#Physics 101 exams full#

The Reed Physics qualifying examination is a four-hour closed-book written test focusing on material covered in our first-year (Physics 101 and 102) and second-year (Physics 201 and 202) introductory courses.

#Physics 101 exams full#

The student’s performance in the examination as well as in all previous coursework is discussed in full departmental or interdisciplinary committee meetings to assess the student’s readiness to begin work on a thesis. The qualifying examination is not meant to qualify only the best students and in actuality does not operate that way.

The student may be encouraged to transfer to another department or division. A second failure of the qualifying examination will debar the student from candidacy for a degree in that department. The review may also identify those who appear to need more time to develop their capabilities for the sustained independent work of the senior thesis. It is possible that a student who does not demonstrate competence in a field may be required to take further work. The objectives of the qualifying examination are to gauge the student’s mastery of the discipline or related disciplines, to serve as a diagnostic aid in identifying weaknesses in the student’s preparation for advanced study or thesis work in that discipline, to assist the student in unifying the knowledge of a major field of study, and to assist the major department or interdivisional committee in assessing the effectiveness of its own program. Typically, these examinations are given near the end of the junior year.

At Reed, all students must pass the junior qualifying examination in order to be classified as seniors as dictated in the Reed College Catalog as follows:Īfter declaring the major, students must pass a qualifying examination administered by the major department and/or interdisciplinary committee before being allowed to begin a thesis in the senior year.