification requirements or reach their declaration deadline quarter (whichever comes first).

Students petitioning when the campus declaration deadline is imminent (i.e., in their sixth quarter, for students admitted as frosh), will either be approved, denied, or provided with conditions (e.g., completion of some courses with certain grades) that will be resolved within at most one more enrolled quarter, even if they have not completed major qualification courses.

All students are required to review their academic plan with a faculty mentor prior to declaring the major. For instructions on petitioning to declare, go to Declaring Your Major .

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer admission screening policy.

The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall:

A minimum GPA of 2.7 must be obtained in the following courses

In addition, the following course is recommended prior to transfer to ensure timely graduation:.

Prospective students are also encouraged to complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or to complete all UC Santa Cruz general education requirements before matriculation.

Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student

Transfer students admitted to UC Santa Cruz in the physics major who have satisfied the above screening requirements may declare the major immediately upon arrival at UC Santa Cruz. They should contact the undergraduate advisor to draw up an academic plan. Students who are proposed in a different major (other than physics (astrophysics) or applied physics) and have advanced standing when they come to UC Santa Cruz require permission from the department to change into the major.

Letter Grade Policy

All courses used to satisfy the physics major requirements must be taken for a letter grade, except the programming requirement.

Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Students who complete a major sponsored by the Physics Department cannot complete a second major sponsored by the Physics Department or a physics minor.

The department awards "honors" (3.5 grade point average or better) and "highest honors" (3.8 grade point average or better) to top graduating students each year. The department also awards "honors" for outstanding work on the senior thesis, made upon the recommendation of the faculty thesis advisor.

Timely Graduation and Alternative Plans

• Students planning a senior thesis should find a faculty thesis advisor as early as possible, but no later than the beginning of the senior year for four-year students or the beginning of the second year for transfer students. For further information about the senior thesis, see Senior Thesis.
• Students who join a major program of the Physics Department with some of the required courses completed, or have room in their program for additional courses, should consult with the Physics Department undergraduate advisor.
• Students who fall behind the planners should consult the Physics Department undergraduate advisor and  Alternatives.
• All the transfer major planners assume that the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) has been completed in community college, or has been partially completed and can be finished while at UC Santa Cruz (including summers).

Requirements and Planners

Course requirements, lower-division courses, choose one of the following courses:, plus one of the following courses:, plus all of the following courses:, plus one of the following courses or equivalent:.

PHYS 115 does not teach programming, but it assumes a knowledge of programming. Students should only take the course if they have learned basic programming elsewhere. Therefore, completion of PHYS 115 is sufficient to fulfill the programming requirement. 

Upper-Division Courses

All of the following courses:.

MATH 21 and MATH 24 can substitute for PHYS 116A .

PHYS 116C is waived for students who are pursuing a dual major in physics and a mathematics B.A., and take MATH 107 in the year 2017 or later.

Programming Requirement

Students in the physics B.S. major have to satisfy a computer programming requirement by taking one of the courses listed in the major requirements given above. Of these courses, ASTR 119 teaches programming and simple applications. PHYS 115 does not teach programming; it assumes basic programming ability in Python, C++ or a similar language and discusses numerical techniques relevant to physics. The other courses listed teach programming. Students may also satisfy the computer programming requirement by demonstrating their knowledge of programming to a faculty member designated by the Physics Department. For instructions on how to demonstrate your programming skills, go to Completing the Major.

Two courses, each 5 credits or more, chosen from upper-division elective courses offered by the Physics Department or ASTR 111 - ASTR 118 . In some cases, with the approval of the department, one of the elective requirements may be satisfied by an upper-division science or engineering course.

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy the upper-division disciplinary communication (DC) requirement. Students in the physics major satisfy the DC requirement by completing one of the following options:

Students interested in doing a senior thesis should have found a faculty thesis advisor by the beginning of their senior year. They should contact  [email protected]  or their faculty mentor if they need assistance.

Comprehensive Requirement

The comprehensive requirement is satisfied by completing the following course:

Physics B.S.: Freshman Academic Plan

*Students who complete the equivalent of MATH 19A before coming to UCSC can take the PHYS 5A , PHYS 5B , PHYS 5C courses and the MATH 19B , MATH 23A , MATH 23B courses in their first year.

**Students writing a senior thesis should replace PHYS 182 with the two-quarter sequence PHYS 195A and PHYS 195B .

In addition to the specific courses shown in this planner, a student must complete courses satisfying the ER, CC, IM, TA, PR and PE general education requirements.

Students looking for an  alternative  pathway through the major should consult the physics advisor.

Physics B.S. Transfer Academic Plan One

*Students writing a senior thesis should replace PHYS 182 with the two-quarter sequence PHYS 195A and PHYS 195B .

This planner assumes that a student has completed PHYS 5D and general education requirements.

Physics B.S. Transfer Academic Plan Two

For students who have not completed the equivalent of PHYS 5D :

Physics Graduate Program

PhD programs in Physics and Physics with an Astrophysics Emphasis.

PhD Programs

The Department offers graduate programs leading to a Ph.D. in physics and a Ph.D. in physics with an astrophysics emphasis. The key elements in the program are advanced graduate courses and research conducted by students under the close supervision of a faculty thesis advisor.

The UCSB Physics Department has outstanding resources for both experimental and theoretical research. Well-equipped laboratories in the Physics building are engaged in a broad range of research in the physics of soft and living matter, condensed matter physics (including graphene, quantum materials, and quantum information science), atomic and molecular physics (including quantum emulation, quantum sensing, and probes of physics beyond the standard model) and the development and construction of innovative detector technologies in astrophysics and particle physics. Numerous collaborative efforts within and beyond the department connect these and other areas.

The resources for theoretical physics are outstanding. The world-renowned Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) is located steps from the physics building. The Institute conducts research programs across a broad range of areas of astrophysics, condensed matter physics, fundamental particle physics, nuclear physics, the physics of soft and living matter, string theory, and gravity/relativity, inviting eminent physicists from around the world to participate in these programs for months at a time. All the KITP’s activities are open to Physics graduate students. Microsoft’s Station Q research center located in the California Nanosystem Institute (CNSI) leads a focused effort in the theory of topological phases and quantum computing. These centers provide unequaled opportunities for broad exposure to theoretical physics and its leading practitioners.

Collaborative Facilities

Unique collaborative facilities are a key ingredient of research excellence at UCSB. A high-power, tunable, far-infrared free-electron laser is the center of a broad research program in terahertz phenomena. The California Nanosystems Institute, the Materials Research Laboratory, and Microsoft's Station Q are key on-campus facilities with strong interactions with our graduate program and faculty. The California Institute for Quantum Entanglement promotes collaborative quantum science work with universities throughout California. Off-campus particle physics research is performed at CERN (Geneva), Fermilab (Chicago) and at the Sanford Underground Research Laboratory (South Dakota). Astrophysicists use the Keck telescopes in Hawaii, as well as a variety of other ground-based and space-based observing facilities. The Department has a strong association with the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, a worldwide network of telescopes that is now being constructed and is headquartered near the campus.

Jennifer Farrar

  related links.

• Advancing to Candidacy
• PhD Physics  (pdf)
• PhD Physics with an Astrophysics Emphasis (pdf)

Graduate Outcomes

Apply the laws of physics in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and statistical mechanics at a level commensurate with current standards in physics. Demonstrate mastery of advanced physics within their chosen subfield. For theorists, demonstrate breadth of knowledge outside their chosen subfield as well. Demonstrate fluency in comprehension of the primary research literature in their chosen subfield.

Conduct primary research literature searches in their chosen subfield. Apply theoretical and/or experimental tools, as appropriate, to make progress in expanding the frontiers of physics knowledge.

Communicate effectively the results of their research to professionals within their subfield, and within the broader physics community, through both oral presentation and written work.

Complete an original, creative project that demonstrably advances human knowledge within their subfield.

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