2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Physics
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Northern Virginia Community College)
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
Northern Virginia Community College (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
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Register for SDV 100 or 101.
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor each semester.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Use Navigate to connect with your advisor and create a program plan.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
- Visit the VCU Transfer Admissions webpage.
- Review the Physics department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend diversity-focused events at NOVA and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU's annual intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Physics through the NOVA career planning system.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the NOVA career planning system.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore VCU's Career Pathways.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Understand how you will fund your education by taking advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the Physics department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Physics department.
- Join a professional organization related to physics: American Physical Society, 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.
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Physics department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
- Plan to complete at least two job experiences (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
- Create a resume.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Physics
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV | SDV 100 or SDV 101 | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENGL 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 |
| History | Select 1: HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I OR HIS 102 History of Western Civilization II OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 121 United States History I OR HIS 122 United States History II | HIST | 3 | General education |
| MTH 167 | MTH 167 Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry (Students taking the two semester sequence of precalculus must take both MTH 161 and 162 for a total of 6 credits) | MATH 151 | 5 | General education |
| CST | CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking OR CST 110 Introduction to Communication OR CST 126 Interpersonal Communication | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 263 | MTH 263 Calculus I | MATH 200 | 4 | Major |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | Select 1: ART 101 History and Appreciation of Art I OR ART 102 History and Appreciation of Art II OR MUS 121 Music Appreciation I OR PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy I OR REL 231 Religions of the World I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Science #1 | PHY 231 General University Physics I | PHYS 207 | 5 | Major |
| MTH 264 | MTH 264 Calculus II | MATH 201 | 4 | Major |
| Science #2 | PHY 232 General Univerity Physics II | PHYS 208 | 5 | Major |
| Social/behavioral Science #1 | Select 1: PLS 135 American National Politics OR PLS 211 United States Government I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Social/behavioral #2 | PLS 241 International Relations I | POLI 105 | 3 | General education |
| Math or Science #1 | MTH 265 Calculus III | MATH 307 | 4 | Major |
| Math or Science #2 | MTH 267 Differential Equations | MATH 301 | 3 | Major |
| Math or Science #3 | PHY 243 Modern Physics or MTH 266 Linear Algebra | PHYS/Z 320 or MATH 310 | 3 to 4 | Major |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | (Select 1): CST 151 Film Appreciation I OR ENG 241 Survey of American Literature I OR ENG 242 Survey of American Literature II OR ENG 243 Survey of English Literature I OR ENG 244 Survey of English Literature II OR ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Elective | ITE 115 or 119 or general education elective | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Northern Virginia Credits transferred to VCU | 62 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) | 0 to 8 | General education | |
| PHYS 301 | Classical mechanics I | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 320 + PHYS 320 | Modern Physics and Laboratory (if PHY 243 is not taken at NOVA) | 0 to 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 Physics electives (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. | 33 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 58 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||