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Worried over degree option. Please help

I'm considering Geophysics for my degree choice, but I'm not sure because of the mathematics content. Can anyone provide a list of the maths you do in the first year (as comprehensive of a list as possible). Thank you!!!!!!
It'll probably vary between unis but I expect much the same kind of stuff physicists do; various methods of single variable calculus beyond A-level Maths, multivariable calculus, (linear) ordinary differential equations, vectors and matrix algebra (i.e. linear algebra but probably more focused on computation rather than proof), complex numbers, and related topics to those areas (e.g. R^3 as a coordinate system, polar/spherical/cylindrical coordinates, etc). Maybe do a bit of vector calculus, you'll probably do some vector calculus in second year along with more differential equations (including PDEs) and suchlike. Might do a little stats work too.

Honestly if you just look at the degree programmes you're specifically interested in, they probably will list the modules and module content for each year somewhere and you can look at this stuff. Can see for example at UCL the first year maths methods modules are these:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/modules/mathematical-methods-1-PHAS0002
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/modules/mathematical-methods-ii-PHAS0009

Notably you can also see these are actually the physics department maths methods modules.

Meanwhile Durham has this module:

https://apps.dur.ac.uk/faculty.handbook/2023/UG/module/GEOL1081

Reply 2

Original post
by artful_lounger
It'll probably vary between unis but I expect much the same kind of stuff physicists do; various methods of single variable calculus beyond A-level Maths, multivariable calculus, (linear) ordinary differential equations, vectors and matrix algebra (i.e. linear algebra but probably more focused on computation rather than proof), complex numbers, and related topics to those areas (e.g. R^3 as a coordinate system, polar/spherical/cylindrical coordinates, etc). Maybe do a bit of vector calculus, you'll probably do some vector calculus in second year along with more differential equations (including PDEs) and suchlike. Might do a little stats work too.
Honestly if you just look at the degree programmes you're specifically interested in, they probably will list the modules and module content for each year somewhere and you can look at this stuff. Can see for example at UCL the first year maths methods modules are these:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/modules/mathematical-methods-1-PHAS0002
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/modules/mathematical-methods-ii-PHAS0009
Notably you can also see these are actually the physics department maths methods modules.
Meanwhile Durham has this module:
https://apps.dur.ac.uk/faculty.handbook/2023/UG/module/GEOL1081

Thanks!

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