• Complete the Physics (L31) 117A/118A course sequence
• Complete the Physics (L31) 197/198 course sequence
• Place out of introductory physics with AP credit

Physics B Exam
"5" score on the Physics B Exam
Students will receive 3 units of elective credit for Physics 113. This corresponds to the first semester in a two semester, (algebra based) introductory physics sequence. Physics 113 does not fulfill the physics requirements for engineering students. Students should enroll in Physics 117A or Physics 197 in the fall semester.

"4, 3, 2, or 1" score on Physics Exam
No credit awarded.

Physics C Exam (Mechanics)
"5" Score on the Physics C Exam
Students will receive 4 units of credit for Physics 117A. This corresponds to the first semester in a two semester, (calculus-based) introductory physics sequence. Students may enroll in Physics 118A, the second semester of this introductory calculus-based physics sequence, in the spring semester. Students interested in an active learning approach to introductory physics should enroll in Physics 197 in the fall semester, followed by Physics 198 in the spring semester. Students may not enroll in Physics 198 without first taking Physics 197.

"4" Score on the Physics C Exam:
Students will receive 3 units of elective credit for Physics 113.This corresponds to the first semester in a two semester, (algebra-based) introductory physics sequence. Physics 113 does not fulfill the physics requirements for engineering students. Students should enroll in Physics 117A or Physics 197 in the fall semester. Students interested in an active learning approach to physics should enroll in Physics 197 in the fall semester, followed by Physics 198 in the spring semester. Students may not enroll in Physics 198 without first taking Physics 197.

"3, 2, 1" score on the Physics C Exam:
No credit awarded.

Physics C Exam (Electricity & Magnetism)
"5" score on the Physics C Exam:
Students will receive 4 units of credit for Physics 118A. This corresponds to the second semester in a two semester (calculus-based) introductory physics sequence. Students interested in an advanced treatment of introductory physics should enroll in Physics 197 in the fall semester, followed by Physics 198 in the spring semester.

"4" score on the Physics C Exam EM:
Students will receive 3 units of elective credit for Physics 114. This corresponds to the second semester in a two semester (algebra-based) introductory physics sequence. Physics 114 does not fulfill the physics requirements for engineering students. Students should enroll in Physics 117A or Physics 197 in the fall semester. Students who have a strong interest in physics are encouraged to enroll in Physics 197.

"3, 2, or 1" score on the Physics C Exam - EM:
No credit awarded.

• Physics (L31) 117A: Previous or concurrent enrollment in Calculus I (Math 131) required. FALL only.
• Physics (L31) 197: Previous or concurrent enrollment in Calculus II (Math 132) required. FALL only.
• Students who begin in Physics 117A must take Physics 118A in the spring, if needed. Students who begin in Physics 197 must take Physics 198 in the spring.
• Students who use AP credit to place out of the first semester of Physics must take Physics 118A in the spring, if needed.

The standard calculus-based physics sequence is Physics 117A (fall semester) and Physics 118A (spring semester), a traditional lecture-based sequence with weekly homework assignments that provides a survey of classical physics and an overview of selected topics in modern physics.

Students may elect to take Physics 197 and Physics 198 instead of Physics 117 and Physics 118. Physics 197/198 is a calculus-based introduction to physics that provides an in-depth study of classical and modern physics, including an emphasis on relativity and quantum mechanics. Independent study, daily reading, daily and weekly homework assignments, and active class participation are integral components of this course sequence. More information about the structure of the Physics 197/198 is on the course website.

Registration Notes
The physics department has reserved half of the seats in Physics 197 for incoming freshmen from all schools. To facilitate this process, all students who wish to enroll in Physics 197 will add themselves to the waitlist for Physics 197, which will function like a sign-up sheet for Physics 197. The physics department will then manually enroll students in the course. Please do not be concerned by the large number of students already on the waitlist and assume that this means you will be unable to enroll in Physics 197. Freshmen will receive priority over upperclassmen already on the waitlist. This means that your waitlist number is not an accurate indicator of your likelihood of getting into the course.

If you are interested in taking Physics 197/198, place yourself on the waitlist during your registration period. You will be notified at your campus e-mail address prior to the start of classes if a seat in Physics 197 is available. If a seat is not available, the physics department will assist you in registering for Physics 117A.

What if my course is full?

Physics 197
All students interested in taking Physics 197 must place themselves on a waitlist. However, this does not mean that the course is actually full. The physics department has reserved half of the seats in Physics 197 for incoming freshmen from all schools. Please do not assume that just because there are a large number of students already on the waitlist for Physics 197 that you will be unable to enroll in the course. Freshmen will receive priority over upperclassmen already on the waitlist. This means that your waitlist number is not an accurate indicator of your likelihood of getting into the course.

If you are interested in taking Physics 197, place yourself on the waitlist during your registration period. You will be notified at your campus email address prior to the start of classes if a seat in Physics 197 is available. If a seat is not available, the physics department will assist you in registering for Physics 117A or a different section of Physics 197. Please do not simultaneously register for Physics 197 and 117A (these students may be dropped from Physics 197). If you have additional questions, please e-mail Mairin Hynes in Physics.

Physics 117A
If you are unable to register for a lecture/lab section that fits your schedule, select an open section (even if it poses a conflict with your schedule). If a seat opens up in a section you prefer, you can modify your enrollment on WebSTAC. Be sure to select the Change (CHG) option and not the Drop option, so you do not lose your seat in the lecture course in the process of making a change to your schedule. Lab sections will not begin until after Labor Day, so there will be time to resolve any lab scheduling conflicts once you arrive on campus. Details will be provided in lecture on the first day of class. If you have additional questions, please e-mail Mairin Hynes in Physics.