Physics
The Physics Department offers educational opportunities based upon a long and distinguished tradition of teaching and research.
Please note, it is not necessary to complete pre-requisites at Columbia University. Students are expected to meet pre-requisite requirements prior to registration.
Physics S1201 with S1291 laboratory and Physics S1202 with S1292 laboratory constitute a complete one-year course in general physics. These courses are designed primarily for premedical and other preprofessional and liberal arts students. Each laboratory course includes ten three-hour laboratory periods.
Physics S1201 and S1202 count toward the science requirement for most Columbia University undergraduates.
For questions about specific courses, contact the department.
Courses
Prerequisites: high school mathematics, but not calculus. Basic Physics serves as preparation for General Physics 1201-1202 and is intended for those students who do not have a solid foundation in high school physics or who have been away from school for several years. The course will provide an introduction to the basic concepts and fundamental laws of physics, focusing on mechanics, together with a review of the mathematical techniques needed for problem-solving.
Course Number
PHYS0065S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session BPoints
0 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Tu 16:30-18:05Th 16:30-18:05Section/Call Number
001/10139Enrollment
10 of 30Instructor
Jeremy DoddCourse Number
PHYS1201S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session APoints
3 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Mo 09:00-10:25Tu 09:00-10:25We 09:00-10:25Th 09:00-10:25Section/Call Number
001/10143Enrollment
24 of 50Instructor
Eric RaymerCourse Number
PHYS1202S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session XPoints
3 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Mo 18:00-19:25We 18:00-19:25Section/Call Number
001/10144Enrollment
31 of 100Instructor
Nicholas LuberCourse Number
PHYS1202S002Format
In-PersonSession
Session BPoints
3 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Mo 09:00-10:25Tu 09:00-10:25We 09:00-10:25Th 09:00-10:25Section/Call Number
002/10147Enrollment
17 of 50Instructor
Rebecca GrossmanCourse Number
PHYS1291S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session APoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Mo 11:30-14:30We 11:30-14:30Section/Call Number
001/10153Enrollment
14 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriCourse Number
PHYS1291S002Format
In-PersonSession
Session APoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Tu 11:30-14:30Th 11:30-14:30Section/Call Number
002/10154Enrollment
10 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriCourse Number
PHYS1292S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session XPoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Mo 13:00-16:00Section/Call Number
001/10155Enrollment
4 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriCourse Number
PHYS1292S002Format
In-PersonSession
Session XPoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Tu 13:00-16:00Section/Call Number
002/10156Enrollment
13 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriCourse Number
PHYS1292S004Format
In-PersonSession
Session XPoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Th 13:00-16:00Section/Call Number
004/10158Enrollment
10 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriCourse Number
PHYS1292S005Format
In-PersonSession
Session BPoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Mo 11:30-14:30We 11:30-14:30Section/Call Number
005/10159Enrollment
11 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriCourse Number
PHYS1292S006Format
In-PersonSession
Session BPoints
1 ptsSummer 2025
Times/Location
Tu 11:30-14:30Th 11:30-14:30Section/Call Number
006/10160Enrollment
9 of 15Instructor
Giuseppina CambareriUsing modern, student-centered, active and collaborative learning techniques, students will engage — through field observations, in-class experiments, computer simulations, and selected readings — with a range of ideas and techniques designed to integrate and anchor scientific habits of mind. Throughout the term, each student will satisfy a detailed set of rubrics by documenting their learning in reflective e-portfolio postings designed to serve as a future reference for how they, individually, went from not understanding an idea to understanding it. Topics covered will include statistics, basic probability, a variety of calculations skills, graph reading and estimation, all aimed at elucidating such concepts as energy, matter, cells, and genes in the context of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, neuroscience, and physics.