How to Apply to the Physics Major at WashU: Physics in the College of Arts & Sciences, Choosing a School and a First Interest at Application, Formally Declaring a Major in the Second Year, with an Astrophysics Major and a Biophysics Track, and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) teaches undergraduate physics in the Department of Physics of the College of Arts & Sciences; the degree is a bachelor of arts (A.B., as the department handbook writes it). Engineering (McKelvey School of Engineering), mathematics, chemistry, computer science and other majors are not covered here, except in a line where they combine with physics. This guide follows the official websites and is organized for US domestic students, international students (including those from China) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and programs

• The department’s programs: the handbook says the department offers a physics major and minor, an astrophysics major, a minor in astrophysics and astroparticle physics, a minor in biomedical physics, and a biophysics track. All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
• Physics major: introductory physics can be either Physics I and II (1740, 1742) with two labs (1741, 1743) or, recommended for majors, the Focused Physics sequence with labs. You also need Introduction to Quantum Physics (2170), Mechanics (4011), Electricity and Magnetism (4021), Physical Measurement Lab (3322) and one more upper-level lab (optics, electronics, biophysics, computational physics and so on). At least 21 units of advanced (3000-level or higher) physics, excluding independent study and similar courses, may include one upper-level engineering course. The handbook’s introductory course numbers are duplicated or mistaken in places (for example 1741 appears as both Physics I Lab and Focused Physics I), so confirm against the course listings.
• Mathematics: Calculus I, II and III and Differential Equations (Math 1510, 1520, 2130, 2500); completing Honors Mathematics I and II (Math 2801, 2802) satisfies the three calculus courses. Mathematics for the physical sciences or engineering mathematics and matrix algebra are recommended.
• Science breadth: physics majors choose 3 courses from a list including biology, chemistry, computer science and earth and planetary sciences, one of which must be chemistry; astrophysics majors choose 1.
• Biophysics track: to have the track on the transcript you declare it in the university system and take, within the distribution requirement, Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics, one course on the physics of the brain or vision, another biophysics or data-analysis course, and Principles of Biology I and II.
• Astrophysics major: the same introductory physics, plus Introduction to Astrophysics (3331), mechanics and electromagnetism, and three advanced astronomy or astrophysics electives (two if you also take Physics 1626 and 1625); mathematics is the same and the science breadth is 1 course.
• Combinations with other majors: the department says double majors are possible; the handbook notes an adjustment to the lab choice for electrical engineering and physics double majors. A physics-mathematics joint major or a 3-2 engineering dual degree is not described on the physics pages I read, and I did not use the university bulletin (it is a third-party hosted catalog), so this is not published here; see the bulletin.
• Labs: every major takes Physical Measurements Lab (3322) and at least one other upper-level lab; the 3322 experiments include nuclear magnetic resonance, diode laser spectroscopy, positronium decay, superconductivity, ultrasonics, X-ray scattering and scanning tunneling microscopy.

2. How admission works and when you declare

• At application: you must choose one of the five undergraduate schools (Architecture, Art, Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering) as your home base, and you can take classes in or transfer to others later. You also pick a primary academic interest but do not need to formally declare a major until your second year. Physics sits in Arts & Sciences; the pages read give no separate admission standard for the College or for physics.
• Conditions to declare: the admission and physics pages read do not state course grades or a GPA needed to declare the physics major or any cap on places; not published. The handbook says students who declare physics should see the department’s major advisors.
• Changing in: no specific conditions for moving into physics are given; not published. The admission page says you are welcome to take classes in or transfer to other schools; the conditions are not published.
• Suggested course plans: the handbook gives two. With no prior calculus: first-year fall Calculus I and chemistry, spring “Introduction to Mathematical and Computational Methods in Physics” and Calculus II, with Physics I and its lab starting in the second year. With prior calculus: first-year fall Focused Physics I and its lab with Calculus II, spring Focused Physics II and its lab with Calculus III. It adds that the physics major can still be completed even if introductory physics is not taken until the sophomore year.

3. Prerequisites, placement and credit

• High school courses: the admission page says that because WashU uses an application review process it does not require specific courses; successful candidates’ transcripts often include 4 years of English, 4 of mathematics (architecture, business and engineering strongly recommend calculus), 3-4 of laboratory science, 3-4 of history or social science and at least two years of the same foreign language. It also says Arts & Sciences recommends both chemistry and physics for students who plan to do coursework in pre-medicine or the natural sciences. For the physics major the site does not say high school physics or calculus is required; not published.
• Placement: the department says it still recommends two semesters of calculus-based Physics I and II for students interested in the physical sciences or related fields, places each student in the course best suited to them, and refers placement questions to the department’s course placement contact.
• AP physics: the department says that if you submitted AP physics results to Admissions, placement follows the department’s current AP policy. The score-to-course table sits in a third-party file and the university bulletin (the Arts & Sciences AP page only points to the 2026-27 bulletin); I did not read them, so check WashU’s website.
• IB and A-levels: the admission page says an official statement of advanced standing cannot be given until you are admitted, have arrived on campus and have consulted an academic advisor; AP, IB and British A-level results may earn credit, but the pages read do not give the specifics.
• Calculus credit: how AP or IB calculus counts toward Math 1510/1520 and so on is not stated on the pages read.
• Honors and thesis: the department says students with a GPA above 3.65 are encouraged to write a formal senior honors thesis to qualify for Latin honors: summa cum laude (top 15% by GPA), magna cum laude (next 35%) and cum laude (other 50%). The thesis usually has twelve to twenty single-spaced pages, is due to the Director of Undergraduate Studies by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday that is the first class day after spring break, and requires an intent form; students are encouraged to present a poster at one of the two Undergraduate Research Symposia each year, and may enroll in PHYS 4998 and/or 5000 for credit. The handbook says honors candidates must apply to the Undergraduate Studies Committee no later than the first day of classes of senior year with a project description co-signed by the supervising professor, and that the honors project can earn up to 6 units (written as Physics 499); the timing and course numbers are written differently in the two places, so confirm. Departmental distinction uses the same GPA cutoff but is calculated from physics courses only; the highest and high distinctions need at least one semester of research and a senior thesis and are limited to the top 15 percent and the 15-50 percent of senior physics majors.
• Undergraduate research: the department encourages research at every level and highly recommends it for students planning a PhD. Research during the semester typically takes 6 to 12 hours a week and summer research up to 40; it can earn credit (with an independent study form approved by an advisor) or an hourly wage, but an hour of work may not earn both. A Peer-Led Team Learning program also exists.
• Competitions: the pages read do not say how physics competitions are viewed in admission; not published. The handbook’s contents list a section on the Putnam Mathematical Competition, but I did not read its content.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials (labeled Fall 2027 applicants)

• Four decision plans: Early Action (non-binding), Early Decision I, Early Decision II (both binding) and Regular Decision. Dates (the same for US and international applicants): Early Action November 2, decisions by December 23, reply May 1; Early Decision I November 2, decisions by December 11, reply January 4; Early Decision II January 4, decisions by February 12, reply March 1; Regular Decision January 4, decisions by April 1, reply May 1. Counselor-submitted school materials are due November 9 (Early Action and Early Decision I) or January 11. The application opens August 1.
• Binding: you may apply to only one college under an Early Decision plan and must withdraw other applications if admitted. WashU says financial aid is determined the same way in every round and that it meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students; school scholarships and Signature Scholar Programs are awarded after the Early Decision II notification date, and it recommends Regular Decision for students who need an academic scholarship to attend.
• Materials: the Common Application or Coalition Application; the School Report and official transcript; one teacher evaluation and a counselor recommendation (the page does not ask for a science teacher); a 250-word response to “Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why”; activities; the essay; and the nonrefundable USD 75 fee (waived for financial aid applicants and those with hardship).
• Standardized tests: SAT/ACT optional, writing not required; scores can be self-reported and official ones are sent after enrolling; the ACT science section is optional; the last tests accepted are December (October for Early Action and Early Decision I). No evaluative interview is offered, and some supplements such as a video are optional.

5. US domestic students

• Costs: WashU is private and the cost page gives one tuition figure, with no in-state/out-of-state split; any priority or guarantee for state residents is not published. For 2026-27: tuition USD 71,310, student activity fee 712, health and wellness fee 700, average housing and food (university meal plan) 24,272, for university charges of 96,994; non-billed estimates are books and supplies 1,412, travel 1,050 and miscellaneous 2,804, for USD 5,266.
• Financial aid: the US page says WashU meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for all admitted students without loans. Indicate on the application that you will apply for need-based aid, and submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA by November 17 (Early Action and Early Decision I), January 11 (Early Decision II) or February 1 (Regular).
• Scholarships: each undergraduate school provides four-year scholarships up to the full cost of tuition, based on review of the application with no separate application; for Signature Scholar Programs, priority consideration requires an application by December 16, 2026 and a 250-word answer for each program.
• Department support: the physics site lists an Undergraduate Physics Fellowship (ten summer weeks, USD 5,000 in total, by faculty nomination), the Greg Delos Summer Fellowship (1 award), McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences Fellowships (5 awards, ten weeks, USD 5,000), the Luszczynski Summer Research Fellowship (an hourly research salary, with a 1-page plan and CV, applications at any time) and academic-year research fellowships. Summer applications are open until April 1, while the same page says selections are announced in March (the two timings differ, so check); summer recipients are asked not to take other summer jobs or classes and must present at the fall Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• Tests: see section 4; the SAT/ACT is optional.

6. International students

• Education: at least 12 years of primary and secondary study and a secondary school diploma or equivalent are required. Submit original transcripts or certified copies, a description of the grading system, examination results (IGCSE, HKCEE, predicted A-levels, national exams and so on), school-leaving certificates and certified English translations; records should show subjects each year (with month and year), duration of each course, the number of lectures or lab periods and the grades.
• Test options: non-US citizens, and US citizens applying from a high school outside the US, may submit one of: SAT; ACT; predicted or actual national examination results (for example the Baccalauréat, Abitur or Maturita); predicted or actual IB Diploma results; predicted or actual A-levels; three AP scores; or three IB higher-level scores if not a Diploma candidate. For STEM majors in the College of Arts & Sciences, McKelvey Engineering and Olin Business, one score must be in mathematics (an HL Math score for IB).
• English: non-native speakers must submit the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test. The most competitive applicants share scores in these ranges or above: TOEFL (or Home Edition) before January 21, 2026, 100 recommended, and 5.0 on or after it (as written on the page); IELTS Academic 7.0; Duolingo 130. Tests in December 2026 are the last accepted for fall 2027 (October for Early Action and Early Decision I). Starting with fall 2027 applicants SAT or ACT scores are no longer accepted in place of English test scores; students with three or more years in an English-medium US academic program with strong performance may be exempted case by case through the admissions office. Third-party interview supplements such as InitialView are “strongly encouraged” but not required, and not submitting one is no disadvantage.
• After admission and visa: WashU can issue documents for F-1 or J-1 visas only after admission and proof of sufficient funds; students may not enter on a tourist (B-2) visa to begin degree study; enrolling international students submit detailed financial statements, an Affidavit of Financial Support and certified English bank statements before an I-20 is processed.
• Aid and scholarships: international students are eligible for financial aid only if they apply during the admission process, not after the decision or later in the four years; the international page says WashU meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted undergraduate students. If you indicate you will not apply for need-based aid, you must submit the International Financial Information form in the WashU Pathway or the application stays incomplete. Aid deadlines match the US ones (November 17, January 11, February 1) and international applicants use the CSS Profile (the FAFSA is for US citizens and permanent residents only). Whether international applicants are considered equally for school scholarships is not stated separately; not published.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether Gaokao results are considered or how. The test-options list gives the Baccalauréat, Abitur and Maturita as examples of national exams and does not name the Gaokao; not published, so ask the admissions office.
• Transcripts and credentials: only the general international requirements above are given; there is nothing specific about Chinese high school transcripts, huikao records or credential evaluation and no China-specific note; not published.
• English and interviews: Chinese high schools usually do not teach in English, so submit a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score (see above); WashU strongly encourages a third-party interview such as InitialView, and the pages read have no China-specific statement.
• Mathematics score: for STEM applicants choosing the AP/IB/national exam route, one score must be in mathematics; this does not apply to applicants who submit the SAT or ACT.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5; the cost page is for 2026-27 and has no separate international figures; figures for 2027 entry are not published on the pages read.
• Department awards: see section 5 for the fellowships; the department site also describes the Peer-Led Team Learning program and undergraduate research projects.
• Outcomes (the site’s own words): the careers page says “Nearly 100% of reporting graduates secured opportunities within 6 months of graduation” and lists graduate schools and employers of recent graduates; it does not print the number of reporters or the year. The program page says “Graduates of our department have been accepted into graduate school at every top university in the country, including our own.”
• PhD share: the careers page says “About half of students earning a bachelors in physics pursue a PhD”; this is a general statement about physics bachelor’s graduates and the page does not say whether it is WashU’s own figure.

9. Transfer students

• Dates (labeled 2026-2027 transfer applicants): for fall 2027 the transfer application opens November 1, 2026 and is due March 1, 2027, with decisions by May 7 and replies by May 20. The spring 2027 application is due October 15, 2026 (College of Arts & Sciences only; international students must already be studying at a US university). Apply through the Common Application.
• School: you choose one school and, because transfer slots are very limited, must stay in it after admission; to move to another school you apply after one full semester, with no guarantee. The page does not list separate physics requirements for Arts & Sciences transfers; it says students interested in the physical or biological sciences must present a strong background in science and mathematics, including calculus.
• Grades: successful applicants present at least a 3.5 GPA from a two-year or four-year college in courses across a broad curriculum and have completed a first-year composition course; if you have been away from school for more than two years, one year (30 hours) elsewhere is generally recommended first.
• Credit: credit is given for work resembling WashU courses with grades of C or better; students in Architecture, Art, Arts & Sciences or Business may transfer up to 60 semester hours and must complete the final 60 hours and at least four consecutive full-time semesters in residence; no credit for CLEP, standard-level IB, correspondence or online courses, or another institution’s placement exams. Many departments accept AP scores of 4 or 5 or IB higher-level scores of 5 or better for credit and placement. The physics department’s AP and transfer credit page (mainly describing how current students take introductory physics elsewhere) says every WashU major requires calculus-based physics, so the outside course must state calculus-based or have Calculus I as a pre- or co-requisite and include a lab; send the syllabus and form to the department for approval first, and requests submitted by April 1 get a reply within about two weeks. It does not describe how newly admitted transfers get physics credit; not published.
• Tests and aid: the SAT/ACT is optional. International transfer applicants use the same English test requirement as first-years, and international transfer applicants are not eligible for WashU financial aid. The application fee is USD 75, waived for aid applicants.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Common or Coalition Application: Early Action and Early Decision I November 2, Early Decision II and Regular January 4; USD 75 fee (waivable); SAT/ACT optional
• One teacher evaluation, counselor recommendation and the 250-word interest response; choose Arts & Sciences and list physics as a first interest, declaring in the second year
• CSS Profile and FAFSA by each round’s date; school scholarships need no separate application

International students (including those from China):

• The same application and dates; prepare transcripts to the detailed requirements with certified translations; STEM applicants on the AP/IB/national-exam route need a math score
• Non-native English speakers submit the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; apply for aid only at the time of application
• Gaokao use is not published; ask admissions

Transfer students:

• Fall 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; a 3.5 GPA is cited for successful applicants; introductory physics elsewhere must be calculus-based with a lab; international transfers get no aid

Sources: Washington University in St. Louis, Physics: undergraduate program; Physics: undergraduate handbook; Physics: AP and transfer credit; Physics: honors and senior thesis; Physics: fellowships and prizes; Physics: careers; Arts & Sciences: AP policy; Application dates and deadlines; First-year US applicants; First-year international applicants; English testing requirements; Transfer applicants; Costs. The application pages are labeled “Fall 2027” and the cost page is for 2026-27; the physics handbook is undated. Check WashU’s website for the latest and confirm the entry year.