Department of PhysicsPhysics has three introductory physics sequences: 141L/142L (pre-health and others), 151L/152L (engineers), 161+161L/162+162L (prospective and current physics majors).
Details are here: https://www.phy.duke.edu/introductory-physics-courses
The core content of each sequence is similar, and the courses can in many cases be substituted for each other. However there are some recent and near-future changes to be aware of:
- The Physics 141L content has been modified somewhat to include more biological applications (core content remains unchanged).
- Since last year, Physics 161 and 162 have been decoupled from their labs. The labs have now become separate 1/2-credit courses, 161L and 162L, designed to introduced students to experimental research skills (including some programming and data analysis). Unlike the other physics intro sequences, 161L and 162L can be taken independently and both are offered both spring and fall semesters. Physics 161L is a prerequisite for 162L.
- Physics 151L/152L remains unchanged.
The most significant upcoming changes are to the introductory physics major sequence. Starting 2017/2018 academic year, the first courses will be shifted forward. In steady state:
- Physics 161 will be offered in the spring and 162 in the fall.
- Physics 264L (the next major course, which can be taken by very strong starting students) will be offered in the spring.
- As now, 161L and 162L lab courses will both be offered both semesters.
- Timing of all other physics major courses will not change.
- There will be a new course, Physics 160, "Frontiers of 21st Century Physics" offered in the fall. This is a QS-coded course (at the level of Intro to Astronomy, i.e., algebra but not calculus) designed to introduce students to exciting physics research questions (note that it's not a seminar course). It will not be a requirement for a physics major, but will be encouraged. This course will also be of interest to non-physics majors who want to learn about current research in physics.
- Timing of the other sequences will not change (141L and 142L both offered spring and fall semesters and in the summer, 152L offered in the fall and 151L in the spring).
Suggested course sequences for physics majors: https://www.phy.duke.edu/sites/default/files/physics-major-sequences.pdf
Because 2016/2017 is a transition year, the offerings will be anomalous. To minimally disrupt majors already in the current sequence, and within resource constraints, the offerings will be:
- Physics 160: offered fall 2016
- Physics 161: offered spring 2017
- Physics 161L and 162L: both offered both semesters
- Physics162: not offered
- Physics 264L: offered both fall 2016 and spring 2017
Most first-year students interested in a physics major (even with AP credit) are encouraged to take Physics 160 in the fall and Physics 161+161L in the spring, as well as math courses.
Very strong first-year prospective physics majors with full AP credit and calculus II are encouraged to take Physics 152L, Physics 161L (the 1/2-credit lab), and Physics 160 if desired in the fall (after this year, 162 is suggested instead of 152L). Students should discuss with the Physics DUS if in doubt.
Last Modified April 2016