5. Selecting Your Science

Before selecting your Science, please check the following AP chart to determine what credit you have received towards your transcript.

Advanced Placement Credit Information for Science

AP Credit Procedures

WPI awards credit for AP scores of 4 or 5 only. Score reports must be sent to the Registrar's Office in order to receive Advanced Placement credit.
1/3 credit is earned and posted to the WPI transcript for each of the following examinations with the appropriate grade. This AP credit is listed as "L" on the transcript.

Environmental Science	ENV 1000 (elective)
Biology	BB 1000 (elective)
Chemistry	CH 1010 (1/3 credit)
Physics B	PH 1000 (elective)
Physics C: Mechanics	PH 1110/1111 (1/3 credit)
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism	PH 1120/1121 (1/3 credit)

Chemistry and Biochemistry Policy on Credit Exams for CH1010-1040 and Information on AP and IB Credit

Students can earn credit for the general chemistry courses CH1010-1040 by achieving scores of 70 or better on course-specific examinations offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students who score 4/5 on the Advanced Placement Examination or 6/7 On the International Baccalaureate Exam are automatically awarded 1/3 unit of credit for CH1010 and are eligible to take the CH1020 exam.  Other students must start with the exam for CH1010.  If you pass the exam with a 70% or better, you will receive credit for CH1010 and you will be eligible to take the exam for the next course. Each exam you pass gives you credit for that exam and makes you eligible to take the next exam.  Once you fail an exam you cannot take any additional exams.  If you have taken a general chemistry course at WPI, you are not eligible to take placement exams.  Exams results will be sent by e-mail within a couple of days after the exam.  The credit awarded is non-graded credit and exams will not be returned.  You are eligible to take the placement exams ONLY during your first year of matriculation at WPI. 

It is a ONE hour exam.  You should bring a non-programmable calculator and a pen/pencil to take the exam.  You will be provided with a periodic table that includes symbols, atomic numbers and average atomic masses of elements.  You will not be allowed to use head-phones, cell phones, i-pads or any other electronic devices during the exam.

Placement exams are only offered twice a year:  during New Student Orientation in August and at the beginning of C Term. 

For further information please contact Mary Ballard at maryb@wpi.edu.

Students who did not take the AP or IB examinations but who took one of the following exams may seek consideration to earn credit from the department under this policy:

• British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) 
• A Level Examinations 
• German Abitur Exam 
• French Baccalaureate II Exam 
• Danish Studenter Eksamen

 

Selecting a Science Course

Below you will find information for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses.

Biology

Biology
If you are considering a major in Biology, enrollment in BB 1035 is best, unless you have not had a high school biology course. 

Chemistry

Students in such majors as CH, ChE, and BIO should start with introductory chemistry before they begin Physics. Also, if you are in MA 1020, the recommendation is to begin Chemistry before beginning Physics. The chemistry sequence begins with CH 1010 in A term and CH 1020 in B term.

Physics

Any student concurrently enrolled in MA 1021 or higher is eligible to enroll in introductory physics.  Prospective PH and Engineering majors are strongly encouraged to begin their study of physics in A Term.  All other students may choose between physics, chemistry, and biology on the basis of personal interest and intended major. Please refer back to the charts in step #2.

The two introductory mechanics courses, PH 1110 and PH 1111 cover the same topics, as do the two electricity and magnetism courses, PH 1120 and PH 1121. 

The PH 1110-1120 and 1111-1121 sequence provides appropriate physics background for all majors and necessary preparation leading to PH 1130 and PH 1140.  Both sequences provide similar emphasis with a laboratory component on application of physical theory.  PH 1111-1121, however, provides a bit more emphasis on fundamental principles, as well as on mathematical rigor, students selecting PH 1111-21 must take Calc 3 or higher in A term.  The PH 1110-1120, 1111-1121, and 1130-1140 sequencew are available twice per year, in Terms A-B and again in terms C-D, respectively.

Please check the chart below to determine which Physics course best suits you:
If registered for MA 1020, a Semester long course, please select a different science course other than Physics in A-B terms.  For this case, it is appropriate to register for Physics in C or D term. If you are registering for MA 1024 in A term, we encourage you to register for PH 1111 sections A09 or A10 in A term.

Course Enrolled in A Term	Course to Take
MA 1021	PH 1110
MA 1022	PH 1110
MA 1023	PH 1111
MA 1024	PH 1111
Course Enrolled in B Term	Course to Take
MA 1022	PH 1120
MA 1023	PH 1120
MA 1024	PH 1121