2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Physics
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Associate degree
Program description
The curriculum in physics prepares students for technical careers in physics or an allied area, for careers in engineering and for the teaching of physics in secondary schools. The curriculum also prepares students for graduate studies in physics or a related area.
Students will learn to perform scientific reasoning and complex problem-solving. Physics majors will receive a fundamental understanding of the main areas of physics so that they are prepared for jobs that use physics-based technologies. They are expected to have mastered the analytical approach to solving technical problems by identifying simple subsystems that obey known physical laws and using these laws to approximate the behavior of the whole system.
Career opportunities
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, students can pursue careers in research and development, science, engineering, education, medicine, law, business, and the military.
Bachelor-level job titles
- Automotive Engineer
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Environmental Compliance Inspector
- Geophysical Data Technician
- High School Teacher
- Photonics Engineer
- Quality Control Analyst
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- Software Quality Assurance Engineer/Tester
- Technical Writer
- Web Developer
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Astrophysicist
- Engineer
- Meteorologist
- Secondary School Teacher
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 201 or higher
Science required
- 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
- Yes
Additional tuition/fees
- Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 2.0
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Physics
Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend Tyler Orientation.
- Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
- Register for SDV course.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator to discuss options and create a plan for a successful transition to VCU.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's Physics Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
- Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Physics through the career coach.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Create LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Take a career assessment through the career coach.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
- Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
- Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator to discuss options and create a plan for a successful transition to VCU.
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus to get ahead.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Join a professional organization related to physics: Society of Physics Students.
- Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
Recommended courses
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Physics
Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 161 | Precalculus I (or MTH 263 Calculus I) | MATH 141 (or MATH 200) | 3 | General education |
| CHM 111 | General Chemistry I | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | General education |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| Foreign Language or CST | SPA 101, FRE 101, or CST 100 (students who have not completed 3 years of same language in high school should complete language for this requirement) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | General education |
| MTH 162 | Precalculus II (or MTH 264 Calculus II) | MATH 151 (or MATH 201) | 3 | Major |
| CHM 112 | General Chemistry II | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Elective |
| Social/Behavioral Science | Social/Behavioral Science elective (select 1): PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211 (PSY 230 will be accepted if Associate degree is completed) | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Elective |
| MTH 263 | Calculus I (or MTH 265 Calculus III) | MATH 200 (or MATH 307) | 4 | Major |
| ENG | Any 200-level ENG literature course (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252 | ENGL | 3 | General education |
| PHY 241 | University Physics I | PHYS 207 | 4 | Major |
| History elective | History elective (select 1): HIS 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| MTH 264 | Calculus II (or MTH 267 Differential Equations) | MATH 201 (or MATH 301) | 4 | Major |
| Social/Behavioral Science | Social/Behavioral Science elective (select 1): PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211 (PSY 230 will be accepted if Associate degree is completed) | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Foreign Language or Humanities | Select 1: SPA 102, FRE 102, PHI 220, REL 230, PHI 101, REL 100 (students not completing 3 years of same langauge in high school should choose language for this category) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | General education |
| PHY 242 | University Physics II | PHYS 208 | 4 | Major |
| Elective | Select 1: HLT 160, ART 101, ART 102, CHM 241, EDU 200, ITE 115, ITE 119 | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| John Tyler credits transferred to VCU | 61 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations (if not completed at John Tyler) | 0 to 3 | Major |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus (if not completed at John Tyler) | 0 to 4 | Major |
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 320 + PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics and Laboratory | 4 | Major |
| PHYS 340 | Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 376 | Electromagnetism I | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 380 | Quantum Physics I | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 450 | Senior Physics Laboratory | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 490 | Seminar in Conceptual Physics | 1 | Major |
| Select 9 credits of elective physics classes (see VCU advisor for course options) | 9 | Major | |
| Electives consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 23 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 59 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||