BS in Biophysics
Understanding life processes can be approached through a quantitative study of protein networks and the interactions between individual molecules. The Bachelor of Science in Biophysics emphasizes the connections between physics and biology and gives students the tools they need to understand life processes from a new perspective. Coursework covers a wide range of topics in math and science, from biosynthesis and DNA structure to radiation biology and computer programming.
In the biophysics curriculum, students take a capstone course and complete a required three-credit undergraduate research course.
Declare a Major
All students should visit the undergraduate program director or another physics advisor before submitting the Declaration of Major/Minor Form. Current advisors are listed on the faculty directory.
Declaration of Major/Minor Form
Capstone Experience
All BS in Biophysics students perform at least one large research project, in which they are supervised by a faculty member. In addition to the large research project, which should start in the third year and be finalized in the fourth year, students are encouraged to do other research projects within the department. Students are also encouraged and supported to apply for research experiences and internships outside the department during the summer months.
To support them through their research experiences, every BS in Biophysics student takes the Physics Capstone (PHYS 4195W) and Physics Symposium (PHYS 4200) courses.
- PHYS 4195W (Physics Capstone)
PHYS 4195W fulfills Oral Communications and Writing in the Disciplines (WID) requirements. After taking the capstone, students will be able to:
- explain the issues and standards for ethical conduct of research,
- explain issues related to building a physics community,
- describe career paths in physics,
- create applications for employment and graduate studies including resumes and cover letters, and
- improve their scientific written and oral communication, including learning how to develop proposals for research funding.
Students will have opportunities to improve their writing and presentations based on instructor and peer feedback in class, and they will interact with the GW Career Services office. The overarching goal of the capstone is to help students think about, and develop, practical skills related to physics research, and prepare for their careers after graduation. This course also prepares students for a research project in their junior and senior year, and for presenting this research at various venues.
- PHYS 4200 (Physics Symposium)
After taking PHYS 4200, students will be able to communicate physics research in a disciplinarily and audience appropriate manner. During the course of the curriculum, students:
- write a final report on their research in subject-appropriate format and style
- present a poster on their research at the CCAS Research Showcase, and
- give an oral presentation on their research at the Physics Undergraduate Symposium Day.
All written and oral presentations will be guided by readings and examples, and feedback is provided by both the instructor and the students’ peers.
Students majoring in biophysics complete a required capstone course. Learning objectives for the capstone include:
- Working in a mentored learning environment to design and conduct physics research in an ethical manner
- Exploring and preparing for various careers
- Practicing how to share research findings with different audiences
Course Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
Program-specific curriculum:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required | ||
Introductory courses (48 credits): | ||
APSC 3115 | Engineering Analysis III | |
or STAT 1127 | Statistics for the Biological Sciences | |
BISC 1111 | Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules | |
BISC 1112 | Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms | |
CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I | |
CHEM 1112 | General Chemistry II | |
CSCI 1012 | Introduction to Programming with Python | |
or MAE 1117 | Introduction to Engineering Computations | |
MATH 1231 | Single-Variable Calculus I | |
MATH 1232 | Single-Variable Calculus II | |
MATH 2184 | Linear Algebra I | |
MATH 2233 | Multivariable Calculus | |
MATH 3342 | Ordinary Differential Equations | |
PHYS 1025 | University Physics I with Biological Applications | |
or PHYS 1021 | University Physics I | |
PHYS 1026 | University Physics II with Biological Applications | |
or PHYS 1022 | University Physics II | |
PHYS 2023 | Modern Physics |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Additional courses (9 credits): | ||
BISC 3209 | Molecular Biology | |
or BISC 3261 | Introductory Medical Biochemistry | |
or CHEM 3165 | Biochemistry I | |
CHEM 2151 | Organic Chemistry I | |
CHEM 2152 | Organic Chemistry II | |
Advanced courses (25 credits): | ||
PHYS 2151 | Intermediate Laboratory I: Techniques and Methods | |
or PHYS 2151W | Intermediate Laboratory I: Techniques and Methods | |
PHYS 3127 | Biophysics: Macroscopic Physics in the Life Sciences | |
PHYS 3128 | Biophysics: Microscopic Physics in the Life Sciences | |
PHYS 3161 | Mechanics | |
PHYS 3164 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | |
PHYS 3165 | Electromagnetic Theory I | |
PHYS 4195 | Physics Capstone | |
or PHYS 4195W | Physics Capstone | |
One course (3 credits) selected from the following: | ||
PHYS 4196 | Undergraduate Research in Biophysics | |
or PHYS 4197 | Undergraduate Research in Nuclear Physics | |
or ASTR 4195 | Undergraduate Research in Astrophysics | |
PHYS 4200 | Physics Symposium |