PROGRAMS FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

If you have transferred to the University of Washington from another college, this section will help you evaluate the courses you completed there and select the right courses here.

The chief problems faced by students transferring to the University of Washington from other colleges is determining the correct placement in physics courses and in supporting mathematics courses, and determining to what extent the proficiency, writing, and general education requirements have been satisfied.

It is necessary to determine for each transfer student the correct correspondence between course work transferred from other colleges and courses required for the bachelor's degree in Physics. Each transfer student should attempt to determine how courses completed elsewhere correspond to University of Washington courses. The final determination will be made by a faculty adviser in consultation with the student. In some cases, this will require that the student provide additional information about the courses completed, such as texts used, an outline of topics treated, and mathematical level involved.

The following notes give general rules which should make it possible for the student to determine what work has been completed with sufficient accuracy that, in most cases, it will be possible to register even before a final determination is made. In cases of doubt, a faculty adviser should be consulted before registering for courses.

1. Selecting the Right Mathematics Courses

   Students who have completed a full year of college-level calculus with analytical geometry can assume that they have completed the equivalent of Math 124 and 125. They may have completed work equivalent to Math 126. But it is important to take into account that at the University of Washington the full year of introductory calculus that is most common in the United States has been shortened to the two quarter sequence Math 124, 125. The next course taken by physics majors, Math 126, still is the beginning of the second year of calculus in most colleges. If equivalent work has not been completed, take Math 126. If equivalent work has been completed, take Math 308.

   Students who have completed one quarter or one semester of college-level calculus with analytic geometry should continue with Math 125. Those who have completed two quarters should continue with Math 126.

   In none of the cases described above is it certain that the material treated in courses taken elsewhere is precisely what would have been treated in Math 124, 125, 126. The rules given here, however, are the best approximation possible.

   Students who have completed a one-quarter or one-semester introductory course in differential equations can assume they have completed work equivalent to Math 308.

   Students who have completed a one-quarter or one-semester course devoted primarily to the calculus of several variables (partial derivatives, multiple integrals, etc) should assume that they have completed work equivalent to Math 126. They are prepared to continue with Math 307.

   Students who have completed a one-quarter or one-semester course in vector analysis, including the following

   • Gauss's Theorem
   • Stokes's Theorem
   • 
   • 
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   should assume that they have completed work equivalent to Math 324.

2. Selecting the Right Physics Courses

   The introductory sequence in physics for science and engineering students at the University of Washington consists of Physics 121, 122, 123, 224, and 225.

   Students who have completed an introductory two-year, five-quarter or three-semester physics sequence using calculus and including laboratory work should assume that they have completed work equivalent to all of the above University of Washington lecture and laboratory courses.

   Students who have completed a one-year introductory course in physics offered in some colleges, using calculus and including laboratory, ordinarily should plan to take Physics 224 next. They will find that they already have studied part, but not all, of the work included in Physics 224 and 225. At the same time, they will not have studied some topics treated in Physics 121, 122, 123. The best compromise for future work is to assume that the first year of the University of Washington sequence has been completed while the second year has not.

   Students who have completed only one quarter or one semester of an introductory physics course using calculus and with laboratory should continue with Physics 122. Those who have completed two quarters should continue with Physics 123 if their previous work included electromagnetism or Physics 122 if their previous work included waves and optics instead of electromagnetism.

   Students who have completed a one-year college physics course without calculus, including laboratory, and who also have completed a full year of calculus, may wish to continue with Physics 224. This is ordinarily the best choice if the student earned good grades (A's) in the introductory course. In other cases, the student may wish to take one or more quarters of the Physics 121, 122, 123 series first as a review. (A maximum of 15 credits in 100-level physics courses may be counted toward graduation.)

   Students who have completed two years of college mathematics beginning with calculus, but who have completed only one year of physics (with calculus) may consider taking Physics 321, 322, 323 along with the 200-level physics courses. But they should be aware that, unlike most students taking these courses, they will not have the background provided by Physics 227, 228. It must be mentioned that few students with such a background have succeeded in Physics 321. Be very sure of what will be required of you if you elect to try this shortcut.

   Physics 324, 325 should not be taken unless a phenomenological introduction to modern physics similar to Physics 225 has been completed first.

   By combining 200- and 300-level physics courses it is possible to reduce the time needed to complete intermediate-level physics courses. It must be noted, however, that such a combined program is very demanding of the student. Those who have tried this have mixed feelings, at best, of its advisability. Not many have succeeded.

   The required 100-level physics courses carry a total of 15 credits at the University of Washington. This is also the maximum amount of credit in 100-level physics courses that can be counted toward degree requirements at the University of Washington. Students who earn more physics credits at this level through any combination of University of Washington credits and transfer credits should be aware of this restriction.

   Some colleges award less than 15 credits for the introductory year of college physics. Physics majors who transfer from such institutions should determine their placement in physics courses according to the rules stated above. However, ultimately they must earn enough additional credits in physics or approved cognate electives so that the total of applicable transfer and University of Washington credits applied to meet the physics major requirements is at least 53 quarter hours.

   Students who have completed work equivalent to the minimum mathematics requirement for the physics degree and also the equivalent of Physics 224 and 225 may take Physics 321 (offered in Autumn and Winter Quarters). But, again, they must be aware that they may not have preparation equivalent to Physics 227, 228. Depending on their goals, they also may wish to take Physics 324 (offered only in Summer and Autumn Quarters).

   Students who have completed still more advanced work in physics or astronomy probably will have to consult a faculty adviser to select appropriate courses.

3. Other Courses

   Transfer students should read carefully the earlier section on degree requirements and the section for entering freshmen. Those sections describe the full requirements and contain advice on how to fulfill the requirements outside of physics and mathematics.

   Transfer credits in Humanities and Social Sciences usually, but not always, are applicable to the University of Washington distribution requirements. If their exact correspondence to University of Washington courses was not determined by the Admissions Office evaluator, the determination of how courses apply to the Distribution Requirements is made by an adviser in consultation with the student.

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