# Physics (PHYS) courses

Cuesta College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 10 courses

Source: https://cuesta.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/29980/29981/30049

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

### PHYS 193 — PHYSICS SPECIAL TOPIC

- **Units:** 0.5 to 4
- **Hours:** 0.5 to 4 hours per week: (0.50 - 4.00 lecture hours/0.00 - 0.00 lab hours/0.00 - 0.00 activity hours)
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade or P/NP

Examines a special topic in the field of study related to the discipline offering this course.

### PHYS 193E — ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLVING FOR PHYS 208B

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** 1 hours per week: (1.00 lecture hours/0.00 lab hours)
- **Corequisite:** PHYS 208B
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- P/NP Only

Supplements PHYS 208B to further develop general physics skills and conceptual understanding. Provides the opportunity for additional assistance in developing and mastering problem-solving abilities.

### PHYS 205A — GENERAL PHYSICS

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 6 hours per week: (3.00 lecture hours/3.00 lab hours)
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 229 or MATH 231 or equivalent
- **C-ID:** C-ID PHYS 105. PHYS 205A+205B = C-ID PHYS 100S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Summer 2026, 3 sections (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/summer-2026/phys.md); Fall 2026, 4 sections (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade Only

Presents the principles of statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, harmonic motion, fluid mechanics, heat, thermodynamics, wave motion and sound using trigonometry.

### PHYS 205B — GENERAL PHYSICS

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 6 hours per week: (3.00 lecture hours/3.00 lab hours)
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 205A or equivalent
- **C-ID:** C-ID PHYS 110. PHYS 205A+205B = C-ID PHYS 100S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Summer 2026, 2 sections (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/summer-2026/phys.md); Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade Only

Presents the principles of geometric optics, physical optics, static and dynamic electricity and magnetism, introductory DC and AC circuit theory, modern physics topics (relativity, particles and waves, atomic structure, radioactivity and nuclear reactions) using trigonometry.

### PHYS 208A — PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS 1

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 7 hours per week: (4.00 lecture hours/3.00 lab hours)
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 265A
- **C-ID:** C-ID PHYS 205. PHYS 208A+208B+208C = C-ID PHYS 200S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 4 sections (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade Only

Presents the principles of statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, fluids, harmonic motion, heat and thermodynamics using calculus.

### PHYS 208AX — DIRECTED PROBLEM SOLVING METHODS FOR PHYS 208A

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** 1 hours per week: (1.00 lecture hours/0.00 lab hours)
- **Corequisite:** PHYS 208A
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- P/NP Only

Presents problem-solving and fundamental reasoning skills needed for success in PHYS 208A, Principles of Physics I. This course is designed for students who are currently enrolled in PHYS 208A and seek to improve their problem solving skills and mastery of concepts presented in PHYS 208A. Topics include specific techniques for solving kinematics, force, energy, momentum, torque, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and simple harmonic motion problems, analysis of word problems, and the development of solution maps.

### PHYS 208B — PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS 2

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 7 hours per week: (4.00 lecture hours/3.00 lab hours)
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 265B and PHYS 208A
- **C-ID:** C-ID PHYS 210. PHYS 208A+208B+208C = PHYS 200S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade Only

Presents the principles of wave motion, sound, geometric and physical optics, static and dynamic electricity and magnetism, D.C. and A.C. circuit theory and electromagnetic waves using calculus.

### PHYS 208BX — DIRECTED PROBLEM SOLVING METHODS FOR PHYS 208B

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** 1 hours per week: (1.00 lecture hours/0.00 lab hours)
- **Corequisite:** PHYS 208B
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/cuesta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- P/NP Only

Presents problem-solving and fundamental reasoning skills needed for success in PHYS 208B, Principles of Physics II. This course is designed for students who are currently enrolled in PHYS 208B and seek to improve their problem solving skills and mastery of concepts presented in PHYS 208B. Topics include specific techniques for modeling wave phenomena including sound, electromagnetic, and physical waves, and problem solving techniques utilized in charged systems subjected to magnetic fields.

### PHYS 208C — MODERN PHYSICS

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 6 hours per week: (3.00 lecture hours/3.00 lab hours)
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 208B
- **C-ID:** C-ID PHYS 215. PHYS 208A+208B+208C = PHYS 200S
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade Only

Presents the principles of relativity, waves and particles, Bohr theory, quantum mechanics and Schroedinger's equation, elementary atomic structure, nuclear structure and radioactivity using calculus and vector algebra.

### PHYS 252 — WORK EXPERIENCE IN PHYSICS

- **Units:** 0.5 to 4
- **Hours:** 1.5 to 12 hours per week: (0.00 - 0.00 lecture hours/0.00 - 0.00 lab hours/1.50 - 12.00 work experience hours)
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Letter Grade Only
- Repeatable: 3 Times

Provides opportunities for students in Physics to connect academic curricula to experiential learning in the workplace as an internship, Service Learning placement or general employment. Allows students to develop and work on learning objectives in workplace competencies and technical skills relevant for their course of study and career pathway. Students must work 54 hours for each unit of credit earned, in half-unit increments (27 hours), up to a maximum of 4 units. Employment can be paid or unpaid.