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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Associate in Science, Emphasis in Physics
Major: 8606
Effective Term: 2021 Fall   
Award Type: AS

CIP Code: 40.0801
Program Availability: CG   EM   GC   GW   MC   PC   PV   RS   SC   SM  
Instructional Council: Physics/Physical Science (71)

Total Credits: 60-64
GPA: 2.00
SOC Code: Upon completion of this degree, students may pursue a career as:
19-2099.01 Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
19-4099.01 Quality Control Analysts
19-4099.03 Remote Sensing Technicians
19-4099.00 Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other

Upon completion of a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as:
25-2031.00 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
19-2032.00 Materials Scientists
19-2099.00 Physical Scientists, All Other
11-9121.00 Natural Sciences Managers

Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a career as:
19-2012.00 Physicists
25-1054.00 Physics Teachers, Postsecondary


Description: The Associate in Science (AS), Emphasis in Physics degree provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in Physics or are preparing for application to professional graduate programs in various medical fields. With a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as a secondary education Physics teacher, physicist, or materials scientist. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a number of careers, including but not limited to, Physics professor, physicist, engineer, or researcher.

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Communicate scientific ideas, both qualitatively and quantitatively, using an appropriate technical vocabulary. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, CHM150, CHM150AA, CHM151, CHM151AA, CHM151LL, CHM152, CHM152AA, CHM152LL, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277, [FYC], [L], (COM))
2. Collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, CHM150, CHM150AA, CHM151, CHM151AA, CHM151LL, CHM152, CHM152AA, CHM152LL, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277, LANG, [FYC], [L], [HU], [SB], (COM))
3. Provide order of magnitude estimates for physical quantities in appropriate units. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277)
4. Describe, predict, and explain real-world phenomena, utilizing a variety of different representations, such as mathematical, graphical, and pictorial formalisms. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, CHM150, CHM150AA, CHM151, CHM151AA, CHM151LL, CHM152, CHM152AA, CHM152LL, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277, [FYC], (COM))
5. Collect and analyze experimental data, and then draw reasonable conclusions to both develop and support the laws of Physics. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, CHM150, CHM150AA, CHM151, CHM151AA, CHM151LL, CHM152, CHM152AA, CHM152LL, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277, [L])
6. Apply principles of Physics to solve problems both inside and outside the classroom. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277)
7. Transfer information and problem-solving methods from familiar to unfamiliar contexts. (PHY115, PHY116, PHY121, PHY131, PHY241, BIO181++, BIO182++, MAT220, MAT221, MAT225, MAT230, MAT231, MAT240, MAT241, MAT276, MAT277, [FYC], [L])
Required Courses
+ MAT230 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (5) OR
+ MAT231 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4) 4-5

+ MAT240 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (5) OR
+ MAT241 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (4) 4-5

+ PHY115 University Physics I (5) OR
+ PHY121 University Physics I: Mechanics (4) 4-5

+ PHY116 University Physics II (5) OR
+ PHY131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism (4) 4-5
Credits: 16-20

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 22, 2021

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.