Who should take the placement exam:
All incoming students interested in physics courses are advised to take the placement survey (go.middlebury.edu/PHYSplacementform), particularly those seeking calculus-based physics (PHYS 0108, PHYS 0109, PHYS 0111, or PHYS 0114). Registration may require advising or waivers, and this survey can help identify such situations.
A student’s first physics course depends on their prior experiences with physics and mathematics. Students with little prior exposure to physics or who have not yet taken calculus should begin with PHYS 0108 (Physics of Motion). Students who have successfully completed high school physics and calculus courses may instead opt for PHYS 0109 (Introductory Mechanics) when available. PHYS 0109 presents a more accelerated and mathematically sophisticated version of introductory Newtonian mechanics than PHYS 0108. Either course satisfies the physics requirement for other science programs at Middlebury, or for students preparing for premedical, pre-engineering, and other professional programs. Students are encouraged to take the highest level course appropriate for them, and those considering a physics major or pre-engineering track will be particularly well served by starting in PHYS 0109.
In rare cases, some incoming students with an exceptionally well-developed math and physics background may be able to start in PHYS 0111 (Waves, Optics, and Thermodynamics) or PHYS 0114 (Electricity and Magnetism) as a first physics course. The placement survey will help us identify which students might be a good fit for these other introductory courses.
Exam components:
If you are planning to register for a calculus-based physics course now or in the future, please review the PHYSICS placement information online (go.middlebury.edu/physicsplacement) and the MATH placement information online (go.middlebury.edu/mathplacement).
If you plan to include physics courses in your First Year batch registration rankings this semester, please fill out the physics placement survey form with information about your math/physics background (go.middlebury.edu/PHYSplacementform).
Filling out this survey does not guarantee you a seat in any class, but it helps us match students with any spaces that are available. If necessary, we will contact you via email with any questions we might have about your survey responses.
Registration Information:
We strongly recommend that first year students adding PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109 to their registration form include both courses sequentially in the order of enrollment preference. This will help the registration system fill both courses optimally if one hits a premature enrollment cap. Both courses are scheduled at the same time and have combined lab sections, so switching between PHYS 0108 and 0109 sections can happen without scheduling consequences for students who are placed in the incorrect section.
Contact window:
May 18 to June 16
Contact with questions:
Physics Department Chair, pdc@middlebury.edu