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Physics

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degrees for Transfer

A.S.-T. in Physics

The Associate in Science in Physics for Transfer degree provides students with a thorough overview of the field of physics. Students will have demonstrated sufficient understanding in the fields of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, modern physics, the scientific method and mathematics to successfully transfer to a four-year institution with a major in physics.

The Associate in Science in Physics for Transfer degree fulfills the general requirements of the California State University for transfer. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system, although not necessarily to a particular campus or major.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
PHYS 411 Mechanics of Solids and Fluids 4
PHYS 421 Electricity and Magnetism 4
PHYS 431 Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics 4
MATH 400 Calculus I 5
MATH 401 Calculus II 5
MATH 402 Calculus III 5
Total Units: 27

The Associate in Science in Physics for Transfer (AS-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • explain the scientific method and its application to the fundamental concepts of physics including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, optics and modern physics.
  • solve conceptual, numeric and symbolic problems in physics (specifically the fields of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, optics and modern physics) using mathematics through calculus.
  • demonstrate the proper use of basic laboratory devices including metersticks, balances, digital multimeters, and oscilloscopes.
  • apply mathematical concepts including single and multivariable calculus, vector calculus, and basic differential equations in order to model physical systems and solve physical problems.
  • create graphical representations of data and analyze those graphs to determine the results of laboratory activities.
  • write a clear, coherent and thorough lab report.

Career Information

This degree is designed to facilitate successful transfer to four-year programs that prepare students for advanced study in physics and related fields including biophysics, physical chemistry, geophysics, and astrophysics. Physicists with undergraduate and graduate degrees have a wide range of employment opportunities including research, engineering, computer programming, and teaching. NOTE TO TRANSFER STUDENTS: The Associate Degree for Transfer program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a campus of the California State University (CSU). Other than the required core, the courses you choose to complete this degree will depend to some extent on the selected CSU for transfer. In addition, some CSU-GE Breadth or IGETC requirements can also be completed using courses required for this associate degree for transfer major (known as “double-counting”). Meeting with a counselor to determine the most appropriate course choices will facilitate efficient completion of your transfer requirements. For students wishing to transfer to other universities (UC System, private, or out-of-state), the Associate Degree for Transfer may not provide adequate preparation for upper-division transfer admissions, because many universities require more lower division courses than those in this degree. Even the CSU's that accept this transfer degree may likely require more lower division courses to achieve the Bachelor degree. Specifically, courses in general chemistry, differential equations, linear algebra, and computer programming may better prepare the transfer student for certain universities. It is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for the major, as programs vary widely in terms of the required preparation.

Associate Degrees

A.S. in General Science

Areas of Study include:

• Biological Anthropology
• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Physical Geography
• Geology
• Physics

Eighteen (18) units of transfer-level course work in science are required. Two laboratory courses must be included: one in the physical sciences and one in the biological sciences. Courses may be selected from astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physical geography, biological anthropology, and physics. The student, in consultation with a counselor, should choose science courses to meet their program, transfer, or general education requirements.

Students interested in transferring to a four-year university with a science major are encouraged to complete a science AS or AS-T degree such as Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geography, Geology, or Physics. This General Science degree may not include the majors-level transfer courses needed for many science majors. Students are strongly recommended to see a counselor for guidance.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
Life Science with Lab :
A minimum of 4 units from the following: 4
ANTH 300 Biological Anthropology (3)
and ANTH 301 Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1)
ANTH 480 Honors Biological Anthropology (3)
and ANTH 482 Honors Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1)
BIOL 308 Contemporary Biology (3)
and BIOL 309 Contemporary Biology Laboratory (1)
BIOL 400 Principles of Biology (5)
BIOL 410 Principles of Botany (5)
BIOL 420 Principles of Zoology (5)
BIOL 430 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
BIOL 431 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
BIOL 440 General Microbiology (4)
HONOR 387 Biological Anthropology Laboratory-Honors (1)
and HONOR 386 Biological Anthropology-Honors (3)
Physical Science with Lab:
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
ASTR 300 Introduction to Astronomy (3)
and ASTR 400 Astronomy Laboratory (1)
CHEM 300 Beginning Chemistry (4)
CHEM 305 Introduction to Chemistry (5)
CHEM 306 Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (5)
CHEM 309 Integrated General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (5)
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 401 General Chemistry II (5)
CHEM 420 Organic Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 421 Organic Chemistry II (5)
GEOG 300 Physical Geography: Exploring Earth's Environmental Systems (3)
and GEOG 301 Physical Geography Laboratory (1)
GEOL 300 Physical Geology (3)
and GEOL 301 Physical Geology Laboratory (1)
GEOL 305 Earth Science (3)
and GEOL 306 Earth Science Laboratory (1)
GEOL 310 Historical Geology (3)
and GEOL 311 Historical Geology Laboratory (1)
ENGR 304 How Things Work (3)
PHYS 350 General Physics (4)
PHYS 360 General Physics (4)
PHYS 370 Introductory Physics - Mechanics and Thermodynamics (5)
PHYS 380 Introductory Physics - Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Modern Physics (5)
PHYS 411 Mechanics of Solids and Fluids (4)
PHYS 421 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
PHYS 431 Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics (4)
Additional Science Courses :
A minimum of 11 units from the following: 111
ANTH 300 Biological Anthropology (3)
ANTH 301 Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1)
ANTH 480 Honors Biological Anthropology (3)
ANTH 482 Honors Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1)
ASTR 300 Introduction to Astronomy (3)
ASTR 400 Astronomy Laboratory (1)
BIOL 308 Contemporary Biology (3)
BIOL 309 Contemporary Biology Laboratory (1)
BIOL 342 The New Plagues: New and Ancient Infectious Diseases Threatening World Health (3)
BIOL 350 Environmental Biology (3)
BIOL 352 Conservation Biology (3)
BIOL 400 Principles of Biology (5)
BIOL 410 Principles of Botany (5)
BIOL 420 Principles of Zoology (5)
BIOL 430 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
BIOL 431 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
BIOL 440 General Microbiology (4)
CHEM 300 Beginning Chemistry (4)
CHEM 305 Introduction to Chemistry (5)
CHEM 306 Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (5)
CHEM 309 Integrated General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (5)
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 401 General Chemistry II (5)
CHEM 420 Organic Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 421 Organic Chemistry II (5)
ENGR 304 How Things Work (3)
GEOG 300 Physical Geography: Exploring Earth's Environmental Systems (3)
GEOG 301 Physical Geography Laboratory (1)
GEOG 305 Global Climate Change (3)
GEOG 306 Weather and Climate (3)
GEOL 300 Physical Geology (3)
GEOL 301 Physical Geology Laboratory (1)
GEOL 305 Earth Science (3)
GEOL 306 Earth Science Laboratory (1)
GEOL 310 Historical Geology (3)
GEOL 311 Historical Geology Laboratory (1)
GEOL 330 Introduction to Oceanography (3)
GEOL 390 Field Studies in Geology (1 - 4)
HONOR 386 Biological Anthropology-Honors (3)
HONOR 387 Biological Anthropology Laboratory-Honors (1)
PHYS 310 Conceptual Physics (3)
PHYS 350 General Physics (4)
PHYS 360 General Physics (4)
PHYS 370 Introductory Physics - Mechanics and Thermodynamics (5)
PHYS 380 Introductory Physics - Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Modern Physics (5)
PHYS 411 Mechanics of Solids and Fluids (4)
PHYS 421 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
PHYS 431 Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics (4)
Total Units: 18

1Courses used in A or B above will not count towards C, except units exceeding the 4 or 3 unit minimum in A and B. For example, a student completing the 5 unit CHEM 309 under B could apply 2 of those units towards C. A total of 18 science units is required.

The General Science Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local CRC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See CRC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • explain the core perspectives of the scientific method and apply it to at least one scientific discipline. (PSLO 1)
  • solve introductory problems of a conceptual and/or numerical nature of at least one scientific discipline. (PSLO 2)
  • accurately apply the basic vocabulary and concepts of at least one scientific discipline verbally and in writing. (PSLO 3)
  • recognize the use and misuse of scientific concepts in society including politics and the media. (PSLO 4)

A.S. in Physics

The Associate in Science in Physics degree provides students with a thorough overview of the field of physics. Students will have demonstrated sufficient understanding in the fields of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, modern physics, the scientific method, mathematics and chemistry to successfully transfer to a four-year institution with a major in physics.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I 5
CHEM 401 General Chemistry II 5
MATH 400 Calculus I 5
MATH 401 Calculus II 5
MATH 402 Calculus III 5
MATH 420 Differential Equations 4
PHYS 411 Mechanics of Solids and Fluids 4
PHYS 421 Electricity and Magnetism 4
PHYS 431 Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics 4
Total Units: 41

The Physics Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local CRC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See CRC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • explain the scientific method and its application to the fundamental concepts of physics including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, optics, modern physics and general chemistry.
  • solve conceptual, numeric and symbolic problems in physics (mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, optics and modern physics) and general chemistry using mathematics through calculus.
  • demonstrate the proper use of basic laboratory devices including metersticks, balances, digital multimeters, and oscilloscopes.
  • apply mathematical concepts including algebra, single and multivariable calculus, vector calculus, and basic differential equations in order to model physical systems and solve physical problems.
  • create graphical representations of data and analyze those graphs to determine the results of laboratory activities.
  • write a clear, coherent and thorough lab report.

Career Information

This degree is designed to facilitate successful transfer to four-year programs that prepare students for advanced study in physics and related fields including biophysics, physical chemistry, geophysics, and astrophysics. Physicists with undergraduate and graduate degrees have a wide range of employment opportunities including research, engineering, computer programming, and teaching. NOTE TO TRANSFER STUDENTS: It is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for the major, as university physics programs vary widely in terms of the required preparation. Specifically, some programs may require courses in linear algebra and computer programming as well as the courses included in this degree.