***OFFICIAL UIUC CLASS OF 2021 ADMISSIONS THREAD****

illinoisx3
Sun, 21 May 2017 20:15:44 +0000

Physics is a great major at UIUC. The graduate level program is top 10 in the USA in just about every major ranking system. The undergraduate Engineering physics was rated #2 the last time USNews rated it a few years ago. They are run in the same department with many of the same required classes, so whichever curricula you take will be solid.

Physics has a few different tracks. LAS “Science & Letters” is virtually the same curriculum as CoE Engineering Physics, with some minor differences in electives. “Specialized” is similar, but with an emphasis on graduate school preparation courses in Physics in lieu of some electives. If you are coming in with lots of AP credits, the differences among these don’t seem all that substantial if you look at the classes and electives. I’m sure you could easily get a minor or second major in math in 4 years if you have enough credits coming in, or take a summer class or two each summer. Worth asking your freshman counselor to be sure how to do this, though. The “Physics Teaching” concentration obviously varies somewhat if your interest is high school education.