How to Apply to Physics at Kalamazoo College: No General Requirements, Declaring in the Second Term of Sophomore Year, Eight Physics Courses, a Comprehensive Exam and a Senior Integrated Project, plus Dual Degree Engineering, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Kalamazoo College (K) is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on a quarter calendar. Undergraduate physics is offered by the Physics Department; you apply to the College through the Office of Admission and declare a major after entry. Here is what you need to know, based on the College’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, computer science and other majors are not covered here beyond a passing mention where they overlap with physics.

1. Degrees and directions in physics

• Majors and minors: the Academics page says K has 30 majors, 21 minors and 12 concentrations; physics has a major and a minor. The pages read do not name the degree awarded for the physics major (BA or BS); check the catalog or ask admission.
• The physics major (department and catalog): eight physics courses numbered 150 or higher, each with a minimum grade of C-. Required: PHYS 150 and 152 (Introductory Physics I and II, with lab), PHYS 220 (Introduction to Relativity and Quantum Physics, with lab) and PHYS 370 (Electronics and Electromagnetism, with lab); plus four more physics courses at the 200 level or above, at least three of them at the 300 level or above. A SIP in physics is not required for the major and, if completed, does not count toward the eight courses.
• Required mathematics cognates: MATH 112, 113 and 214 (Calculus I, II and III), MATH 240 (Linear Algebra and Vectors) and MATH 280 (Differential Equations and Numerical Methods), all at C- or above.
• Recommended: the department page recommends at least one computer science course, one course in complex systems and MATH 310 (Complex and Vector Variables) for all majors; those planning graduate study in physics, applied physics or electrical engineering should take PHYS 380, 410 and PHYS 420 (Quantum Mechanics); those interested in environmental engineering should take CHEM 110 and 120 and consider more chemistry and biology.
• Minor: six units (excluding lab credit), each at C- or above: PHYS 150, 152 and 220 plus three more physics courses (two at the 200 level or above, at least one at the 300 level or above). The department page says a student may not major in Dual Degree Engineering (Physics program) and minor in physics.
• Biological physics concentration: the department page describes it as supplementing a standard biology, chemistry or physics major; prerequisites are CHEM 110 and 230, MATH 112 and 113, and PHYS 150 and 152; required courses include BIOL 101 and 201 and CHEM 210 and 310, plus two units chosen from computational neuroscience, introduction to complex systems, nonlinear dynamics and chaos, and biophysics (PHYS 205); required courses need C- or better.
• Dual Degree Engineering: the College’s page says this is a partnership with other engineering schools that lets a student graduate with a B.A. from Kalamazoo and an accredited B.S. in engineering from another school, using some of the same courses for both degrees. Students can transfer to an ABET-accredited engineering programme after three years at K and eventually graduate with a major in chemistry or physics, or stay all four years and then enter engineering school as an undergraduate or graduate student. The engineering degree typically takes two to three more years. The partners are the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Western Michigan University, next to the College; transfer to other public university engineering programmes in Michigan or elsewhere is also possible. Students need not declare a field of engineering until the third year. The partner schools’ entry conditions are not given in the pages read; ask the physics department (the page names Dr. Eric Barth as contact) and the partner schools.
• Courses: the catalog lists physics courses including PHYS 102 Astronomy, 105 Sustainable Energy and the Environment, 205 Biophysics, 215 Introduction to Complex Systems, 270 Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, 295 Introduction to Climate Science, 340 Classical Dynamics, 360 Thermal Physics, 370, 380 Semiconductors and Magnetism, 410 Advanced Electricity and Magnetism, 415 Computational Neuroscience, 420 Quantum Mechanics, and special topics such as general relativity and cosmology. The physics programme page says teaching moves away from traditional lectures and written exams.

2. Admission route: apply to the College, declare a major after entry

• When applying: the Academics page says K has no prescribed general education requirements and students wait until the second term of sophomore year to declare, while still typically graduating in four years; if you already know your field, you can start taking classes in it right away. The pages read do not say whether you must name physics on the application, or whether the department has a separate admission line or capacity limit; the pages read do not say which school physics belongs to, and the admission pages describe applying to the College as a whole.
• Declaring and moving in: the pages read give no grade threshold for declaring physics. The catalog says students planning a physics major should achieve at least “B” level work in the department by the time they complete PHYS 220. Conditions for moving in from another major are not published.

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school coursework: the admission pages read state no minimum high school physics or calculus requirement; this is not published there, so contact admission.
• First year: the catalog says students interested in a physical science major should plan to take CHEM 110, MATH 112-113 and PHYS 150 during the first two quarters of the first year. The department’s suggested sequence: first-year fall MATH 112; winter MATH 113 and PHYS 150; spring MATH 214 or 240 and PHYS 152; sophomore fall PHYS 220, and so on. It adds that placing into the MATH 110/111 sequence requires adjustments; see a physics faculty member.
• Mathematics placement: the placement page says placement in chemistry and mathematics depends on the College’s placement tests (offered online during the summer before the first year) or the appropriate AP exam. The mathematics catalog says MATH 110-111 (Calculus I with Review, spread over two terms) is restricted to students advised into it by the placement exam, and that finishing it serves as an alternate prerequisite for courses requiring MATH 112.
• AP and IB for physics: the physics catalog says a score of 4 or 5 on AP Physics C: Mechanics earns credit in PHYS 150 and you begin with PHYS 152; a 4 or 5 on Physics C: E&M earns credit in PHYS 152 and you begin with PHYS 220; a 5, 6 or 7 on IB Physics HL can earn credit for PHYS 152. The pages read do not say how AP Physics 1 or 2 are treated. For the major, at most one AP, IB, dual enrolment, transfer or study abroad credit may count toward the eight physics courses; the cognates may be met with AP, IB, dual enrolment credit or the local placement exam; departmental approval is required for all such use.
• AP and IB calculus: the mathematics catalog says that, for placement and prerequisites, a 4 or 5 on AP Calculus AB (or the AB subscore of the BC exam) is equivalent to MATH 112, and a 4 or 5 on Calculus BC to MATH 113. Whether graduation credit is awarded is decided by the Registrar under the catalog’s admissions policies, which were not read.
• Laboratories and degree requirements: PHYS 150, 152, 220 and 370 include laboratory work. Majors must take a senior departmental comprehensive exam (the Advanced Physics GRE may be used instead), and every K student completes a Senior Integrated Project.
• The SIP and honors: the department says the SIP is a College graduation requirement, usually done in the major; every physics SIP must involve science or technology, with part of the work done independently; most involve research under a K faculty member or an off-campus group (national labs, REU programmes, other universities, industry labs); physics majors give a 20-30 minute oral presentation. Honors in Physics is based on three criteria: the SIP evaluation, performance in coursework beyond the introductory sequence, and the departmental comprehensive exam; normally at least two must be at honors level.
• Competitions: the website does not say how physics competitions (such as USAPhO) are viewed in admission.

4. Rounds, materials and testing (first-year)

• Rounds and deadlines: Early Decision (binding) apply by 15 November, letter mailed 1 December, deposit due 15 January; Early Action apply by 1 December, notification 18 December, deposit 1 May; Regular Decision apply by 1 February, notification 15 April, deposit 1 May. The FAFSA opens 1 October, with a priority deadline of 1 March. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply and fee: first-year applicants use the Common Application exclusively, and there is no application fee.
• Materials: high school transcript (including dual enrolment or early/middle college), sent by the school directly; counsellor recommendation/school report; teacher recommendation (alternative references such as coaches or employers are also accepted; the page does not require a science teacher); application essay. The College says review looks at grades and trends, rigour (AP, IB and dual enrolment are given as examples), extracurriculars and the essay. Homeschooled students must interview and submit a reference from a non-family member and an academic portfolio.
• Testing: test-optional since 2015. If submitted, scores are additional material and “do not have a direct impact on the admission decision”. Applicants who do not submit scores are still considered for merit scholarships, which use high school GPA and curriculum rigour.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (2026-27): the cost page lists tuition and fees of $66,308 and food and housing of $13,803. It makes no in-state/out-of-state distinction and says most students do not pay the listed price; use the net price calculator. Figures for books, transport and other indirect costs are not given in the pages read.
• Merit scholarships: the College says every admitted student receives a merit scholarship, individually determined by holistic review of the application, announced together with the admission decision and usable for study abroad. The cost and merit pages give $44,000-$53,000 a year (the international page says $44,000-$52,000).
• Need-based aid: file the FAFSA. The cost page says 99% of K students receive some financial aid, the average need-based package is $61,080, and the College delivered more than $57.4 million in institutional aid in 2025-26.
• Michigan residents: the website mentions partnerships with the local Kalamazoo Promise and Bearcat Advantage scholarship programmes, whose eligibility was not read; any home-state priority or guaranteed admission is not mentioned in the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Materials: the Common Application with no application fee; English proficiency; secondary (and any university) transcripts sent directly by the institution, as transcripts sent by the student are not accepted; the counsellor recommendation/school report (required); a teacher recommendation (optional); bank statements of parents or sponsors (no more than 6 months old) and income statements; the Resource Verification Form; and the financial aid form in the application portal. The College says it is need aware for international admission. A passport is not needed to apply but is needed for the visa. International students make up about 4% of the student body, from more than 30 countries.
• English: all international students must verify English proficiency. Waivers: originally from an English-speaking country with English as the primary language of instruction; English as a second language but at least two years of secondary school in an English-speaking country; or a full IB diploma with English A1 or A2 and a predicted grade of 5 or higher. Accepted evidence: TOEFL iBT (recommended 84 or higher; computer-based 213; code 1365); SAT evidence-based reading and writing (recommended 600 or higher); IELTS (required 6.5 overall, no band below 6); Duolingo (required 130, no band below 115; students with 115, no band below 100, can ask for an interview); Pearson PTE (required 62, no band below 58). International students need not submit the ACT or SAT but may use them to show English.
• Funds and aid: the website says families must generally be able to pay $25,000-$35,000 a year, depending on any scholarship; the average international aid package (need and merit) is roughly 55-65% of the cost of attendance. To be considered for need-based aid, submit the ISFAA or the College’s own international aid application with the admission application; otherwise do not expect need-based aid for four years, and the College says it offers minimal need-based aid. The international page’s cost estimate is still for 2025-26: tuition and fees $63,426, room and board $13,257, health insurance, books, supplies and travel $4,440, a total printed as $82,452, plus $2,000-$3,000 of personal expenses. See section 5 for 2026-27 charges.
• International scholarships: merit scholarships ($44,000-$52,000 a year on the international page, no separate application); the full-tuition Global Leadership Scholarship (separate application, a one-page leadership resume, an essay of 300 words or less and a recommendation; renewable for four years; recipients do not receive other merit scholarships); the page’s dates (Common Application complete by 1 November and an admission decision by 18 December 2025) belong to the previous cycle, so confirm the dates for 2027 entry with admission. The Davis UWC Scholars Program also applies.
• Interview and visa: the pages read state no international interview requirement. A visa application can begin only after admission, the deposit and the Resource Verification Form; the Center for International Programs helps with the I-20 and the visa.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the website does not publish whether or how the Gaokao is considered; contact admission (admission@kzoo.edu).
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: no China-specific requirements are published; the general requirements are in section 6 (transcripts sent directly by the school, and so on).
• English: see section 6. The College’s list of English-speaking countries and territories does not include mainland China (it includes Hong Kong), so mainland applicants submit a score unless another waiver applies.
• Preparing for physics: the website gives no note on how Chinese high school physics or mathematics courses correspond to K’s; ask admission and the department.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see sections 5 and 6.
• Department scholarships and research: the pages read list no scholarship specific to physics. The SIP page says common off-campus research opportunities include national laboratories, university REU programmes, research groups at other universities and industry labs. The cost page says the Office of Grants, Fellowships and Research helps students find internal and external funding for research, internships and academic travel (that office’s page was not read).
• Outcomes (the College’s wording): the physics page says alumni have built careers in technology, engineering, education, finance, patent law and business; it lists careers such as data scientist, engineer, professor/teacher, software engineer and physician; employers including Oracle, Intuit, Google, Upstart and Wabash College; and graduate schools including the University of Michigan, the University of Notre Dame, Boston University, the University of Chicago and UNC Chapel Hill. No placement rate is printed.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: applicants who have completed high school or an equivalent, have previously enrolled in any degree-seeking institution, and have not attended K before.
• Deadline: fall transfer applications are due 15 June, with the deposit due 1 July, on a rolling review; the pages show no year, so check. Applying by 15 June is strongly encouraged. Spring entry is not described in the pages read.
• Materials: the College’s own transfer application (not the Common Application), no application fee; the final high school transcript; official transcripts from every college attended; a college report from the last institution confirming good standing; and an academic evaluation (equivalent to a teacher recommendation, preferably from a college instructor). The website says successful transfer applicants usually present a B average or better in current courses. Transfer students are eligible for merit scholarships in the same range as first-year students.
• Credit transfer: up to 18 of the 36 units required for graduation; a transfer credit evaluation follows the offer of admission; the College cannot guarantee that accepted credit will apply to a major or to graduation; transferred credit is not used in the K GPA.
• Physics transfer: the physics catalog says students transferring from another college may receive credit for multiple physics courses subject to departmental approval, while also saying that at most one AP, IB, dual enrolment, transfer or study abroad credit may count toward the eight physics courses. The wording differs, so confirm with the department how it works. The pages read do not give a transfer-specific calculus or physics sequence requirement.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED 15 November; EA 1 December; RD 1 February; no application fee; Common Application, transcript, counsellor and teacher recommendations, essay; testing optional
• FAFSA (priority 1 March); in the first year, plan MATH 112-113, PHYS 150 and CHEM 110

International applicants (including China):

• English evidence (TOEFL recommended 84, IELTS required 6.5, Duolingo required 130, PTE required 62) or a waiver; bank statements, income statement and Resource Verification Form; ISFAA or the College’s international aid application if you want need-based aid
• Whether the Gaokao is considered is not published

After entry:

• Declare in the second term of sophomore year; eight physics courses plus Calculus I-III, linear algebra and differential equations; senior comprehensive exam; SIP and oral presentation

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 June, deposit 1 July; up to 18 units transfer; the College’s own transfer application

Sources: Kalamazoo College, Academics; Physics program; Academic catalog: physics; Academic catalog: mathematics (calculus placement); Catalog: placement and transfer; Dual degree engineering; Physics: major and minor requirements; Physics: suggested course sequence; Physics: dual degree engineering; Physics: biological physics concentration; Physics: SIP; Admission: how to apply; Admission: first-year students; Admission: international students; Admission: English proficiency; Admission: test optional; Admission: cost and aid; Admission: merit scholarships; Admission: transfer students. The dates on the admission pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry and see the College’s website for the latest.