2021-2022
Physics, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Tidewater 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
Transfer major map
2021-2022
Physics, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Tidewater 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
- Register for SDV 100.
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Attend New Student Orientation.
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 cultural events at community college 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 Virginia Wizard.
- 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
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MS in Physics program.
- Explore the two concentrations of the BS degree: nanoscience and pre-medical.
- Explore the VCU Physics department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Research housing for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Physics Department and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
- 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.
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Physics department-related events.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
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.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
2021-2022
Physics, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Tidewater 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 | MATH 141 | 3 | General education |
| Humanities elective | Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Science with Lab | BIO 101 General Biology I or CHM 111 General Chemistry I | BIOL/Z 151 or CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | General education |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 162 | PreCalculus II | MATH 151 | 3 | General education |
| Health/PE elective | VCU equivalent | 2 | Elective | |
| History elective | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| Science with Lab | BIO 102 General Biology II or CHM 112 General Chemistry II | BIOL/Z 152 or CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | General education |
| CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| Science with Lab | PHY 241 University Physics I | PHYS 207 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| History | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| Approved elective | MTH 263 Calculus I | MATH 200 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Approved elective | Select from list of Approved Electives | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Science with Lab | PHY 242 University Physics II | PHYS 208 | 4 | Major |
| Social Science | Select 1: PSY 200, SOC 200, 211, PLS 211, 241 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Humanities elective | Select 1: ENG 200-level literature; PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Approved elective | MTH 264 Calculus II | MATH 201 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Tidewater credits transferred to VCU | 60 | |||
| 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 + 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 | |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Electives consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 24 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||