2026-2027
Physics, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science in Science (Reynolds Community College)
Associate degree
Associate of Science in Science (G3 program)
Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.
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
Students are guaranteed admission to this degree program with:
- Completion of the associate degree
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- All courses completed with a "C" grade 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
2026-2027
Physics, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)
Reynolds Community College (Associate of Science in Science)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY | 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 101.
- Schedule an advising appointment with your Reynolds advisor and review your Reynolds advising workbook.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
- Explore the two concentrations of the physics degree: Nanoscience and Pre-medical.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Explore the VCU Physics department website.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Find out if you are eligible for the NEXT STEP VCU program.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Familiarize yourself with Handshake and explore Career Pathways on the VCU Career Services’ Website.
- Browse careers and occupations related to physics.
- Explore iGrad to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
- Take a career assessment to explore job options.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
- Create a weekly and monthly budget.
- Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Schedule an advising appointment with your Reynolds advisor.
- Meet with your NEXT STEP advisor or submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Submit the FAFSA on time.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MS in Physics and Applied Physics program.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Submit the NEXT Step Interest Form.
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing options for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Physics department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
- Use Handshake to explore jobs and internships that match your interests and skills.
- If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
2026-2027
Physics, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)
Reynolds Community College (Associate of Science in Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||||
| SDV 101 | Orientation to STEM Disciplines | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| MTH 161 | Precalculus I | MATH 141 | 3 | General education |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | UNIV 111 | 3 | General education |
| Select one: CHM 111 General Chemistry I or GOL 105 Physical Geology | VCU equivalent | 4 | Elective | |
| History | Select one: HIS 101 Western Civilizations Pre-1600 CE or HIS 121 United States History to 1877 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| ITE 152 | Introduction to Digital Literacy | BUSN 1XX | 3 | Elective |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 162 | Precalculus II | MATH 151 | 3 | Elective |
| Select one: CHM 112 General Chemistry II or GOL 106 Historical Geology | VCU equivalent | 4 | Elective | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature elective. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education | |
| MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 212 | 3 | Elective |
| History | Select one: HIS 102 Western Civilizations Post1600 CE or HIS 122 United States History since 1865 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| Year 2 | ||||
| MTH 263 | Calculus I | MATH 200 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| PHY 241 | University Physics I | PHYS 207 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Social science | Social science elective | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Health/Personal Wellness Elective (select one): HLT 105 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, HLT 106 First Aid and Safety, or DIT 121 Nutrition I | VCU equivalent | 1 to 3 | Elective | |
| MTH 264 | Calculus II | MATH 201 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| PHY 242 | University Physics II | PHYS 208 | 4 | Major |
| Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature elective. Select one (must be from a different category than first Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature Elective) | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education | |
| Transfer elective: speak with your Reynolds advisor for guidance fulfilling this requirement. | VCU equivalent | 3 to 6 | Elective | |
| Reynolds credits transferred to VCU | 62 to 68 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | |||
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics I (take in the same semester as PHYS 320) | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics (take in the same semester as PHYS 301) | 3 | Major |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations (= MTH 267 at Reynolds) | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Open electives (consider a minor or second major) | 6 | Elective | |
| PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics Laboratory (take after completing PHYS 320) | 1 | Major |
| PHYS 340 | Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics (take with PHYS 376 in the spring) | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 376 | Electromagnetism I (take with PHYS 340 in the spring) | 3 | Major |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus (= MTH 265 at Reynolds) | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Open electives (consider a minor or second major) | 3 | Elective | |
| Year 4 | |||
| PHYS 380 | Quantum Physics I (take in the fall semester) | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 450 | Senior Physics Laboratory (take in the spring semester) | 3 | Major |
| PHYS 490 | Seminar in Conceptual Physics (take in the spring semester) | 1 | Major |
| Major electives | 9 | Major (Electives) | |
| Open electives (consider a minor or second major) | 14 to 20 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 52 to 58 | ||
| Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree | 120 | ||
| The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows academically talented students to earn both the B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Physics and Applied Physics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 85 undergraduate credit hours, including PHYS 376 and PHYS 380; an overall GPA of 3.25; and a GPA of 3.25 in physics course work. | |||