Would it be okay to take physics 1 and 3 at one ccc then physics 2 at another ccc in the same district? This is the only way that I can finish all the prereqs for mechanical engineering transfer to ucsd. Is this way considered okay to UCs and cpslo and cpp? Advice please. Thanks
Physics series have to be taken at same school or you won’t get credit for the series. And they need to be taken in sequence. Even at the same school, you won’t get credit if you go 1,3,2.
is this true for all schools?
You are fine, as long as it’s in the same district and everything is still articulated on assist. I would go to each school’s articulation agreement and make sure that all of their PHYS courses articulate the same.
I’m confident UCs don’t care which order you take them in as long as they are taken. I am mechanical engineering as well and I took that exact order of classes that lindyk8 described (1,3,2) and I’ll be going to Berkeley in the fall. I also mixed and matched courses with the three schools in my community college district, and it didn’t matter in the slightest. They even show up on the same transcript!
Of course, making absolute sure with a counselor is always preferable as well 
I went and looked at my colleges’ agreements on assist with UCSD and it looks like SD is different from the other schools in that they just grouped all of the PHYS courses together in order to satisfy ALL of the physics requirements. Looks like they did it with math too. If this is the case, then yes I think you will have to take all 3 at the same school, but I still don’t think they would have to be in order (besides PHYS 1 being first).
At my school the tell tale sign is the ampersand (&). For example, if UCSD says that their PHYS 1 is satisfied by PHYS 250 & PHYS 270, that is considered a sequence and those classes must be taken at the same school. Those aren’t present on the agreement, so I am a little confused.
What ccc are you at? If you don’t mind telling, maybe that will help. But I would definitely talk to a counselor or PHYS or engineering prof at your school.
Double check the order thing, verify it with the school. I remember a video of the UC admin conference where I’m pretty sure this was one of the areas that needed to be in sequence. As someone pointed out above though, apparently out of sequence worked for him.
Anytime you’re questioning sequence, you need to ask yourself if each class is dependent on the last class in order to understand the material. If your answer is yes, then the UC will most likely require it in sequence. There’s a logical reason for the whole sequence thing.
As for taking them at different schools, I was under the impression if it’s in the same region, they will all be the same. But double check that too. Too many conflicting responses in this thread, so you need to start making phone calls.
Also, when in doubt, default to Lindy’s advice. She’s been the most reliable around these parts for a while now.
Your other thread indicates that your primary CC is Golden West, and you are aiming for mechanical engineering at UCSD, UCSD, CPSLO, and CPP. It may help others help you if you state which of the target UCs/CSUs you are concerned about, and which physics course you are considering taking at which other CC.
Do not listen to anyone about taking physics out of sequence. It must be IN SEQUENCE. The UCs single out the physics series all the time. Same schools, in sequence. Perhaps - and I say perhaps- you can take within the district. But also a very strong perhaps not.
@metransfer I do not know how you got credit for the physics series out of sequence because those are NOT the rules (and frankly in the light of day I don’t think you’re getting full credit).The ucs are very clear about all series being out of sequence. You might have gotten in but you don’t know what you’re talking about so I wouldn’t be so blasé to someone who might then get disqualified. OP should follow your advice at his peril.
‘Districts’ are largely for administrative purposes and the classes aren’t any more similar than for colleges outside the district. Sister schools might work (e.g. Cypress and Fullerton College), but I’m not certain. You should take your Physics sequence at one college, but they do not need to be taken in order.
What likely matters is if the articulation listed on ASSIST is something like this (A, B, C at the target UC/CSU; X, Y, Z at the CC):
A <-> X
B <-> Y
C <-> Z
versus something like this:
(A and B and C) <-> (X and Y and Z)
In the first case, it is more likely that mixing and matching courses from different CCs will be accepted, as long as each of A, B, and C is covered by a CC course. In the second case, the full sequence of X and Y and Z needs to be taken at the same CC to cover all of the topics in A and B and C. In the second case, if two CCs are sister schools with identical courses, ask the target UC/CSU if mixing and matching courses is acceptable for that case.
Ok my bad. I checked. Physics is not in the sequencing req. unless specifically stated. They only are concerned with the duplicate series of physics. Sorry @metransfer and OP.
Let me verify @ucbalumnus, so as I read this, in your examples, case 1 could probably be taken out of sequence, whereas case 2 would need to be in sequence to make sure all material is covered?
The examples are more about whether mixing and matching, versus taking all at the same CC, can be done to cover all topics in the sequence. Whether they need to be taken in order likely depends on whether the order of topics in the CC courses requires a specific prerequisite order in the courses.
Checking with both the CCs (as to whether the courses are identical, or which topics are in which courses) and the target UCs/CSUs (as to whether mixing and matching is acceptable) would be the best way to answer the question.
Right. Thx!
@lindyk8 I know you said sorry, but next time research BEFORE telling someone they don’t know what they’re talking about.
Physics for scientists and engineers usually goes in this order: classical mechanics; E&M; optics, thermo, and modern physics. These 3 classes build on each other very minimally. Usually mechanics is a prereq to both of the others because they want to know if you have the stamina.
OP, where things get murky is when the academic calendars for the UC/CSU don’t match that of your district (ie, the UC/CSU is quarter and your district is semester, or vice versa). What usually happens is the curriculum doesn’t match one-to-one, so they require a sequence. You’ll have to ask about the order of classes, because taking them sequentially is not required in my district, but it might be different in yours. Follow the diagram by @ucbalumnus he has it correct.
Also, I think you can see that your best bet is to talk to someone at your school. Because you’re an engineering major, not much of what is said about academics on this forum pertains to us because we have such different requirements.
PS: just saw that your college might be Golden West College, which means you’re in the Coast Community College District. I just checked out the assist for OCC, GWC, and Coastline CC. It looks like Coastline doesn’t have PHYS, or else it’s not articulated. It looks like the PHYS courses at both GWC and OCC are interchangeable, meaning PHYS G185, G280, and G285 at GWC are interchangeable with PHYS A185, A280, and A285 at OCC.
In order to satisfy UCSD’s PHYS requirement (PHYS 2A, 2B, 2C, 2CL), all of those must be taken. The only “sequence” I can see here are any prerequisites for those at the community college itself. Beyond that, you can take them in whatever order or school you want. But again, GET CONFIRMATION FROM SOMEONE AT THE SCHOOL
The fact that GWC and OCC have slightly different course numbers (the G versus A) might be a cause of concern that they are not completely identical or interchangeable (in the eyes of UCs/CSUs). Best to check with both the CCs and the UCs/CSUs in this case.
@METransfer I agree I should have checked but you did tell him not to worry. Which isn’t necessarily correct and could possibly mess him up. Now you’re slightly backtracking. But I agree I erred in saying all physics needed to be taken in sequence. Thx for accepting my apology.
I know for sure you don’t have to take them at the same community college. I had some from a CSU school, continued at a CC and it was no problem at all, as long as the class was transferable.
A friend of mine split his OrgChem, Physics and Calc sequences between two community colleges (although in the same district), and he graduated from Berkeley last month.
Thx @naregian I knew Calc was doable, but am surprised about o-chem and physics. I guess it just has to do with how the series is laid out, and the pre-reqs.