Physics I vs Chemistry I: which science should you take?

It depends on what you find hard. Physics I works with vectors, motion, forces and energy; Chemistry I works with atoms, bonding, amounts in reactions and equilibrium. The syllabi list 73 instructional hours for Physics I and 76 for Chemistry I, and each ends with a final exam of 100 multiple-choice questions.

No. Neither syllabus lists a prerequisite, so you can take them in either order or at the same time.

Each has a separate lab course, done as virtual labs online: Physics Lab (PHYS 200L) and Chemistry Lab (CHEM 111L), each with an NCCRS recommendation for 1 semester hour. A lab is graded on lab reports (70%) and quizzes (30%), has no final exam, and can be taken without the lecture. See lab vs non-lab science credit.

Physics I (Physics 200) covers units and vectors, motion in one and two dimensions, Newton's laws, work and energy, oscillations, sound, fluids and circuits. Chemistry I (Chemistry 111) covers atoms, bonding, stoichiometry, gases, solutions, reaction rates, equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics and electrochemistry.

Physics I: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Physics among other subjects; ACE recommends 3 (ACE ID UPIS-0007). Chemistry I: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Chemistry among other subjects; ACE recommends 3 (ACE ID UPIS-0008).

Physics I: Physics or Earth Science. Chemistry I: Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physical Science. Your college decides which requirement each one fills.

Physics I: 15 chapters and 73 instructional hours. Chemistry I: 17 chapters and 76 instructional hours. Both are self-paced, so you finish as fast or as slow as you want.

Both have the same kind of final: 100 multiple-choice questions, 50% of the grade.

Both use one split: quizzes 20%, the assignment 30%, the final exam 50%. A pass is 70 or more.

Physics I: Moebs, William, et al. University Physics. OpenStax, 2016, with other references. Chemistry I: Flowers, Paul, et al. Chemistry 2e. OpenStax, 2019, with other references.

Physics I: yes, ACE ID UPIS-0007, 3 semester hours. Chemistry I: yes, ACE ID UPIS-0008, 3 semester hours. ACE listings run three years and UPI Study renews them as they end; credit you have earned stays valid for 10 years.

Chemistry Lab. In the “Physical science with labs” order on the Science and labs courses page, it follows Chemistry I. Your program may set its own order.

A pass is 70 or more. The grading scale on your UPI Study transcript shows how 70 maps to a letter grade; for most colleges it is a C.

Take it again: a failed Physics I final comes with one free retake (fail that and you restart the course). A passed final can be retaken too, but the original score stands; for quizzes, the average of your first two attempts counts.

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which courses Physics 200 and Chemistry 111 would count as. For the registrar: Physics I's NCCRS recommendation lists Physics and Chemistry I's NCCRS recommendation lists Chemistry.