Information for First-Year
Advisors & Students
- Students interested in taking physics as a divisional requirement can take PHY 109 (Astronomy), 110 (Introductory Physics), 115 (Physics of Music), or 120 (Physics & Chemistry of the Environment), all of which have no calculus prerequisite. These courses do not count toward the majors.
- Potential BA and BS physics majors in their first semester should take PHY 123 (General Physics I Honors), if possible, or PHY 113 (General Physics I), if not possible. If they have credit for either PHY 111 or 113, they should take PHY 114 (General Physics II) their first semester. If they have credit for both 113 and 114, they should take PHY 215 (Modern Physics). The co-requisite math courses for PHY 113/123 and 114/124 are MST 111 or 112. A prerequisite for PHY 215 is MST 111 (first-semester Calculus). For more information see the physics major webpage.
- Potential BS in Biophysics majors in their first semester should take PHY 123 (General Physics I Honors), if possible, or PHY 113 (General Physics I), if not possible. The co-requisite math courses for PHY 113/123 and 114/124 are MST 111 or 112. They should take MST 111 and 112, and CHM 111 during their first year. Note that CHM 111/111L is only offered in the fall (and in Summer I). For more information see the physics major webpage.
| Test | AP Score Needed | WFU Credit Hours | Course Credited on Transcript | Course to Register for at WFU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Physics 1 | 4 or 5 | 4 | PHY 110 | PHY 113 or 114 |
| AP Physics 2 | 4 or 5 | 4 | PHY 111 | PHY 114 |
| AP Physics C Mechanics |
4 or 5 | 4 | PHY 113 | PHY 114 |
| AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism |
4 or 5 | 4 | PHY 114 | PHY 113 or 215* |
| International Baccalaureate (High Level only) |
6 or 7 | 4 | PHY 111 | PHY 114 |
| British AS-level | B or higher | 4 | PHY 110 | PHY 113 |
| British A-levels | B or higher | 4 | PHY 111 | PHY 114 |
*If the student has credit for both PHY 111/113 AND 114, then they should register for PHY 215.
Wake Forest divisional credit is not given for any AP, IB, or A-level exams. Note that credit will not be given for both PHY 111 and PHY 113. If a student with PHY 111 credit takes PHY 114 and successfully completes it here at Wake Forest with a grade of C or better, we will, upon request, change PHY 111 credit to PHY 113 credit. This is needed in some cases for our premed students, and can be helpful for our majors.
For more information about any of these options, or about the Physics Department in general, please contact the department chair, Daniel Kim-Shapiro (shapiro@wfu.edu).