Staying on track
Make sure you're on track and on time for graduation.
Course help and drop-in hours
Undergraduates taking physics courses can receive free tutoring from physics graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) during drop-in hours in room 132 of the STEM Commons (the building where physics and astronomy lab classes are located) and, in some cases, via Zoom.
Declaring or changing your major
Declaring a major helps you and your departmental advisor create the shortest path to graduation, saving you time and money. Once you declare a major, you could qualify for departmental scholarships.
In order to complete your undergraduate degree within four years, you should meet with your academic advisor at least once a year to review your progress.
Senior Rule
The Senior Rule is a one-term opportunity provided to students who need only one or two courses to complete their undergraduate work and who wish to use their last term to take some graduate courses. Students wishing to use the Senior Rule must be admissible to the graduate program and should apply well in advance of the beginning of that term. For that term only, the student's tuition is assessed at the junior-senior rate for all coursework, even for that which is designated as graduate credit. Courses carrying graduate credit are entered only on the graduate transcript.
Requirements
- Students who have completed all requirements for a bachelor's degree are not eligible.
- To be eligible, students must register for at least one credit which is required for the undergraduate degree.
- Undergraduate and graduate courses combined may not exceed 16 credits for the final semester of the baccalaureate degree work.
- Only graduate courses numbered 5000 and 6000 may be taken under this rule.
Get involved in undergraduate research
Wayne State is a research university. This allows you to work with a professor on projects that will take you far beyond textbooks and lectures and gain professional experience in independent research, writing and analysis.
Here are a few reasons why you should get involved in undergraduate research:
- More involvement with faculty, graduate students, researchers, fellow undergraduate researchers.
- Participate in creating knowledge, better understanding and work with others to solve an intellectual problem.
- Improve your CV, improve your chances for admission to graduate and professional schools, or secure a better job.
- You'll need that recommendation letterwho better to ask than your research mentor?
- Practical, "hands-on" learning beyond the limits of a course or textbook.
- Great preparation for employment/independent work, taking on complex tasks, open-ended problem-solving.
- Training in deep thinking, information and data gathering, data analysis and synthesis, problem-solving, thoughtful writing, presentations, lab techniques etc.
Questions and answers
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I have taken algebra-based physics (PHY 2130/2140) and I've switched majors. My new major requires calculus based physics. Do I need to retake calculus-based intro physics?
The physics department generally allows general or applied physics majors who have taken 2130/2140 to continue to higher-level physics courses. Calculus-based PHY 2170/2180 is strongly suggested, but not required.
Other departments may require calculus-based physics and may advise their students differently. Please check with your advisor and the undergraduate physics advisor if you have further questions.
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How can I participate in research?
Start by speaking with your undergraduate physics advisor. Most of our faculty are interested in recruiting serious undergraduates for cutting-edge research. Once you identify a faculty member you would like to work with, you have two possibilities. You can do research for credit by taking PHY 5990. The faculty member may also be able to support you financially if funds are available.
Other research opportunities:
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I need to take introductory physics (PHY 2130 or 2170), but I'm not sure if my math preparation is adequate.
Mathematical preparation is very important for success in algebra-based physics courses. We recommend that students take the Mathematics Placement Exam including the level for placement in MAT 2010.
You may benefit from taking PHY 1020: Conceptual Physics if your physics background is insufficient. This may also help If you feel you might not be ready for the rapid pace of college-level science courses.
We discourage students from taking PHY 2130 if they are not at least qualified to take calculus.
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Must I take lab courses PHY 2131/41 at the same time as the lectures PHY 2130/2140?
Yes. You must enroll in both courses together. If circumstances force you to drop either the lab or the lecture, you may add the relevant section later with the approval of the physics associate chairperson. But this is highly discouraged.
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Who do I contact to get an override to add a course or add/change a lab section?
Contact the physics associate chairperson for overrides and changes to your lab section.
For course overrides once the semester has begun, you can also bring an add-drop form to a meeting of the lecture.