Courses
These are informal course descriptions meant to be more student friendly than the
course catalog. Last updated Spring 2025.
PHYC 110 - Conceptual physics for non-majors
Offered Spring, Fall, and most summers.
Currently online asynchronous or HyFlex for Fall and Spring. Online asynchronous in Summer.
Simple treatment of basic physics principles and phenomena with an emphasis on relating them to events and processes of everyday living. Study of the description and cause of various kinds of motion, conservation laws, hot and cold bodies with heat exchange, sound in music and hearing, light and color perception, electricity and some of its practical uses, observation of atomic particles from radiation sources, and other subjects. There is no math prerequisite; the main emphasis is on understanding the concepts rather than doing many mathematical manipulations.
AA/AS GE, CSU, CSU GE, IGETC, UC credit limit
PHYC 130 - Physics for Life Sciences I
Offered Spring, Fall, and most summers.
Currently offered Hybrid (lecture online, lab in-person) or In-Person. Summers are online asynchronous.
Physics for life science majors. Part of 2 semester series.
Currently offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
AA/AS GE, CSU, CSU GE, IGETC, UC credit limit
PHYC 131 - Physics for Life Sciences II
Offered Spring and Fall
Currently offered Hybrid (lecture online, lab in-person) or In-Person. Summers are online asynchronous.
Physics for life science majors. Part of 2 semester series.
Currently offered in Fall and Spring
AA/AS GE, CSU, CSU GE, IGETC, UC credit limit
PHYC 201 (formerly 190) - Mechanics and Waves
Offered Spring, Fall, and most summers.
Currently in all formats: HyFlex (with labs in-person), hybrid (lecture online, lab in-person), and limited online asynchronous.* Summer is online asynchronous.
*Many transfer schools do not accept online physics labs, please check with your transfer institution before enrolling!
** If you want to take Math 180 concurrently please submit a prerequisite clearance form and contact the department chair!
Mechanics and Waves. Physics for Science and Engineering Majors. Part 1 of a 3 part series. Offered year round.
AA/AS GE, CSU, CSU GE, IGETC, UC
PHYC 202 (formerly 200) - Electricity, Magnetism, and Heat
Offered Spring and Fall
Currently in all formats: HyFlex (with labs in-person), hybrid (lecture online, lab in-person), and limited online asynchronous*.
*Many transfer schools do not accept online physics labs, please check with your transfer institution before enrolling!
Electricity, Magnetism, and Heat. Physics for Science and Engineering Majors. Part 2 of a 3 part series. Offered year round (not summer).
AA/AS GE, CSU, CSU GE, IGETC, UC
PHYC 203 (Formerly 210) - Light, Optics, and Modern Physics
Offered Spring and Fall (Starting in Spring 2023 we are alternating offering this course with Grossmont) due to low enrollment.
Lab is always in person due to the complexity of the equipment. Lecture varies between online asynchronous and HyFlex.
Light, Optics, and Modern Physics. Physics for Science and Engineering Majors. Part 3 of a 3 part series (not all majors require part 3). Currently offered either Spring or Fall, alternating with Grossmont College.
AA/AS GE, CSU, CSU GE, IGETC, UC