Physics AP Policy

Students with AP grades of 4 or lower receive no credit or placement.

There is a college wide policy that a student may not receive credit toward a degree solely on the basis of a score on an Advanced Placement Test. Students with scores of 5 on Physics C may receive one or more credits upon passing a Hamilton physics course. Information about the amount of credit and the appropriate course placement will be found below.

Physics 1 and 2(non-calculus):

The department does not offer credit for algebra-based AP physics but students with one or more scores of 5 may wish to consult with the department about course placement. It is normally inappropriate for such students to enroll in Physics 100 or Physics 105.

Physics C (calculus based):

Students having obtained a 5 in Mechanics, independent of their score in E&M, will receive 1 credit upon successful completion of Physics 195 or 205, assuming that they have not completed any of the first-semester courses of the introductory sequence.

Students having obtained a 5 in both Mechanics and E&M will receive 2 credits upon successful completion of Physics 290, assuming that they have not completed any courses in an introductory sequence.

In all cases, successful completion requires a minimum grade of B in the Hamilton course.

Revised 3/22/2017 Seth Major & Brian Collett

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