Registration Guide: Philosophy & Physics

For your first class, you may take any 100-level philosophy course from among the following:

• CAS PH 100 Introduction to Philosophy
• CAS PH 150 Introduction to Ethics
• CAS PH 159 Philosophy & Film
• CAS PH 160 Reasoning & Argumentation

Your second course should be a physics class. The level you choose will depend on any external calculus credit you already have as well as the level you wish to take. You should select one course based on the following:

• CAS PY 251 Principles of Physics 1 (offered fall semester) – PY 251 requires a strong foundation in calculus. CAS MA 123 is a pre-requisite and CAS MA 124 is a co-requisite.
  • If you have CAS MA 123 credit through APs/IBs/etc., you should plan to take PY 251. If you do not have CAS MA 123 credit, then please notify your advisor to discuss the best plan of action.
  • Please note: If you already have advanced credit for Physics 1 (PY 105 or PY 211) and/or Physics 2 (PY 106 or PY 212), you still need to plan for PY 251.

-OR-

• CAS PY 211 General Physics 1 (offered either semester) – PY 211 is a calculus-based introduction to the basic physics principles, and it is ideal for many science and engineering majors. CAS MA 123 is a pre-requisite and CAS MA 124 is a co-requisite.
  • If you do not have advanced placement or external credit equivalent to MA 123, you may be able to take PY 211 but you will need the instructor’s permission to do so. Please register for PY 211 and then email your advisor to explain your experience with Calculus – they can help connect you with the Physics department to petition for instructor permission.

Calculus course: Philosophy & Physics majors are required to complete three levels of calculus: CAS MA 123 Calculus 1, CAS MA 124 Calculus 2, and CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (all offered either semester):

• If you have no external credit for calculus, take CAS MA 123 Calculus 1.
• If you have advanced credit (such as AP or IB scores) that fulfills CAS MA 123, take the next course in the sequence, CAS MA 124 Calculus 2.
• If you have already fulfilled both CAS MA 123 and CAS MA 124, you should take the final course in the sequence, CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus.
• If you have potential advanced credit 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 receive the corresponding credit. Once you know your scores, you can revise your schedule, if need be.

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

This seminar is open to physics majors in their first year to help them learn successful strategies for studying physics and to familiarize them with BU’s policies, procedures, resources, and extracurricular activities. Exploration of research and career opportunities through invited speakers, book discussions, and laboratory tours.

-OR-

First-Year Seminar: FY 101 (1 unit) – Optional

FY101 is a one-unit, low stress, non-academic class that serves as a semester-long introduction to BU and college life. FY101 helps you get a head start on making connections at BU. Each section is taught by a student peer mentor and a staff instructor.

• FY101 classes are small and are for new students only, so they provide a great way to get to know other first-years!
• Your peer mentor and instructor will provide resources to create a more successful and meaningful college experience and help you get ahead in your first semester here.
• FY101 includes free, optional trips around Boston.
• There are specialty sections based on major and identity (e.g., Natural Sciences, First Generation, etc) so be sure to choose the one that’s right for you!

If you are interested in the Core Curriculum, we recommend registering for CAS CC 101 for your writing course (see above in Course #4). There are additional natural science Core courses offered; however, we do not typically recommend these for natural science majors who are already taking a lab course this semester. If you have questions about completing additional Core courses beyond CAS CC 101, please talk about this with your academic advisor!

Find out more about the Core Curriculum, the Hub, and registration here.