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 office of Academic Advising in order to receive Advanced Placement credit.
1/3 credit is earned and posted to the WPI transcript by the Registrar's office 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.  Exams must be taken in the order in which the courses are offered, and a student may not take any exam past the first failed exam. For example, a student who passes the CH1010 exam but fails the CH1020 exam is not eligible to take the CH1030 exam. This student will receive credit for CH1010 only. 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 without having first passed the CH1010 exam.

The credit awarded is non-graded credit.  Exams will not be returned.

The General Chemistry exam for CH 1010 (Chemistry 1) and CH 1020 (Chemistry 2) will be given during New Student Orientation. Please check the New Student Orientation schedule in your registration packet when you arrive for the days, times and locations of these exams.

Note this policy applies only to WPI students. General Chemistry Credit exams will also be given before the start of each term. Please contact Mary Ballard at maryb@wpi.edu for information on when the exams will be offered.

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