Policies

External credit is only for introductory courses. For additional information about the transfer process, see the Registrar’s Office webpages on External Test Credit opens in a new tab (e.g., AP or IB) and Transfer Credit opens in a new tab.

Students who have already learned the material in Physics 41 and/or 43 and taken the Physics Placement Diagnostic opens in a new tab may waive those courses. If the Diagnostic did not advise such a student that they are ready to start in Physics 61, they should speak to the Physics 61 instructor before deciding whether to skip Physics 41 and/or 43. Students do not need to file a course substitution form to waive either Physics 41 or 43, and they do not need to have officially approved units to substitute for these courses on their Stanford transcript.

Students who have already taken the equivalent of any of Math 51, 52, and/or 53 before coming to Stanford but who do not qualify for transfer credit should contact choosingphysics@stanford.edu to discuss placement. If the prior coursework is deemed sufficient, students can petition to substitute the math requirement with another upper-division math course using the Course Requirements Petition form before the end of their sophomore year.

Students who have already taken the equivalent of any of Physics 61, 71, or 81 courses before coming to Stanford may contact choosingphysics@stanford.edu to petition the Physics Department to place out of these required courses and substitute them with other upper-division physics courses using the Course Requirements Petition Form. The petition and the course to be substituted must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.