Associate in Science to Bachelor of Science/Art in Physics Pathway

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Physics is a science that investigates the fundamental concepts of matter, energy, and space and the relationships among them. Physics is the backbone of many other fields including astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering, which is evident in fields, such as biophysics, chemical physics, astrophysics, space physics, and geophysics. Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) offers the first two years of physics courses and courses in other disciplines, such as mathematics and chemistry, for students who want to major or minor in physics for a baccalaureate program.

The two-year program listed below is designed to meet the requirements of an Associate of Science degree and prepare students for a Bachelor of Science/Art in Physics from regional public and private institutions. Students interested in transferring to a four-year college or university after GTCC should consult with the institution they plan to attend, their faculty advisor, and/or GTCC Student Success Center to ensure the transfer of the appropriate courses to that institution for both General Education courses and pre-major electives.

Upon successful completion of this degree, graduates will be able to:

Explain the foundational principles of physics qualitatively.
Apply physics concepts to real world situations.
Analyze problems quantitatively using logic and foundational principles of physics.
Use the methods and techniques of experimental physics.

First Semester

ACA 122 College Transfer Success Credits: 1
CHM 151 General Chemistry I Credits: 4 ²
ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry Credits: 3
MAT 271 Calculus I Credits: 4 ³
History Elective Credits: 3¹

Total Credits: 15

Second Semester

CHM 152 General Chemistry II Credits: 4 ²
ENG 112 Writing and Research in the Disciplines Credits: 3
MAT 272 Calculus II Credits: 4 ³
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Credits: 3⁴
Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3 ⁵

Total Credits: 17

Third Semester

MAT 273 Calculus III Credits: 4
MAT 280 Linear Algebra Credits: 3 ⁷
PHY 251 General Physics I Credits: 4
Communications/Humanities Elective Credits: 3 ⁶

Total Credits: 14

Fourth Semester

MAT 285 Differential Equations Credits: 3 ⁷
PHY 252 General Physics II Credits: 4
Pre-major or General Education Elective Credits: 3⁸
Pre-major or General Education Elective Credits: 4 ⁹

Total Credits: 14

Total credits required for this pathway: 60

Notes:

¹Recommendations given for transferring institution: UNCG-HIS 111 or 131, NC A&T- HIS 111 or 112; Guilford College or ASU-HIS 131; UNCC HIS 111, 112, 131, or 132.

²CHM 151 is required for students who are transferring to NCA&T and UNCC. CHM 151/152 is required for students transferring to UNCG. Students who are interested in the Astrophysics track can take AST 151/151A and AST 152/152A. For other institutions, UGETC electives maybe used.

³Depending on where students are placed in the mathematics sequence, students may need to take additional mathematics before starting MAT 271.

⁴Students should take MUS 110 for most institutions.

⁵For most institutions students may select from ECO 251, ECO 252, PSY 150, POL 120, or SOC 210. Students transferring to Guilford College should take ECO 251.

⁶For most institutions students should take PHI 240. Students transferring to ASU should take ENG 241 or 242. Students transferring to UNCG should take COM 231. Students transferring to UNCC should take COM 120 or COM 231.

⁷Students transferring to UNCC and ASU should take these higher mathematics courses. Students transferring to NC A&T should take MAT 280 and MAT 152. Students transferring to UNCG should take *CSC 151 and UGETC elective. *CSC 151 will NOT AUTOMATICALLY satisfy UNCG’s Physics degree requirements as CSC 120 (at UNCG) is required. Students should speak with a UNCG Physics department advisor.

⁸Students transferring to UNCG or NC A&T should take 6 credit hours of foreign language.

⁹Students who enter in the mathematics sequence lower than MAT 172 may use these additional hours; however, students will need to have completed MAT 271 before beginning the PHY 251/252 sequence. Students transferring to UNCC should take one of the following courses: HIS 112, POL 210, or POL 220. Another Pre-major or General Education elective course to consider is foreign language depending on your institution.