# Physics (PHYS) courses

Shasta College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 5 courses

Source: https://scmainweb.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/files/resources/catalog-2026-2027-compressed.pdf#page=199

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

### PHYS-2A — General College Physics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- **Prerequisite:** Intermediate Algebra as determined by Multiple Measures, or Math Placement Level 4 or higher
- **C-ID:** PHYS 105
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/shasta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Option
- UC transfer limit – maximum credit one series between PHYS 2A/2B and PHYS 4A/4B/4C

This course provides an introduction to the principles and applications of mechanics, using the mathematical tools of algebra and right triangle trigonometry. Topics include vectors, kinematics, Newton's laws, gravity, energy and momentum, mechanics of rigid bodies, heat, fluids, and simple harmonic motion. This course may be offered in a distance education format.

### PHYS-2B — General College Physics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 2A with a grade of C or higher
- **C-ID:** PHYS 110
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/shasta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Option
- UC transfer limit – maximum credit one series between PHYS 2A/2B and PHYS 4A/4B/4C

This course is a continuation of PHYS 2A, covering mechanical waves (including sound), electricity, magnetism, geometric optics, interference and diffraction, and selected topics from relativity and quantum mechanics (at the discretion of the instructor). This course may be offered in a distance education format.

### PHYS-4A — Physics (Mechanics)

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C2210 with a grade of C or higher, or Math Placement Level 6 or higher
- **Corequisite:** MATH C2220, or previous completion of MATH C2220 with a grade of C or higher
- **C-ID:** PHYS 205
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/shasta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- UC transfer limit – maximum credit one series between PHYS 2A/2B and PHYS 4A/4B/4C

This course covers the fundamental principles of mechanics within the mathematical framework of elementary differential and integral calculus. Vectors, Newton's Laws, work, energy, gravitation, linear and angular momentum, and rotational dynamics are discussed. This course may be offered in a distance education format.

### PHYS-4B — Physics (Electricity and Magnetism)

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C2220 with a grade of C or higher, or Math Placement Level 7; and PHYS 4A with a grade of C or higher
- **Corequisite:** MATH 4A, or previous completion of MATH 4A with a grade of C or higher.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 210
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/shasta-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- UC transfer limit – maximum credit one series between PHYS 2A/2B and PHYS 4A/4B/4C

This course covers the fundamental principles of electricity and magnetism using vector integral calculus. Topics include Coulomb's Law, electric fields, electric potential, magnetic forces and fields, Gauss's Law, Ampere's law, Faraday's law, Maxwell's equations, and basic DC and AC circuits. This course may be offered in a distance education format.

### PHYS-4C — Physics (Fluids, Thermodynamics, Waves, Optics, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics)

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 4B with a grade of C or higher; and MATH 4A with a grade of C or higher, or Math Placement Level 7
- **Corequisite:** MATH 4B, or previous completion of MATH 4B with a grade of C or higher
- **C-ID:** PHYS 215
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule
- UC transfer limit – maximum credit one series between PHYS 2A/2B and PHYS 4A/4B/4C

This course is the third in a three-course sequence, this course covers the basics of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, optics, special relativity, and quantum mechanics. This course may be offered in a distance education format.