Science Courses 2022-23

AP Credit: Refer to AP chart and your specific program sheet footnotes to determine what is allowed in your program. Check your unofficial SU transcript to ensure that AP/IB credit is recorded correctly. Duplicating credit is not allowed, which means that AP/IB credit cannot be applied to your School of Engineering major requirements if another course covering the same topic(s) is taken at Stanford.

ACE: ACE units do not count toward major program unit minimums, though they do count toward the 180-unit minimum needed for graduation.

Chemistry: Take the Chemistry Placement Test prior to enrolling

Physics Grading Basis Change: PHYSICS 41, 43, and 61 are now offered on the grading basis CR/NC rather than for a letter grade. This grading basis, for these physics courses only, is approved without petition starting this autumn 2022-23.

Physics: Taking the Physics Placement Diagnostic over the summer prior to enrolling in a Physics course is HIGHLY recommended.  Students intending to enroll in one of the calculus-based Physics courses should be aware of the following Physics Placement Diagnostic requirements:
• Students who have not taken an introductory Physics class at Stanford are required to take the Physics Placement Diagnostic before enrolling in PHYS 45 or 61.
• Incoming frosh interested in taking PHYS 41, 45, or 61 are required to take the Physics Placement Diagnostic. 
PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 constitute the standard introductory sequence in physics and cover mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and light and heat, respectively. These courses are calculus-based and are generally far more intensive than typical high-school offerings, even at the advanced placement level. Even students who have taken AP Physics—and therefore do not in fact need the credits for these courses—find them challenging. Because the Stanford courses cover so much more material and do so with greater depth and rigor, it often makes sense to give up the Advanced Placement credits and take these courses. Talk with your advisor for guidance in this area. Note that PHYSICS 41 has prerequisites of high school physics and MATH. Minimum corequisite: MATH 21, though MATH 51 or CME 100 are preferred co-requisites.
PHYSICS 61, 71, and 81 offer a more advanced sequence designed for students who have mastered physics and calculus at the level of AP Physics C and AP Calculus B/C in high school. This series is a good choice for prospective Engineering Physics or Physics majors and those interested in a more rigorous introduction to the field as long as those students have very strong high school math and physics backgrounds.  Students must take the Physics Placement Diagnostic and are strongly recommended to follow the advisory emails if they wish to enroll in PHYS 61.
PHYSICS 21, 23, and 25 provide a non-calculus-based approach to physics. Most departments in the School of Engineering will require students to complete some or all of the 40 series or a more advanced offering. Some disciplines, such as Computer Science or many of the degree options in Management Science and Engineering, will accept the Physics 20 series as fulfilling the Physics requirement.

BIO 81 (A)

Ecology

4

BIO 82 (W)

Genetics

4

BIO 83 (A)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

4

BIO 84 (W)

Physiology 

4

BIO 85 (W)

Evolutionary Biology 

4

BIO 86 (S)

Cell Biology (Prerequisite BIO 83)

4

BIO 45 (prev 44X) (A,W)

Intro to Laboratory Research in Cell & Molecular Biology

4

BIO 46 (prev 44Y)  (W)

Intro to Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

4

BIO 47 (prev 44Y)  (S)

Intro to Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

4

CEE 63 (A)         

Weather and Storms

3

CEE 64 (W)

Air Pollution: From Urban Smog to Global Change

3

CEE 70 (W,Sum) (same as ENGR 90)

Environmental Science and Technology

3

CHEM 31A (A)

CHEM 31B (W,Sum)

Chemical Principles I,

Chemical Principles II

5

5

CHEM 31M (A)

Chemical Principles Accelerated (formerly 31X)

5

CHEM 33 (W,S)

Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (Prerequisite: 31A+B, or 31M, or an AP Chemistry score of 5 and placement)

5

CHEM 121 (A,S)

Organic Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules (formerly CHEM 35)

5

CHEM 123 (A)

Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (formerly CHEM 131)

3

EARTHSYS 10 (A)

Introduction to Earth Systems

4

GEOLSCI 1 (S)

Introduction to Geology: The Physical Science of the Earth (formerly GS 1)

5

PHYSICS 21,23,25 (A,W,S)

Physics 20 Labs: 22,24,26

Basic Physics (allowed for CS & MS&E majors only)

4,4,4

1,1,1

PHYSICS 41 (A,W)

PHYSICS 42 (lab)

Mechanics (Prerequisite of MATH 20 or 51 or CME 100. Minimum co-requisite: MATH 21 or equivalent; MATH 51 or CME 100 preferred). Okay to take for CR/NC starting 2022-23

(41E will not offered but still counts if taken previously)

4

1

PHYSICS 43 (W,S,Sum)

PHYSICS 44 (lab)

Electricity, Magnetism (Prerequisite: PHYSICS 41 or equivalent + MATH 21 or higher. Recommended co-requisite: MATH 52 or CME 102). Okay to take for CR/NC starting 2022-23

4

1

PHYSICS 45 (A)

PHYSICS 46 (lab)

Light and Heat (Prerequisite: PHYSICS 41 or equivalent + MATH 21 or 51 or CME 100 or equivalent.

4

1

PHYSICS 61, 61L (A)

Mechanics and Special Relativity, Mechanics Lab. Okay to take for CR/NC starting 2022-23

4,1

PHYSICS 71, 71L (W)

Quantum and Thermal Physics, Modern Physics Lab

4,1

PHYSICS 81 (A,W,S)

Electricity, Magnetism, & Waves Physics Labs

4