What type of physics is required?

[OBI603]

Does it have to be calculus based or algebra based? The one at my school is trig/algebra based but what annoys me is that they slapped the label Introductory on it for no reason at all other than the fact that there's also a calculus based physics. It's not really introductory just because it's algebra based is it? Anyways, just wondering what type most schools prefer. I was looking into some schools in california and only chapman requires calculus based.

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[adh28]

I know some people who got accepted into chapman with trigonometry-based physics. The intro part shouldn't hurt as well, as long as the topics of electricity and magnetism and college physics get covered, you should be fine.

 

[NewTestament]

Don't take calculus-based physics unless you're familiar with calculus. Take the trig-based physics. It's hard enough.

Schools don't care about the title; they only require that you take a four-credit course with lab.

Kevin

 

[paulrc]

Don't take calculus-based physics unless you're familiar with calculus. Take the trig-based physics. It's hard enough.

Schools don't care about the title; they only require that you take a four-credit course with lab.

Kevin

The above comment in bold is unfortunately not true. Schools definitely care about the title of the class because it helps them decide if the class was the correct class to meet the prerequisite without looking at the syllabus and saves them time when looking at applications. Freshman physics usually falls in 3 categories - Conceptual physics(introductory), General Physics(algebra based - non physics major), Physics(calculus based - physics major). The title of your class might confuse the people looking at your application and think that you are taking conceptual physics and not general and disregard your application. Please be careful.

Source - This happened to my friend. He was in the same exact situation as you and had to give a copy of his syllabus to the admissions office to get this settled.

 

[okramango]

Because the title unfortunately has the word "Introductory" in it, you might want to send the course description to some schools you are looking into to see if they will accept it, explaining that trig is a prereq for the class. Does your school also offer an introductory conceptual class (no trig or calculus prereq) that you can compare it to? That could help your case as well. My school had the same 3 levels that paulrc described above, but they were called "Introductory Physics" (the conceptual class with very little math), "General Physics" (the trig-based one for prePT, premed, etc), and "General Physics with Calculus" (for physics/engineering majors). Each school names classes differently, so you just need to show your programs that the class falls under the second category.

 

[NewTestament]

Yes it is unfortunate. Unfortunate also that I misinformed you.

I've only seen three courses for physics: introductory (3 credits), university (calculus-based), and general (trig and algebra-based). If the course is called "Introductory" then yes you need to explain what the course covers: electricity, magnetism or whatever. But most introductory courses are only three credits with no lab. I wonder why they call it "Introductory."

Most schools just say you need 8 credits of physics with lab. I never read anywhere that it must be called something particular.

Kevin

 

[Azimuthal]

My school did the same by having the 'introductory' in front of physics. However, the complete title was something like "Introductory Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism". If yours does the same, then it wouldn't be a problem. If not, sending over a course description from the catalog shouldn't be an issue. Good luck.

 

[OBI603]

Yeah, the course is actually called Introductory physics: electricity and magnetism. I'll just send the syllabus to the schools when that time comes.