BA/BS · 2025-2026
Physics
College of Creative Studies — Physics
Official sources · CCS
College of Creative Studies requirements
CCS uses its own General Education system (not LASAR or GEAR). IGETC completion fulfills CCS GE requirements. Courses must be approved by faculty advisor or pre-approved program list.
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses · Ethnicity required · 6-quarter CCS residency
Application requirements
CCS admission is separate from the UC application. Apply via the CCS online application in addition to UCSB.
- Letter of intentRequired — separate from UC application essay
- Letters of recommendation2 required (PDF upload)
- TranscriptsUnofficial scans from all institutions
- Supplemental materialsEncouraged — research, projects, or work samples
- • Letter of intent to CCS Physics faculty describing academic interests and physics background.
- • Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your physics ability.
- • Supplemental materials (research, projects) encouraged.
Official major sheet — 2025-2026
Parsed from department major sheet. Verify on GOLD progress check.
Math and chemistry requirements
36 units- CHEM 1A · 4 units (or CHEM 2A)AP Chemistry 4/5 may cover
- CHEM 1B · 4 units (or CHEM 2B)
- MATH 3A · 4 units
- MATH 3B · 4 units
- MATH 4A · 4 units
- MATH 4B · 4 units
- MATH 6A · 4 units
- MATH 6B · 4 units
- MATH 8 · 4 units (or Math elective)
- PHYS 29 · 2 unitsMay be waived by advisor
Introductory physics (CCS)
32 units- PHYS CS 31 · 5 units
- PHYS CS 32 · 5 units
- PHYS CS 33 · 5 units
- PHYS CS 34 · 5 units
- PHYS CS 35 · 5 units
- PHYS CS 36 · 5 units
- PHYS CS 15A · 4 units
- PHYS CS 15B · 4 units
- PHYS CS 15C · 4 units
Upper-division physics core
54 units- PHYS 100A · 4 units
- PHYS 100B · 4 units
- PHYS 103 · 4 units
- PHYS 104 · 4 units
- PHYS 110A · 4 units
- PHYS 110B · 4 units
- PHYS 115A · 4 units
- PHYS 115B · 4 units
- PHYS 115C · 4 units
- PHYS 119A · 4 units
- PHYS 119B · 4 units
- PHYS 127AL · 4 units
- PHYS 128AL · 4 unitsAdvisor approval to substitute with senior thesis
- PHYS 128BL · 4 units (or PHYS 127BL, PHYS 129L, PHYS 134L)
Sophomore physics labs
12 units- PHYS CS 140 · 2 units
- PHYS CS 140VA · 2 units
Upper-division physics electives
36 units required- PHYS 131
- PHYS 132
- PHYS 133
- PHYS 134L
- PHYS 135
- PHYS 141
Minimum 8 courses required; minimum 2 units per PHYS CS 31-36.
Research requirement: senior thesis or approved research experience.
Two non-physics classes (6 units) from Math, Science, or Engineering.
- • Suggested plan based on CCS Physics BS sheet (fall 2025+ entrants). GE and electives distributed across years.
Major regulations
- Major GPA
- 2+ in all prep and upper-division major courses
- Minimum grade
- C- or better in major courses
Minimum 2.0 GPA in upper-division Physics courses.
180 total units; 24 units GE breadth.
For students joining CCS Physics fall 2025 or later.
Combined degree pathways
Optional programs beyond the standard B.S. — verify eligibility with department advisors.
BS in Creative Studies — Physics
BS
Full CCS Physics BS curriculum for students entering fall 2025 or later.
BA in Creative Studies — Physics
BA
BA option available; consult faculty advisor for reduced lab/theory requirements.
4-year plan — 180 units
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses (unrelated to major) · Ethnicity required. From official major sheet — verify on GOLD.
Year 1
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 4
Fall
Winter
Spring
Data sources
Course lists are snapshots from official UCSB pages—not a live scrape. Verify prerequisites in the UCSB General Catalog.
College-wide CCS rules (8 GE courses unrelated to major, Ethnicity, 180 units, quarterly faculty advising) apply in addition to major requirements. See Student Handbook and UCSB Catalog — CCS degrees.