Complete the Math Preparation and placement process. You can review your math skills for free to prepare you for placement or your next course. It takes up to three business days for ALEKS PPL placement to be posted in your student record. Completing the assessment by August 5 will ensure your placement is posted before enrollment begins for fall.
Review the General Catalog, especially the sample academic plans and major qualification policy.
Enroll in the highest course in the following sequence that you are eligible for: MATH 2, MATH 3, MATH 19A, MATH 19B, MATH 23A, MATH 23B. Physics students should not take MATH 11A or MATH 11B.
Students who come to UC Santa Cruz with credit for MATH 19A, and have room in their schedule, should take PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L (unless they have a score of 5 on the AP Physics C Mechanics examination) in their first term.
Those who come to UCSC with credit for MATH 19B and PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L, and have room in their schedule, should take PHYS 5C (unless they have a score of 5 on the AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism examination) and PHYS 5N in their first term.
If there is room in their schedule, students should also enroll in CHEM 3A or CHEM 4A (previous or concurrent enrollment in MATH 2 for CHEM 3A and MATH 3 for CHEM 4A is required).
Additional considerations when developing your first quarter enrollment plan can be found in the First Quarter Enrollment Advising Guide 2025-26.
Physics Advising
(831) 459-1347 or physicsadvising@ucsc.edu
211A Interdisciplinary Sciences Bldg.