Physics
| Degree/Certificate Options | Major Code |
|---|---|
| Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) | |
| Physics (SB 1440) | 01685 |
| Associate in Science Degree: Transfer Preparation | |
| Physics | 01680 |
Consult with a counselor to develop a Student Education Plan (SEP), which lists the courses necessary to achieve your academic goal.
Websites for physics majors:
SDSU: http://physics.sdsu.edu/
UCSD: http://physics.ucsd.edu/
CSU, San Marcos: http://physics.csusm.edu/
Articulation: http://assist.org
PHYS 150
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS I
3 UNITS
Pass/No Pass or Grade is Allowed
Prerequisite: MATH 121 or MATH 250 or equivalent or through the Southwestern College multiple measures placement processes.
Lecture 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Constitutes the first of a two-semester, calculus-based sequence intended mainly for majors in the life sciences. Includes kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, fluids, waves, sound, simple harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 105 (with PHYS 151)]
PHYS 151
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS LABORATORY I
1 UNIT
Pass/No Pass or Grade is Allowed
Corequisite: PHYS 150 (may be taken previously).
Laboratory 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Constitutes the lab component of PHYS 150 (Fundamentals of Physics I). Includes kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, fluids, waves, sound, simple harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 105 (with PHYS 150)]
PHYS 152
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS II
3 UNITS
Pass/No Pass or Grade is Allowed
Prerequisite: PHYS 150 or equivalent.
Corequisite: MATH 122 or MATH 251 (may be taken previously).
Lecture 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Constitutes the second of a two-semester, calculus-based sequence intended mainly for majors in the life sciences. Includes electrostatics, magnetism, DC circuits, optics, and modern physics. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 110 (with PHYS 153)]
PHYS 153
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS LABORATORY II
1 UNIT
Pass/No Pass or Grade is Allowed
Corequisite: PHYS 152 (may be taken previously).
Laboratory 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Constitutes the lab component of PHYS 152 (Fundamentals of Physics II). Includes electrostatics, magnetism, DC circuits, optics, and modern physics. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 110 (with PHYS 152)]
PHYS 270
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS I
3 UNITS
Grade Only
Recommended Preparation: RDG 158 or equivalent or through the Southwestern College multiple measures placement processes.
Prerequisite: MATH 250 or equivalent or through the Southwestern College multiple measures placement processes.
Lecture 3 hours
Offered: ALL
Introduces classical mechanics. Includes vectors, motion in one to three dimensions, Newton's laws of motion, friction, equilibrium, work, energy, gravitation, rotational motion, and periodic motion. Provides the first of a three-semester calculus-based sequence intended mainly for majors in the physical sciences and engineering. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 205]
PHYS 271
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS LABORATORY I
1 UNIT
Grade Only
Prerequisite: PHYS 270 or equivalent.
Laboratory 3 hours
Offered: ALL
Provides laboratory experience to supplement PHYS 270. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 205]
PHYS 272
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS II
3 UNITS
Grade Only
Prerequisite: PHYS 270 or equivalent; MATH 251 or equivalent or through the Southwestern College multiple measures placement processes.
Lecture 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Introduces electricity, magnetism, and fluid mechanics. Includes electric field, potential, resistance, capacitance, magnetic field, inductance, electromagnetic induction, direct and alternating current, and fluid mechanics. Second of a three-semester, calculus based sequence intended mainly for majors in the physical sciences and engineering. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 210]
PHYS 273
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS LABORATORY II
1 UNIT
Grade Only
Corequisite: PHYS 272 (may be taken previously).
Laboratory 3 hours
Offered: ALL
Provides laboratory experience to supplement PHYS 272. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 210]
PHYS 274
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS III
3 UNITS
Grade Only
Prerequisite: PHYS 272 or equivalent.
Corequisite: MATH 252 (may be taken previously).
Lecture 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Introduces thermodynamics, waves, optics, and modern physics. Includes the first and second law of thermodynamics, mechanical waves, sound waves, electromagnetic waves, geometrical optics, physical optics, special relativity, quantum mechanics, and atomic spectra. Third of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence intended mainly for majors in the physical sciences and engineering. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 215]
PHYS 275
MODERN PHYSICS AND PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS LABORATORY III
2 UNITS
Grade Only
Recommended Concurrent Enrollment: MATH 254.
Corequisite: PHYS 274 (may be taken previously); MATH 253 (may be taken previously).
Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 3 hours
Offered: SPRING
Covers special relativity, quantum mechanics, and atomic physics. Includes Lorentz transformation, relativistic collisions, the Schrödinger equation in 1D and 3D, and applications to atomic physics. Includes topics such as thermodynamics, electromagnetic waves, geometric and physics optics, relativity, quantum mechanics, and atomic physics. Constitutes 1 unit of lecture on special relativity and quantum mechanics and 1 unit of lab to supplement PHYS 274. [D; CSU; UC; C-ID PHYS 215 (with PHYS 274)]
PHYS 299
INDEPENDENT STUDY
1-3 UNITS
Pass/No Pass or Grade is Allowed
Limitation on Enrollment: Eligibility for independent study.
Lecture 3 hours
Offered: FALL, SPRING
Individual study or research in some area of physics of particular interest to the student and not included in regular courses of the college. [D; CSU]