PHYS-BS - Physics (BS)

For Physics Majors who entered Stanford in Autumn 2022 or later:

Students who have already learned the material in Physics 41 and/or 43 and taken the Physics Placement Diagnostic may waive those courses.  Note that if such a student was not advised by the Diagnostic that they are ready to start in Physics 61, then 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 waiver/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 and have received approval from the Stanford Math Department to count external units for those courses may waive those required courses.  In order to do this, they should fill out the Physics Department Course Waiver/Substitution form before the end of their sophomore year.

Students who have already taken the equivalent of any of Physics 61, 71, or 81 may petition the Physics Department to count these external courses in place of these requirements.  This must be done using the Physics Dept Course Waiver/Substitution form.  Before filling out the form, students should contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator (elva@stanford.edu) to arrange an advising meeting.

For Physics Majors who entered Stanford prior to Autumn 2022:

Students who have already learned the material in some of the required introductory physics and math courses may petition to substitute more advanced courses (generally Physics and Math Electives) instead for the major.  This petition must be approved by the Physics Major Advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies.  Interested students should contact elva@stanford.edu in the Physics Department.  In no case will this reduce the total number of courses required for the major.