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+--- Thread: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? (/Thread-BS-general-studies-with-physics-concentration-Worth-less-than-a-physics-major)
BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - sciencemathematics1 - 01-23-2020
I am thinking of going to Charter Oak or SUNY: Empire State College in order to get a physics concentration. It looks like they seem to require similar amounts of credit for a physics major and a physics concentration. I am wondering if I get a physics concentration if it would be less valuable then a physics major. What could I do with a physics major that I couldn't do with a physics concentration?
Charter Oak offers Bachelors of Science in general studies, while offering concentrations in various subjects. It requires 36 credits out of 120 total to get a concentation in a subject, which is similar to the amount required for a major.
I also want to apply to graduate school for physics. Would I be able to do this with a physics concentration
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - udi - 01-23-2020
It should be fine for graduate school, but it would be a good idea to check what the requirements are for your graduate program before you do anything.
Do you have any credits / degrees already? If you're trying to test out, I'm not sure what other options there are related to physics.
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - sciencemathematics1 - 01-23-2020
I don't have any other degrees, I am a high school senior who is going to graduate in a few months. I have been looking at the option of testing out of many courses, and I found SUNY Empire State College, which xan give you up to 36 credits for the GRE subject test, depending on your percentile.
The graduate program I want to go in is a PhD program in physics.
The requirement is to have a bachelor's in physics or related major, so this may qualify.
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - bluebooger - 01-23-2020
SUNY Empire -- they require labs beyond "general physics"
https://www.esc.edu/degrees-programs/undergraduate-aos/science-math-technology/detailed-guidelines/smt-concentration/physics/
and they also require a foreign language
https://www.esc.edu/policies/?search=cid%3D36984
page 17
https://www.esc.edu/media/academic-affairs/ocar/Student-Degree-Planning-Guide.pdf
and with SUNY Empire the most credits you can transfer in is 93
https://www.esc.edu/why-esc/transfer-credit/
expect SUNY Empire's requirements to look very similar to any other SUNY school
https://catalog.cortland.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=34&poid=5905
https://www.brockport.edu/academics/catalogs/2019/programs/physics-major.html
https://suny.buffalostate.edu/programs?bpid=90
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - udi - 01-23-2020
(01-23-2020, 10:23 AM)sciencemathematics1 Wrote: I don't have any other degrees, I am a high school senior who is going to graduate in a few months. I have been looking at the option of testing out of many courses, and I found SUNY Empire State College, which xan give you up to 36 credits for the GRE subject test, depending on your percentile.
The graduate program I want to go in is a PhD program in physics.
The requirement is to have a bachelor's in physics or related major, so this may qualify.
You're in an amazing position then. I would create a new thread that says something like 'help with degree plan - COSC - Bachelor of Science - Physics Concentration'. You can start with free online courses. Some providers want you to have graduated high school first, though. Also tell people whether you prefer cheap, fast, or easy. You can't always get all three at once.
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - sciencemathematics1 - 01-23-2020
(01-23-2020, 10:32 AM)bluebooger Wrote: SUNY Empire -- they require labs beyond "general physics"
https://www.esc.edu/degrees-programs/undergraduate-aos/science-math-technology/detailed-guidelines/smt-concentration/physics/
and they also require a foreign language
https://www.esc.edu/policies/?search=cid%3D36984
page 17
https://www.esc.edu/media/academic-affairs/ocar/Student-Degree-Planning-Guide.pdf
and with SUNY Empire the most credits you can transfer in is 93
https://www.esc.edu/why-esc/transfer-credit/
expect SUNY Empire's requirements to look very similar to any other SUNY school
https://catalog.cortland.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=34&poid=5905
https://www.brockport.edu/academics/catalogs/2019/programs/physics-major.html
https://suny.buffalostate.edu/programs?bpid=90
Thank you.
At the Student Degree Planning Guide (https://www.esc.edu/media/academic-affairs/ocar/Student-Degree-Planning-Guide.pdf) it states on page 14
"In addition to the concentration titles provided in the AOS guidelines, you can create your own concentration title using a disciplinary or professional/vocational framework, as long as the title is clear about the learning represented in the degree."
Since I have been looking into Charter Oak state college, is there any similar such policy for Charter Oak? And is there another student degree planning guide available from Charter Oak? I was asking about a physics concentration available from Charter Oak on another thread I created at: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Physics-Concentration-at-Charter-Oak-State-College
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - udi - 01-23-2020
Actually, I didn't realize COSC doesn't have a physics concentration listed on their website. I wonder if there is something else that's easier to find courses for. You have time to figure this out while you prepare your first year courses, though.
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - bluebooger - 01-23-2020
(01-23-2020, 11:09 AM)sciencemathematics1 Wrote: Thank you.
At the Student Degree Planning Guide (https://www.esc.edu/media/academic-affairs/ocar/Student-Degree-Planning-Guide.pdf) it states on page 14
"In addition to the concentration titles provided in the AOS guidelines, you can create your own concentration title using a disciplinary or professional/vocational framework, as long as the title is clear about the learning represented in the degree."
Since I have been looking into Charter Oak state college, is there any similar such policy for Charter Oak? And is there another student degree planning guide available from Charter Oak? I was asking about a physics concentration available from Charter Oak on another thread I created at: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Physics-Concentration-at-Charter-Oak-State-College
here's the info about Empire and the GRE
https://www.esc.edu/degree-planning-academic-review/degree-program/student-degree-planning-guide/standardized-exams/gre-scores-credit/#physics
but at the top of the page it says "Empire State College students may earn credit via the GRE Advanced tests only if they receive no other credit in the field(s) covered by the test(s)."
so that's interesting -- it seems that its all GRE or nothing
and yeah, you can create your own concentration title, but it still has to be approved
but since they seem to already have a concentration in physics I'm sure they have certain courses in mind they'd like you to take
but if you scored high on the GRE contact an adviser there and see if you can plan something out
charter oak has an general studies outline for biology, chemistry, and technology, but none for physics
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/current/subject_area_concentrations/engineering_studies.php
but I think all you have to do is come up with your own and submit it for approval
you could even do liberal studies
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/current/interdisciplinary_concentrations/liberal_studies.php
where you combine two or more disciplines
the example they give Physics/Geology
again, just come up with a plan and submit for approval
charter oak also gives credit for the GRE
https://www.charteroak.edu/pdf/charter-oak-state-college-2017-2018-exams-tests-credit-values.pdf
go there and search for GRE
you eventually see the
Physics GRE 40th %tile 24 credits
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - P226mem - 01-23-2020
(01-23-2020, 11:35 AM)bluebooger Wrote:(01-23-2020, 11:09 AM)sciencemathematics1 Wrote: Thank you.
At the Student Degree Planning Guide (https://www.esc.edu/media/academic-affairs/ocar/Student-Degree-Planning-Guide.pdf) it states on page 14
"In addition to the concentration titles provided in the AOS guidelines, you can create your own concentration title using a disciplinary or professional/vocational framework, as long as the title is clear about the learning represented in the degree."
Since I have been looking into Charter Oak state college, is there any similar such policy for Charter Oak? And is there another student degree planning guide available from Charter Oak? I was asking about a physics concentration available from Charter Oak on another thread I created at: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Physics-Concentration-at-Charter-Oak-State-College
charter oak also gives credit for the GRE
https://www.charteroak.edu/pdf/charter-oak-state-college-2017-2018-exams-tests-credit-values.pdf
go there and search for GRE
you eventually see the
Physics GRE 40th %tile 24 credits
This may be helpful for planning.
If they allocate the Physics GRE in similar way they do with Biology GRE, then it is 15 lower level and 9 upper level. That is based on this section of COSC site https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/current/subject_area_concentrations/biology.php
"....Option 2: The GRE Subject Test in Biology, evaluated at 24 credits (15 lower, 9 upper)....."
and that is IF it's the same. I do not have personal experience to share.
RE: BS general studies with physics concentration: Worth less than a physics major? - dfrecore - 01-23-2020
So, in this regards, I'm sure it doesn't matter much, since it says "or related major." The real problem you're going to have is finding UL physics courses to bring into these schools.
I think you're better off finding a school that will have the physics courses you need, and just go there. It's probably going to be a 4yr school where you'll have to take butt-in-seat courses, since I don't think there are many (any?) physics courses online. Especially considering you need a lot of labs.
Then, see if that school accepts CLEP/DSST/ACE credit for the remaining courses.