In addition to the University policies regarding academic satisfactory progress, the Department of Physics has adopted the following additional requirements for continuation in the major. These are intended to provide reasonable assurance of academic success of our students while also making good use of departmental resources. Students are encouraged to periodically review their academic progress, and may seek advice from Physics Student Services at any time.
Criteria for Satisfactory Progress & Continuation in the Major:
- All students newly admitted to the major must file a graduation plan approved by Physics Student Services by the end of the quarter in which they become a Physics major. Failure to do so will result in a registration hold until their graduation plan is approved by Physics Student Services.
- Students must take physics courses, courses from the menu of cognate math classes, or electives in other departments that meet a requirement for the physics major, such that they are able to graduate with a physics degree within the limits set by the University's satisfactory progress policy. Specifically, students should take one or more courses in each quarter for which they are registered that meet a requirement for the physics major, with allowable exceptions for students completing double majors and students who have nearly completed all requirements of the physics major.
- Students in all tracks of the Physics B.S. program are required to maintain a cumulative average GPA of at least 2.0 in all physics classes. This average includes the grades from all enrollments in any repeated course.
- Students must earn a numerical grade of at least a 2.0 in each course used to satisfy the requirements of the physics major. Courses used to satisfy requirements of the major must be taken on a graded basis, except if the course is only offered CR/NC. Courses taken as satisfactory/non-satisfactory (S/NS) cannot be used towards major requirements and thus violate this policy except during quarters which have been declared to be Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters, during which S grades may be used to satisfy graduation requirements.
- Excessive course repeats, course drops, and/or University withdrawals may constitute a lack of satisfactory progress.
Review and Notification of Progress:
Every quarter, Physics Student Services reviews the progress of all majors. If a student's performance fails to meet the above satisfactory progress standards in any quarter during their tenure as a Physics major, the student is first placed on Academic Alert status. This changes to Academic Warning, and lastly on Academic Drop status, in each subsequent quarter in which satisfactory progress standards are not met, unless the non-satisfactory status is removed through the procedures described below.
Academic Alert
Students who are not currently on Academic Alert or Academic Warning will receive an email and a registration hold after failing to meet departmental progress criteria. The Academic Alert email will detail unmet criteria; students must acknowledge the email to lift the hold. Those who believe they received an erroneous warning should contact Physics Student Services. Students are strongly urged to meet with an advisor, who will offer resources, help plan manageable course loads, and discuss pathways within or outside their major. Circumstances affecting academic performance, including extenuating factors, should be addressed. Academic Alert status will be lifted if satisfactory progress is made in the following two quarters or if the warning was issued in error.
Academic Warning
A student on Academic Alert who fails to make satisfactory progress for an additional quarter will be placed on Academic Warning and receive a registration hold. An Academic Warning email will be sent detailing the unmet criteria. To remove the hold, the student must meet with a Physics Student Services advisor, who will provide support as mentioned in the section above. Failure to meet with an advisor will prevent future registrations. Students on Academic Warning are also encouraged to meet with an Undergraduate Academic Affairs advisor to develop a backup plan in case of dismissal from the Physics major. They must meet with a Physics Student Services advisor each quarter on Academic Warning. If a student shows satisfactory progress for two consecutive quarters, they will revert to Academic Alert status.
Academic Drop
Students on Academic Warning who do not meet satisfactory progress in the following quarter will be placed on Academic Drop status. They will receive an email with appeal instructions, which must include a realistic graduation plan and be submitted to Physics Student Services by the deadline specified in the email. Students have one chance to appeal; if unsuccessful or if they do not appeal, they will be assigned a premajor status and may be removed from physics courses restricted to declared majors. If the appeal is approved, students must adhere to the agreed-upon progress plan. Failing to do so in the next quarter will result in a final drop from the major, which cannot be appealed.
Hardship Withdrawal
Other than the reset options described above, involving two consecutive quarters of satisfactory progress after an Academic Alert or Academic Warning, the above three stages of unsatisfactory progress can only be removed with a Hardship Withdrawal (or Former Quarter Drop) from the problematic course(s) in question, or if the grades for the problematic course(s) change to a 2.0 or above. Students who are seeking Hardship Withdrawals should be in contact with an advisor. It is the student's responsibility to let Physics Student Services know if their Hardship Withdrawal has been approved.
Academic Honesty
Student conduct at the University of Washington is governed by the Student Conduct Code. Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic conduct. For further information, refer to this page. The UW Physics Department expects every student to uphold academic honesty and refrain from any cheating on tests or plagiarism on assignments. Cheating/plagiarism is generally defined as taking credit for someone else's work, whether the source is a fellow student, book, or online resource. Cheating/plagiarism on assignments and tests hurts both the student committing the infraction and their fellow physics majors. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic misconduct, especially repeated offenses, may have severe consequences. Imposition of disciplinary sanctions by the Student Conduct Office will be considered equivalent to a student not making satisfactory progress during that quarter. To avoid any instance of apparent or inadvertent academic dishonesty, students are strongly urged to:
- Sit as far as possible from other students during tests. Do not sit near your regular study partners, so any unusually similar methods you may have learned together won't suggest copying occurred;
- Pay close attention to the rules regarding academic honesty for the particular course and instructor, as they may vary;
- Keep phones and other electronics devices off and put away. If a test is closed book (& notes), keep all papers and other materials put away and out of sight.