Duke Physics

Taking Physics Elsewhere

• Introduction
• Credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP)  
• Credit for International Exams
• Placement in Duke physics courses
• Transfer Credit for Physics at Another College or University 
• What will appear on your transcript?
• What requirements do physics transfer courses satisfy?
• Equivalency exam (Formula sheets provided on the Equivalency Exam) 
• Mechanics formula sheet
• E&M formula sheet
• Should you take Physics Elsewhere if you are thinking of applying to Medical School?
• Study abroad

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Introduction

So you've taken a physics class elsewhere and would like Duke to give you credit for your achievement ...

While we are happy to give credit where credit is due, there are several steps you must complete before this can happen. The complexity of this process depends on what type of credit you desire, whether you attended a physics class at a different University, and whether you completed an Advanced Placement (AP) class in high school. In essentially all cases, the information on this page only pertains to the Introductory Physics sequence (sometimes called the first-year sequence, although these courses are often taken in later years).

To obtain information about transfer credit for upper-level courses, please consult the physics Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Placement in Duke Physics Courses

Trinity College students who have an exceptionally strong background in physics and scored above 4 on the mechnics and electricity and magnetism AP level-C exams,  may be placed in the upper level courses at the discretion of the physics Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may be placed in the Optics and Modern Physics course (PHY 143L) or in the Intermediate Mechanics course (PHY 181) or in the Electricity and Magnetism course (PHY 182) depending on their background in mathematics.  This option is not available to students in the School of Engineering.