Registration Guide: Physics & Computer Science

Physics & Computer Science majors are required to complete two levels of calculus: CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 and CAS MA 124 Calculus 2. As your first course, you should choose the appropriate level calculus course. The course you choose depends on any external credit you already have as well as the level you wish to take. You should select one course based on the following:

• If you have no external credit for calculus, take CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 (offered either semester).
  • If taken at BU, MA 123 fulfills a single Hub requirement in the following: Quantitative Reasoning II and Critical Thinking.
• If you have external credit (such as AP or IB scores) that fulfills CAS MA 123, take the next course in the sequence, CAS MA 124 Calculus 2 (offered either semester; prerequisite: CAS MA 123).
  • If taken at BU, CAS MA 124 fulfills a single Hub requirement in the following areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Scientific Inquiry II and Critical Thinking
• If taken as AP or IB credit you will receive one single requirement in Quantitative Reasoning II for CAS MA 123 (and one single requirement in Quantitative Reasoning II for CAS MA 124, if eligible).

**If you have taken AP or IB exams in calculus, but don’t have the scores back yet, register with cautious optimism; if you feel confident you did well on the exams, register as if you will be receiving the advanced credit. Once your scores have been received, you can drop this course if you were not awarded AP/IB credit and add the appropriate level.

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If you have already fulfilled both CAS MA 123 and CAS MA 124, you can move on to your physics requirement, either CAS PY 251 Principles of Physics 1 or CAS PY 211 General Physics 1.

• CAS PY 251 Principles of Physics (offered fall only)– This course has a prerequisite CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 or equivalent and a corequisite of CAS MA 124 Calculus 2. corequisite means that you take the calculus course at the same time as the suggested physics course, while prerequisite means you must have that course completed prior to enrollment in the suggest physics course. In other words: if you have advanced placement or external credit equivalent to CAS MA 123 Calculus 1, you may register for CAS PY 251. If you do not have advanced placement or external credit equivalent to MA 123, see the second physics course option below.
  • If taken at BU, CAS PY 251 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking, and Teamwork/Collaboration.
• CAS PY 211 General Physics (offered either semester) – This course has a prerequisite CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 or equivalent, or the instructor’s consent, and a corequisite of CAS MA 124 Calculus 2. This means if you have advanced placement or external credit equivalent to CAS MA 123 Calculus 1, you may register for this course. If you do not have advanced placement or external credit equivalent register for this course and then email your advisor to discuss. You will most likely be approved to take CAS MA 123. In this case, register for both CAS PY 211 and CAS MA 123 as two of your four courses.
  • If taken at BU, CAS PY 211 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking, and Teamwork/Collaboration.

Students should begin with CAS CS 111 Introduction to Computer Science 1 (offered either semester). This course is a rigorous introduction that develops computational problem-solving skills by programming in the Python language, and exposes students to a variety of other topics from computer science and its applications.

• If you have no external credit for computer science, you should register for CAS CS 111 Introduction to Computer Science 1 (offered either semester).
  • If taken at BU, CAS CS 111 will fulfill a single requirement in the following areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking, Creativity/Innovation.
  • If you have AP or IB credit for CAS CS 111, you will fulfill a single requirement in the following Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II.
• If you have AP, IB or other advanced credit for CAS CS 111 you should instead register for CAS CS 112 Introduction to Computer Science 2 (offered either semester). CS 112 covers advanced programming techniques and data structures. Topics include recursion, algorithm analysis, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, tables, searching, and sorting.
  • If taken at BU, CAS CS 112 will fulfill a single requirement in the following Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking, Creativity/Innovation.
• If you have AP, IB or other advanced credit for CAS CS 111 and CS 112, you should register for CAS CS 131 Combinatoric Structures (offered either semester).
  • If taken at BU, CAS CS 131 will fulfill a single Hub requirement in the following areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking.

CAS Language Course: CAS students must exhibit proficiency through the fourth-semester level of a language other than English. If you have not already done so, please review the full language policy here.

If you will fulfill this requirement through coursework at BU, then your next course should be a language. If you’re new to the language, you’ll start with the first-semester level (usually coded as 111 – for example, Spanish 1 is LS 111, Arabic 1 is LY 111, etc.). If you have previously studied the language, you will need to take a placement test to determine what level to start with (for instance, LS 112 Spanish 2, LY 211 Arabic 3, LK 212 Korean 4, etc.). Please review the CAS Language Requirement page for detailed information about placement tests and appropriate levels.

If you will fulfill your language requirement through advanced credit (such as AP/IB scores) or through native proficiency of another language, you have fulfilled your language requirement and can instead take a course of interest (as seen below).

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Course of Interest: Select a course that interests you – perhaps based on subjects you’ve enjoyed in the past or a new subject you’re excited to try for the first time! If you’re not sure where to start, you can review our Registration Instructions for tips on browsing by topic or Hub requirement.

Your fourth course should be a writing course:

• If you did not apply to BU with a TOEFL/IELTS score, you can take either:
  • CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar. Each section of WR 120 focuses on a specific topic/theme, so you should register for a section that pairs with your interests.
  • CAS CC 101 Core Humanities 1: Ancient Worlds: (offered fall only): An interdisciplinary study of the origins of civilization, from Mesopotamia and the Hebrew Bible to the development of Greek civilization through Homer, Greek tragedy, and the philosophy of Plato. You should enroll in CAS CC 101 if you are considering the Core Curriculum. This course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, First-Year Writing Seminar, Creativity/Innovation.

• If you applied to BU with a TOEFL/IELTS score, you should take the Multilingual Writer Placement (instructions will be sent via email) before you register for a writing course. The writing placement is a suggestion, but it will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate level for you. Depending on what level WR course you register for, you will fulfill the following Hub requirements:
  • CAS WR 111 Academic Writing for ESL Students 1 – fulfills The Individual in Community Hub
  • CAS WR 112 Academic Writing for ESL Students 2 – fulfills Global Citizenship & Intercultural Literacy Hub
  • CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar – fulfills First-Year Writing Seminar Hub (If you place into WR 120, you are welcome to take CC 101 Core Humanities 1 instead to fulfill your FYW Hub.)

CAS PY 195: Freshman Seminar for Physicists (offered fall only, 1 unit) – Optional

Seminar where freshman physics majors learn successful strategies for studying physics and become familiar with BU’s policies, procedures, resources, and extracurricular activities. Exploration of research and career opportunities through invited speakers, book discussions, and laboratory tours.

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First-Year Seminar: FY 101 (offered fall only, 1 unit) – Optional

FY101 is a one-unit course that serves as a semester-long introduction to BU and college life. Each section is co-taught by a BU staff member alongside a BU student.  You will meet with a small community of other incoming students who will serve as conversation partners as together you learn how to leverage BU’s resources to create a more successful and meaningful college experience. Through discussions, activities, class field trips and program-wide events, you will make immediate connections with the BU community. Specialty sections are available for natural science majors, social science majors, computer science and math majors, undeclared students and first-generation college students. There are many sections available for all CAS students, too.

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First-Year Career Development Seminar: FY 102 (offered spring only, 1 unit) – Optional

FY102 will help first-year students get started on utilizing the Career Development Cycle to maximize their time at BU. During this course students will create a plan of action towards choosing a major, creating a resume, finding an internship, and preparing for a career that they will love. Seminars are offered in various fields of interest and include guest speakers from different industries.