<p>I transferred to my current school during the beginning of my second year. I took an algebra based physics class at my old school. When I transferred to my current school, I registered for the calculus based physics 2. I was able to do it. The prerequisite for the calculus based physics 2 was calculus based physics 1. Even though I took the algebra based one, the adviser allowed me to take the calculus based physics 2.</p>
<p>Now, fast forwarding a few years....I'm suppose to graduate this May. But I can't because I'm missing the physics 1 class. The physics 1 I took transferred in as a lower level physics class and in order to graduate I need the calculus based physics 1. I've talked to my adviser as well as the physics adviser but based on what they've said so far, it looks like I'm going to have to take physics 1 over again in the summer.</p>
<p>I think it's ridiculous. I've taken many upper level classes that required calculus based physics as a prerequisite and done well in them. I don't understand why I should have to retake physics 1. If the physics I took couldn't transfer over, then why did they allow me take the second semester of physics? By doing so, they're saying that the physics I took is equivalent to the calculus based physics.</p>
<p>I don't want to take physics 1 over the summer. i want to graduate on time. And I honestly don't have the money to pay for an additional class. It isn't covered in my loan or scholarship. I really don't think it's fair. Not only would i have to pay the tuition, but I'll also have to pay for room and board since I don't live close to campus. That's really expensive.</p>
<p>What do you guys think i should do? Do you guys think the school is right?</p>
<p>Most schools have a petition process. Get the syllabus of your original algebra based physics course, write up a comparison of that course with the one you did not take, go over this and your grades, accomplishments with your advisor, get him/ her on board and submit a written petition to the dept with the support of your advisor. Along with that or as an alternative, offer to take a competency based exam for the calc based physics 1. Be well mannered but persistent, move up the chain of command as you need to. I believe all universities have some way to deal with this without having you take a beginning level course after all your advanced courses are complete. Good luck.</p>
<p>I’m going to go see my adviser tomorrow…again (I’ve been there so often, i feel like I’m stalking him ) and see what can be done. It’s so frustrating</p>
<p>Is the full year of physics strictly necessary for your major, or is it that you need X science credits at Y level? Is this requirement one imposed by your department, the college/university, or by a national accrediting board? You need to find out the precise reason(s) for this requirement in order to work out a way to have it waived or modified. </p>
<p>Since you have clearly mastered the equivalent of Physics I as demonstrated by your success in other courses, one option may be to arrange to have a different/advanced course substitute for the “missing” Physics credits. If you find out that you absolutely must some how have Z more credits in Physics, see if you can take a higher level course (or even independent study) so that at least you are doing more interesting work.</p>
<p>Apparently I have to retake physics 1. I asked about a waiver exam for physics but i was told that I didn’t qualify for it, that my only option is to retake the physics over the summer. I don’t think this is fair. But I don’t know who else to go to. I went to my advisor as well as the physics advisor and both told me that there was nothing they could do. </p>
<p>It’s required for my major to take one year of physics, I’m a science major. The reason why we need to take this class is because we need that background for the upper level classes. But I passed all those classes. I don’t want to take a more advanced physics class, I just want to graduate at the end of this semester. But it looks like that’s not going to happen </p>
<p>Do you guys know who else I might talk to about this?</p>
<p>The person above the head of the department is the Dean of the college. Above the Dean are the President of the college and the Board of Directors. There also should be a Faculty Senate or the like that can consider your petition. Keep working your way up.</p>
<p>Did you keep the paperwork from when your advisor first signed off on the courses you would take? Is the advisor still around? Can you recruit him or her to help with this process? Is there a respected professor in your (major) department who might be willing to be an advocate? I’d figure out what your resources are before going up to higher levels. A phone call from a respected professor to a dean he or she knows well may be able to accomplish more in five minutes than you will in five days. </p>
<p>No, unfortunately I didn’t keep any of the paperwork, but I mean, when I took that class, it was over 2 years ago and i had no problem registering for the second half of it. I honestly did not realize this class was a problem until a few days ago when i heard back about my application to graduate. I don’t see how this class wasn’t an issue at all when I was taking the upper level courses, but now, after I’m done all the classes I’m required to take in order to graduate, physics 1 becomes an issue. None of the people I’ve talked to so far seems to recognize my logic in thinking this thing through. </p>
<p>I don’t know any professors who would be willing to help me with this. No one seems to want to get involved, I keep getting referred to someone else, and i have no idea who the right person is. </p>
<p>Do you think I should make an appointment to see the person who is in charge of the graduation? He’s the person who told me I was missing this class. I’m not sure how much help he would be though. </p>
<p>But I’m going to see the person who’s in charge of my department tomorrow and maybe, hopefully he’ll be able to help or at least direct me to someone who can.</p>
) and see what can be done. It’s so frustrating</p>