This webpage addresses the issues and procedures only for transfer students who were told they must take one or more Self-Learning Physics Modules in order to obtain transfer credit for PHYS 2305 and/or PHYS 2306.

Students transferring into Virginia Tech's College of Engineering, from another institution, may be told by a representative of the College of Engineering that their introductory physics course credits will not transfer unless they complete one or more Physics Modules. These Self-Learning Physics Modules are meant to provide the student with the topics not covered by the introductory physics course(s) which they took at their previous institution, but are required here at Virginia Tech as part of either PHYS 2305 or PHYS 2306, or both. Once the student successfully completes the required Module(s), transfer credit is obtained; failure to pass the exam administered at the end of a Module means the student must take the relevant course (either PHYS 2305, or PHYS 2306).

Students transferring into other majors at Virginia Tech may also be required to complete one or more Physics Modules before transfer credit can be given for PHYS 2305 or PHYS 2306.

This webpage gives the detailed procedure to be followed in studying and completing a Self-Learning Physics Module.

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Three modules are available for study:

1. Thermal Physics Module (covers topics from PHYS 2305)
2. Waves & Sound Module (covers topics from PHYS 2306)
3. Optics Module (covers topics from PHYS 2306)

These modules cover the topics typically missing from a transfer student's introductory physics courses. The college representative will tell the student which Module(s) need to be successfully completed to obtain transfer credit.

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If you are a transfer student seeking transfer credit through the completion of Self-Learning Physics Module(s), you should be aware that your college may have a deadline for completing the Physics Module(s). If you have not completed the Module(s) before the deadline, you will have to take PHYS 2305 and PHYS 2306 to receive credit for them -- transfer credit will not be granted. Make sure you inquire of your college administrator as to any such deadlines. The College of Engineering requires that you successfully complete and pass any Module(s) within 2 semesters of entering Virginia Tech.

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To sign up for a Module, follow these steps:

1. Upon transferring to Virginia Tech, discuss your transfer credit for introductory physics with a college administrator, or your advisor. For students transferring into the College of Engineering you should contact and discuss your situation with Vicki Langford, vicki07@vt.edu, 212 Hancock Hall, 231-6643. You will be told which Module(s) you will need to complete, if any, in order to receive transfer credit for any introductory physics courses you took at your previous institution.


2. Once you know what Module(s) you need to do, fill out and submit the online Physics Modules Sign Up Form. An email message containing your information will be automatically sent to the Module Administrator (currently that person is Dr. John Simonetti, jhs@vt.edu, 319 Robeson Hall, 231-8740). The Module Adminstrator will sign you up for the appropriate Module(s) in Blackboard, and send you an email message to inform that you can access the Module(s) in Blackboard.

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The procedure for completing a Self-Learning Module is fairly simple. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Blackboard to access the webpages for the Module(s). At Blackboard, you will be pointed to various introductory physics textbooks for self-study; you only need one of these textbooks. The Module will have a "study track" for each of the possible textbooks. The appropriate sections in a book will be listed, along with suggested exercises & problems you should attempt to solve, after studying each section (also listed are discussion questions, which are helpful, but the answers do not need to be written out). These exercises & problems are not magical -- you might want to solve additional exercises & problems as well, or even choose your own. (It can be useful to do the exercises & problems with answers in the back of the book so you can check your work.) Just try to sample the covered material with enough exercises & problems so you can be confident you understand the material. Even the choice of book is not magical. If you have a later edition than those listed, that will be fine. Other textbooks would also be usable. If you do not have a book, or cannot borrow one from a friend, see the Module Administrator to borrow a text.


2. This is meant to be a self-study system. However, you may contact the Module Administrator if you have questions about the procedure. If you have questions on the material, or trouble understanding the material, you may seek out assistance at the Physics Department's Common Office Hours where teaching assistants help students in PHYS 2305 and 2306. If you have further questions on the material you may want to find a tutor.


3. When you have completed your study and problems for a Module, bring your exercise & problem solutions to the Module Administrator. If you wish, you may send your exercise & problem solutions to the Module Administrator. Photocopies sent via interdepartment mail would be fine. You may also fax or email scanned versions of your solutions to the Module Administrator. Make sure you indicate what textbook you have used. The Module Administrator will look over your solutions, basically to make sure you have prepared yourself for a practice exam.


4. The Module Administrator will then send to you, via email, a practice exam for that Module, and a formula sheet (both in PDF format). The formula sheet is exactly the one that will be given to you at the actual exam. Work the practice exam at your convenience, without the aid of the text or other notes; you may use the formula sheet and a calculator. There are typically more problems on the practice exam than would be on the actual exam (there are only 10 questions on the actual 2-hour exam), so limiting youself to 2 hours might be unrealistic --- use more time than 2 hours, if you need it. Once you have completed the practice exam, email your answers to the Module Administrator. You will receive back your score, and the answer key. There is only one such practice exam, so use it only when you are ready!


5. If you have not done well on the practice exam you will be advised to do more studying. There is no second practice exam, so it will be up to you as to whether you are ready to take the actual exam, or when you will be ready. If you have done well on the practice exam you are probably ready to take the actual exam. Either way, you must eventually communicate with the Module Administrator to set up a time to take the exam, in Robeson Hall. At the actual exam you will be given the same formula sheet available with the practice exam, allowed to use a calculator, and allowed to take up to 2 hours to complete the exam. The exam will consist of 10 multiple choice problems. You must obtain a score of at least 60% to pass the exam. You will be notified of your result, as will your college administrator.

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Frequently Asked Questions