HONORS PHYSICS

There are two components to the Honors Program in Physics:

• Honors Sections of Physics 121, 122, 123
  One of the sections of Physics 121, 122, and 123 taught starting in the Fall of each year is the Honors Section. This section is intended for Physics majors and others who are interested in a deeper, more challenging introductory course.



• Physics Honors Program

Honors Sections of Physics 121, 122, and 123

Honors sections of Physics 121, 122, 123, the first-year introductory sequence for science and engineering majors, are offered each year beginning in Autumn Quarter. These sections cover the same general topics as the regular sections. They will, however, go more deeply into many topics and will consider more challenging problems. (They are not "accelerated" courses.)

Any student who wishes can enroll in the honors section of Physics 121 in Autumn Quarter by obtaining an entry code from Margot Nims (margot@phys.washington.edu / 206-543-2772 / C139A, PAT). The expected preparation includes a good high school physics course. The student should have a strong aptitude for scientific work and confidence in being able to manage challenging work. No special mathematical background is needed, but the student should feel at ease handling mathematics.

Admission to the honors section of Physics 122 in Winter Quarter and of Physics 123 in Spring Quarter is by course entry code. Entry codes will be issued to students in the honors section of 121 and 122 on approval of the instructor. Entry codes may also be issued by the honors section instructor, to students in regular sections of Physics 121 and 122, on the basis of good records in those courses.

Students who take Physics 121 Honors can, with the honors section instructor's permission, transfer to a regular section in the early weeks of autumn quarter, but after the first test has been graded, without any formal change of registration.

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Physics Honors Program

Bachelor's Degrees in Physics with College Honors or Distinction in Physics are available to students who are admitted to the Physics Honors Program and who complete certain requirements. The requirements of the Physics Departmental Honors Program are described below. Students in the College Honors Program must fulfill these same requirements as well as the additional requirements of the College Honors Program.

Admission to the Physics Departmental Honors Program requires:

• Registration as a physics major and provision of necessary academic records to the Department of Physics.
• Completion of at least 90 quarter hours of college work, including transfer credits.
• Completion of at least 24 quarter hours of college work in physics, including transfer credits.
• Completion of at least 12 quarter hours of physics courses at the University of Washington.
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30.
• For students who have completed less than 45 physics credits, the grade point average in University of Washington physics courses must be at least the value given by:
  
  
  


• Students who have completed at least 45 credits in physics must have a cumulative grade point average in physics courses of at least 3.30. (Physics course GPA is computed without deleting grades in repeated courses.)
• In the case of students re-entering the University of Washington after an absence of two or more years, at least 6 quarter hours of physics courses must be completed after re-entry.

Continuation in the Departmental Honors Program requires that the student maintain a cumulative grade point average in all courses of at least 3.30 and also a cumulative grade point average in physics courses of at least 3.30. A student in the Honors Program who fails to maintain these standards but achieves a grade point average of at least 2.0 in that quarter will be placed on provisional status. At the end of the next quarter the record will be reviewed. If there is evidence of satisfactory progress, the student will be continued in provisional standing. Good standing is regained once the cumulative grade point average has returned to at least 3.30 both in physics courses and in all other courses.

Graduation with either Departmental Honors or College Honors in Physics requires:

• Good standing in the Physics Departmental Honors Program at the time of graduation.
• Admission to the Physics Departmental Honors Program no later than the start of the first quarter of the senior year.
• Satisfactory completion of at least 53 quarter hours in physics courses.
• Satisfactory completion of the senior honors seminar in physics (Physics 485, 486, 487).
• Completion of all the requirements of the bachelor of science degree in Physics.

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