The Department of Physics administers majors in physics and in pre-engineering. Students majoring in either field must have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all physics courses, and must take a comprehensive examination in physics. This examination is normally taken after the student has completed most of their Physics courses, which is usually in the spring term of their senior year. For Dual Degree students it should be taken in their junior year during the spring term. This examination is used for program assessment only, and is not used as a basis for a grade of any kind.

The physics major consists of the following 10 courses of physics (40 semester hours - old course numbers in parentheses) : PHY-111 (11) and PHY-112 (12), which satisfy the General Education Requirement (Empirical Study of the Natural World), plus PHY-241 (20), 311 (26), 312 (42), 321 (21), 322 (44), 331 (41), 441 (30), and a choice of one course from the following set: PHY-421 (32), 432 (35), 442 (45), 451 (47), 452 (39), 502 (85) or 504 (80). In addition, several mathematics courses serve as pre- or co-requisites to our physics courses; these include MTH-150 (11), 151 (12) and 160 (13). Majors intending to pursue graduate study in physics should take physics courses beyond the minimum of ten, such as Physics 451, 452, 502 or 504, plus courses in related fields; for example, CSC-121 (11) and MTH-250 (21) and 255 (22).

The dual-degree engineering program normally consists of three years at Furman and two years at an affiliated school such as Auburn University, Clemson University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Universities of South Carolina and Georgia. The Furman degree is awarded with a major in either pre-engineering or physics. Degree requirements vary depending on the Furman major pursued and the engineering school attended. The course requirements for students in the pre-engineering program who want to major in the dual-degree Physics option are PHY-111 (11), 112 (12), 311 (26), 312 (42), 321 (21), 322 (44), 331 (41), and a choice of one course from the following set: PHY-241 (20), 421 (32), 432 (35), 441 (30), 442 (45), 451 (47), 452 (39), 502 (85) or 504 (80). The physics course requirements for students in the pre-engineering program without the Physics option are; PHY-111, 112, 311, 321, and 331.

The Furman degree is awarded after successful completion of an appropriate portion of the engineering curriculum at the engineering school. The engineering degree is awarded upon completion of the entire program. A minimum dual-degree grade-point average of 2.6 is required to declare as a major. Students interested in pursuing this major should obtain a copy of the document Furman University Dual-Degree Program in Engineering from the Department of Physics.

Majors wishing to pursue a career in teaching must, in addition to the requirements for the physics major, also complete BIO-111 (11), CSC-101 (16), CHM-111 (11), EES-110 (11) or 111 (16), PHY-105 (15) or 451 (47), EDU-111 (11), 120 (20) , 221 (21), 350 (50), EDU-454 (54) or PHY-461 (60) and EDEP-670 (170). The requirements for certification (teaching internship) will be completed on a post-baccalaureate, graduate credit basis, with the student becoming eligible for licensure at the end of fall term following graduation. Refer to the Teacher Education Program for pertinent information.