Physics, Associate of Science

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://ecatalog.socc.edu.

The Associate of Science degree with physics emphasis is designed to give students interested in pursuing STEM programs in physics a more complete transfer path than the existing AAOT bulk transfer degree.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 92 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the AS degree is awarded.

Courses that are developmental in nature (designed to prepare students for college transfer courses) are not applicable to this degree.

Students must complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).

Program Student Learning Outcomes

  • Apply foundational conceptual knowledge and models of physical principles to analyze and/or predict phenomena.     
  • Understand and apply proper mathematical interpretation of physical principles and computation methods  to analyze and/or predict phenomena.
  • Interpret and communicate scientific information via written, spoken, and/or visual representations.
  • Describe the relevance of specific scientific principles to the human experience.
  • Form and test a hypothesis in the laboratory or field using discipline-specific tools and techniques for data collection and/or analysis.

Math and writing placement are unique to each student and are determined during the admissions and intake advising process.  Additional math or writing courses may be required prior to taking the math or writing program requirements in this degree.

Program Guide

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
WR121 English Composition 4
CHEM221 General Chemistry I 5
MTH251 Calculus I Differential Calculus 4
HD102 College Nuts and Bolts 1
 Credits14
Winter
WR227 Report Writing 4
CHEM222 General Chemistry II 5
MTH252 Calculus II Integral Calculus 4
SP111 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
 Credits16
Spring
CHEM223 General Chemistry III 5
BI203 Introductory Biology 4
MTH253 Calculus III Infinite Sequences And Series 6 4
Difference, Power, and Discrimination 2 3
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
PH211 General Physics with Calculus I 5
MTH254 Vector Calculus I 4
Social Processes and Institutions 3 3
Literature and Arts 5 3
 Credits15
Winter
PH212 General Physics with Calculus II 5
MTH255 Vector Calculus II 4
ENGR112
or CS161
 Engineering Computation
or Introduction to Computer Science I
 4
Cultural Diversity 4 3
 Credits16
Spring
PH213 General Physics with Calculus III 5
MTH256 Differential Equations 4
PE231 Wellness for Life 3
Western Culture 1 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits92
1

Western Culture: ART204, ART205, ART206, ENG201, ENG204, ENG205, ENG206, HST101, HST102, HST103, HST201, HST202, HST203, PHL101, PHL102.

2

Difference, Power, and Discrimination: SOC206, SOC213, HST201, HST202, OR HST203.

3

Social Processes and Institutions: ANTH221 , ANTH222 , ANTH223 , ECON201, ECON202, HST101, HST102, HST103, PS201, PS205, PSY201, PSY202,  PSY203 , SOC204 . SOC205.

4

Cultural Diversity: ANTH224, ANTH230, ANTH231, ANTH232, HST104, HUM204, HUM205, HUM206.

5

Literature and the Arts: ART204, ART205, ART206, ENG104, ENG105, ENG106, ENG107, ENG108, ENG109, ENG201, ENG204, ENG205, ENG206, ENG262, MUS201, MUS202, MUS203.

6

MTH264 may be substituted for MTH253 for students transferring to OSU.

*

All Honors courses may substitute for their equivalent requirements.

**

At least two courses must be chosen from the Arts and Letters section from the AS course list to meet the above requirements.