School of Natural Sciences, Health & Kinesiology

Pathway Plans

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Physics

Physics is the study of matter and its motion and behavior through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force. Matter is essentially anything in the world that takes up space and has mass.

Contact

Chair
Jody Tyler
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Dean
Courtney Doussett
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Instructional Department Specialist
Sue Lafferty
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Admin. Assistant to the Dean
Martha Ramirez
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Full-Time Faculty
Lindsay Owens
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Academic Programs in Physics

The academic maps below will give you an idea of the classes you need to take. However, please meet with a counselor to personalize your education plan.

School Trailhead for Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Suggested Initial Coursework - TRAILHEAD
Associate of Arts (AA) Degree - Area of Emphasis (AOE) in Math & Science - CSU Pathway - MAP
Physics for Transfer (ADT) - Pathways for Transfer to a CSU or UC School - MAP

Additional Resources

What can I do with this major? (Physics) - INFO
Riverside Community College District General Education (RCCD GE) Requirements (PLAN A) - INFO
California State University General Education (CSU GE) Requirements (PLAN B) For students who would like to transfer to a campus in the California State University (CSU) system - INFO
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Requirements (PLAN C) For students who would like to transfer to a campus in either the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) system - INFO

Career Options

Career options for students who get a degree in physics include: accelerator operator, applications engineer, data analyst, design engineer, astronomer, clinical scientist, meteorologist, IT consultant, lab technician and laser engineer.

Student Voice

Estefani Ontiveros

Estefani Ontiveros graduated from Norco College in 2020 with five associates degrees, including an Associates in Science in Physics, and was selected to participate in the FIELDS Internship through University of California, Riverside at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena for the summer.

“I don’t think I would have made it this far if it weren’t for the wonderful connections, experience, and support I’ve received over my time as an Engineering Pathways Program student. The program and its people truly encouraged me to expand my horizons and seek out every opportunity with grit and I’ll always be thankful for that,” said Ontiveros.