# Physics (PHYS) courses

Coastline College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 7 courses

Source: https://catalog.cccd.edu/coastline/course-descriptions/credit-courses/phys/

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Spring 2027.

### PHYS C110 — Conceptual Physics

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours
- **Advisory:** A course taught at the level of beginning algebra or appropriate math placement.
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/coastline-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/coastline-college/schedule/spring-2027/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
- Transfer Credit: UC: Credit Limitation: No credit for PHYS C110, PHYS C110L or PHYS C140, CHEM C140 if taken after PHYS C120 or PHYS C185; PHYS C110, PHYS C110L and PHYS C140, CHEM C140 combined: maximum credit, 4 units

A survey of the fundamental phenomena and laws in physics related to forces and motion, energy and work, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics that emphasizes conceptual scientific thinking.

### PHYS C120 — Algebra Based Physics: Mechanics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours; 54 lab hours
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C120 with a grade of C or better.
- **Advisory:** PHYS C110 or concurrent enrollment.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 105, PHYS 100 S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/spring-2027/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter
- Transfer Credit: UC: Credit Limitation: PHYS C120, PHYS C125 and PHYS C185, PHYS C280 combined: maximum credit, 1 series; No credit for PHYS C110, PHYS C110L or PHYS C140, CHEM C140 if taken after PHYS C120 or PHYS C185

The course covers Mechanics, Heat, and Sound. It satisfies the physics requirement of biological science programs (except University of California Programs) and technical programs, except physics, chemistry, or engineering. It satisfies requirements as liberal arts elective.

### PHYS C125 — Algebra Based Physics: Electricity and Magnetism

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours; 54 lab hours
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS C120.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 110, PHYS 100 S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/spring-2027/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter
- Transfer Credit: UC: Credit Limitation: PHYS C120, PHYS C125 and PHYS C185, PHYS C280 combined: maximum credit, 1 series

The course covers Electricity, Magnetism, Light/Optics, and Modern Physics. It satisfies the physics requirement of biological science programs and technical programs, except physics, chemistry, or engineering. It satisfies requirements as a liberal arts elective.

### PHYS C140 — Survey of Chemistry and Physics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours; 54 lab hours
- **Prerequisite:** A course taught at the level of elementary algebra or appropriate math placement.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 140
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/spring-2027/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter
- Transfer Credit: UC: Credit Limitations: CHEM C110, CHEM C130, CHEM C140 and PHYS C140 combined: maximum credit, 1 course; No credit for PHYS C110, PHYS C110L or PHYS C140, CHEM C140 if taken after PHYS C120 or PHYS C185; PHYS C110, PHYS C110L and PHYS C140, CHEM C140 combined: maximum credit, 4 units; No credit for CHEM C140, PHYS C140 if taken after CHEM C180 or CHEM C220

An investigation of basic principles of physics and chemistry including matter, physical and chemical properties, energy, motion, light, atomic structure, bonding, solutions and chemical reactions. The inter-dependence of chemistry and physics will be emphasized. This course is intended for non-science majors. Enrollment Limitation: CHEM C140; students who complete PHYS C140 may not enroll in or receive credit for CHEM C140.

### PHYS C185 — Calculus Based Physics: Mechanics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours; 54 lab hours
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C180.
- **Advisory:** MATH C185.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 205
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter
- Transfer Credit: UC: Credit Limitations: PHYS C120, PHYS C125 and PHYS C185, PHYS C280 combined: maximum credit, 1 series; No credit for PHYS C110, PHYS C110L or PHYS C140, CHEM C140 if taken after PHYS C120 or PHYS C185

The Physics C185, C280, and C285 sequence is required for science and engineering majors who need calculus-based physics. Topics include the kinematics and dynamics of translational and rotational motion of objects, conservation laws, Hooke's Law, simple harmonic motion, wave motion, fluid statics, and dynamics.

### PHYS C280 — Calculus Based Physics: Electricity and Magnetism

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours; 54 lab hours
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C185 and PHYS C185.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 210
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/spring-2027/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter
- Transfer Credit: UC: Credit Limitation: PHYS C120, PHYS C125 and PHYS C185, PHYS C280 combined: maximum credit, 1 series

Continuation of PHYS C185. The course covers electricity and magnetism. Topics include electric fields, Gauss's Law, electric potential, capacitance and dielectrics, current and resistance, direct current circuits, magnetic fields, sources of the magnetic fields, Faraday's Law, inductance, alternating current circuits, and electromagnetic waves.

### PHYS C285 — Calculus Based Physics: Modern Physics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours; 54 lab hours
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C185 and PHYS C185.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 215
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/coastline-college/schedule/spring-2027/phys.md)
- Grading Mode: Standard Letter

This course covers thermodynamics, light, optics, and modern physics. Topics include heat transfer and the kinetic theory of gases, geometric optics, wave optics, an introduction to relativity, an introduction to quantum mechanics and quantum theory, and the structure of matter.