How to Apply to Physics at Florida State University: Three B.S. Majors in the Department of Physics (Physics, Physics & Astrophysics, Physical Science), Physics Not a Specialized-Admission Major, the Upper-Division Major After 52 Credit Hours, and ACT/SAT/CLT Scores Required of Every Applicant, for US Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Florida State University (FSU) the physics degree is offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, with face-to-face instruction only on the Tallahassee main campus. This guide follows the university and department websites, with sections for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, and a final section for transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, engineering and computer science are not covered here; the pages read list no joint or dual engineering degree with physics.

1. Degrees and options in physics

• Three majors: the department's majors page says it offers Physics, Physics & Astrophysics and Physical Science; the program guide shows all three as B.S. degrees.
• Physics: a traditional curriculum through mechanics, quantum mechanics, and electricity and magnetism, with courses available in particle and nuclear physics, astrophysics, general and special relativity and condensed matter physics. The program guide lists 51 hours for the major: 36 hours of required physics (PHY 1090, PHY 2048C and 2049C general physics A and B at five credits each, PHY 3045, 3101, 3221, 3802L, 4323, 4513, 4604, 4822L and PHZ 3113); one digital-literacy course (Python, C++, computational physics lab or scientific computing); and at least four electives from optics, condensed matter, particle and nuclear physics, fluid and plasma physics, relativity, astrophysics and others (at least one daggered course). Another 16 hours of collateral coursework covers calculus I–III and ordinary differential equations or engineering mathematics.
• Physics & Astrophysics: based on the physics curriculum, with an astrophysics laboratory, introduction to astrophysics, extragalactic astronomy, radiation transport and cosmology; 52 hours for the major (40 hours of physics, a digital-literacy course and three astrophysics-oriented electives).
• Physical Science: the department says it is designed for students looking for a broader science background and those who change focus after taking many of the regular physics courses; courses in chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, meteorology and mathematics count. The guide requires PHY 2048C, 2049C and 3101, a digital-literacy course and eleven courses chosen from a list (at least 35 hours).
• Minors: physics (PHY 2048C and 2049C plus PHY 3101) and astrophysics (PHY 2048C and 2049C plus AST 4211, not open to physics-department majors); grades below C- do not count.
• Laboratory and thesis: the physics major requires an intermediate lab (PHY 3802L) and an advanced lab (PHY 4822L); the guide says six to nine hours of Honors Thesis or Senior Thesis may be substituted for the advanced lab if the work culminates in a successfully defended and approved thesis.
• Total hours: the guide's summary shows 120 hours: 36 general education, 51 major, 16 collateral, 3 oral communication, and 0–12 foreign language depending on placement; the College of Arts and Sciences requires foreign-language proficiency through the intermediate level (2220 or equivalent). The guide writes the scientific computing course as both ISC 3313 and ISC3113; follow the catalog.

2. How admission works: apply to the University, choose physics, enter the upper-division major after 52 hours

• Specialized admission? All three program-guide pages say “Specialized Admission: No”, so physics is not an enrollment-limited specialized-admission program; the transfer page explains that such programs use selective admission when student demand exceeds resources.
• You apply to the University: first-year applicants use the FSU application or the Common App and choose a major; the first-year pages read do not give a separate college-level admission line for physics.
• Progression to the upper-division major: the program guide says that to be admitted students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with an adjusted GPA of 2.00 on FSU coursework, at least half the required general education hours (including English composition and mathematics), and earn a minimum grade of C- in each required physics and math course. The prerequisites are calculus I–III and general physics A and B (AP/IB credit counts); chemistry I and II are Florida statewide “common prerequisites” but the guide states they are not required for the FSU physics major.
• Grade rules: no physics or math course with a grade below C- can be used for major requirements, and a student with more than two unsatisfactory grades (U, F, D-, D, D+) in required courses taken after enrolling at FSU, excluding the state common-prerequisite milestone courses, cannot graduate with the major.
• Moving in from another major: the guide sets no special condition beyond the 52 hours and C- rule; ask the department's undergraduate office (850-644-4473, ugradstudentaffairs@physics.fsu.edu).
• Honors: the first-year page says applicants who say they are interested in the University Honors Program get a separate honors supplemental application with a December 1 deadline, and the scholarships page adds that National Merit Finalists who apply to the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) in the first year are guaranteed admission to it. The honors program's own conditions were not read; check the website.
• Undergraduate research: the department says student involvement in research is a strength of the program and “any physics major who wants a research opportunity will find one”. The pages read do not describe credit or pay arrangements.
• Competitions: the pages read do not say how physics competitions are viewed in admission. The first-year page notes applicants may optionally send Schoolhouse.world certifications (for subjects including calculus, computer science and statistics) as a supplement, which do not replace transcripts.

3. Prerequisites and course advice

• Minimum courses (State University System): the first-year page lists English (4), math (4), natural science (3), social science (3) and world language (2, sequential); accepted students in 2025 completed on average 4.5 English, 6 math, 5 natural science, 5 social science and 3.5 world language courses. FSU says meeting the state minimum does not guarantee admission and admitted students typically exceed it.
• Math before introductory physics: the department says all entering physics and related majors should take Calculus I (MAC 2311), or have AP/IB credit or its equivalent, before General Physics A (PHY 2048C), the entry-level requirement for a physics or related major. The course is offered as a studio or a hybrid version with the same contact hours; the department recommends the studio version but either may be chosen.
• AP credit (university chart): AP Calculus AB 3 or higher gives MAC 2311 (4 credits); Calculus BC 3 gives MAC 2311, and 4 or 5 gives MAC 2311 and MAC 2312 (4 credits each); Physics 1 gives PHY 2053C (4); Physics 2 gives PHY 2054C (4); Physics C (Mechanics) 3 gives PHY 2053C and 4 or 5 gives PHY 2048C (5 credits); Physics C (E&M) 3 gives PHY 2054C and 4 or 5 gives PHY 2049C (5 credits). The university says up to 45 semester hours can be awarded through AICE, AP, IB or CLEP, with scores sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
• IB credit (university chart): IB Physics HL 4, 5, 6 or 7 gives PHY 2053C and PHY 2054C (4 credits each); Physics SL gives PHY 1020 and PHY 1020L (3+1); IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL gives MAC 1105 (3) at a score of 4 and MAC 1105 plus MAC 2311 (4) at 5 or above, and SL gives MAC 1105 plus MAC 1140 (3) at 5 or above. The columns are scores of 4, 5 and 6–7.
• Other rules: credit is awarded only once per subject; dual-enrollment and transfer credit take precedence over examination credit; a dual-enrollment grade below C can lead to rescinding the offer.
• Course offerings: the department's course page says PHY 2048C, 2049C, 3802L and 4822L run every semester; PHY 1090, 3045, 3101, 4604 and others run in fall; PHZ 1140C, 3113, PHY 3221, 4323 and others run in spring. Plan against the course page.

4. Rounds, materials and testing (fall 2027 entry)

• How to apply: the FSU application or the Common App, with no preference, except that Early Decision must use the Common App. FSU uses the self-reported STARS record for high school grades and does not require a school report.
• First-year deadlines (no year printed; check that they apply to fall 2027): Early Decision (binding, domestic students only) application 15 October, materials 22 October, decision 17 December, deposit 15 January; Early Action (non-binding, Florida residents only) application 15 October, materials 22 October, decision 17 December; Regular Decision (all students) application 1 December, materials 8 December, decision 18 February; Rolling (all students) application 1 March, materials 8 March, decisions on a rolling basis in April. Deposits for non-binding plans are due 1 May. FSU says merit scholarship funds are limited, so Early Decision and Early Action get priority consideration.
• Application fee: $30 for first-year applicants; fee waivers are available to ACT, College Board or NACAC waiver holders and others with indicators of economic need.
• Testing: required. FSU says the Florida Board of Governors requires first-year applicants to submit at least one ACT, CLT or SAT score; self-reported scores from the Common App are not accepted, so scores are entered on the Admissions Portal. FSU super-scores the highest sub-scores and lower scores from any test date do not count against the applicant. From the 2025-26 cycle FSU no longer requires the ACT Science section, and the ACT composite uses English, Math and Reading only. February tests are the last that can be used.
• Essay and resume: the essay is required (up to 650 words, uploaded after applying, from seven prompts); the resume is up to two pages and lists service, employment, family responsibilities and extracurricular and summer activities. The pages read do not mention letters of recommendation, nor whether physics applicants need a science teacher's letter.
• Review: the review is holistic and selective, with no single criterion guaranteeing admission, built on “Vires” (rigor, grades, courses, test scores), “Artes” (activities) and “Mores” (essay and character). The page prints the middle 50% of admitted students for Fall 2026: core GPA 4.3–4.6, ACT 31–34 and SAT 1380–1480.

5. US domestic applicants

• In-state and out-of-state: for 2026-27 the Tallahassee undergraduate estimates (13 credits a term, full year) show tuition of $5,604 and fees of $50 for Florida residents, and tuition of $22,232 and fees of $50 for non-residents. How residency is determined was not read; see FSU's Residency Information.
• Preference: Early Action is open only to Florida residents; the website states no guaranteed admission for residents.
• Aid and scholarships: all admitted first-year students are automatically considered for the Admissions Office merit scholarships, with no separate application; criteria vary by year with the class profile and funds, and recipients have typically earned no grades below B. Florida residents may receive the Vires Scholarship ($16,000 over eight semesters in $2,000 installments; the page marks that amount for first-year students admitted from fall 2024). The scholarships page also lists the Mores Scholarship ($12,000 in $1,500 installments), the Sunshine Award ($4,000) and the IB Diploma Scholarship ($8,000). Florida resident National Merit Finalists may receive the Benacquisto Scholarship, equal to the in-state institutional cost of attendance minus Bright Futures and any National Merit award (the page gives $16,000–$25,000 a year). The FAFSA is used for further aid.
• Testing: required; see section 4.

6. International applicants

• Application and deadlines: international students use the same application as domestic students; after submitting, they complete an International School Form in the Admissions Portal, which determines what else is needed. In the deadline table, the plans open to international students are Regular Decision (1 December, materials 8 December) and Rolling (1 March, materials 8 March); Early Decision is for domestic students and Early Action for Florida residents, yet the international FAQ lists three plans (Early Action, Regular, Rolling), so the two pages differ and you should confirm with admissions. All materials must arrive by the materials deadline of the chosen plan.
• Transcripts and credential evaluation: applicants who attended a secondary school outside the United States or studied a non-U.S. curriculum submit official academic records and a Secondary School Evaluation from an independent agency (it must give degree equivalency and a U.S.-equivalent GPA; NACES members are recommended). It may be waived for those who transferred into a U.S. school with evaluated coursework, attended a non-U.S. school using a U.S. grading scale, hold the IB Diploma on the 1–7 scale, or took listed examination-based curricula (British-pattern GCSE, A Level and IGCSE, Caribbean and West African examinations and others). Records must come directly from the school, exam board or a school official, with certified English translations if not in English.
• Testing: international first-year applicants must also self-report ACT, CLT or SAT scores (Florida Board of Governors rule). The essay and resume are required too.
• English proficiency (required of non-native speakers; official scores sent by the testing agency, valid for two years): TOEFL iBT 80 if taken before 21 January 2026, or 4.0 if taken on or after that date; Academic IELTS 6.5; PTE 55; Michigan Language Assessment 55; Duolingo 125; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180. Scores may be self-reported at application, with official scores required after admission. The English page states no waiver rules; ask admissions.
• Proof of funds: shortly after admission students receive instructions for the online Certification of Financial Responsibility; federal regulations require FSU to verify financial resources before issuing the I-20, with proof of support for the first year and confirmation that funds are available for the length of the program.
• Scholarships: the international FAQ says all admitted first-year applicants are automatically considered for merit-based academic scholarships, which are competitive and based on academic performance and test scores. The scholarships page also describes a University Out-of-State Tuition Waiver for a limited number of admitted non-Florida first-year students, awarded automatically on academic merit: about $609 per semester hour ($18,452 for 30 hours a year, $73,808 over four years), renewable each semester with 15 credit hours, a 3.0 FSU GPA and steady progress; it applies to tuition only, not other fees or study-abroad programs.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: not mentioned on the pages read. Whether and how it is used is not published; ask admissions (admissions@fsu.edu). Whatever the nationality, first-year applicants must submit ACT, CLT or SAT scores.
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: the pages read do not single out Chinese high schools. The general rule for international first-year applicants is official transcripts plus a Secondary School Evaluation for secondary schools outside the United States unless a waiver applies; requirements for huikao or similar materials are not published.
• China-specific guidance: not published; contact admissions.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• 2026-27 undergraduate cost estimates (Tallahassee, 13 credits a term, full year, US dollars): Florida residents—tuition 5,604, fees 50, housing 8,420 (on campus) or 8,840 (off campus), food 5,740, books and supplies 1,380, transportation 2,320, personal 2,504; the printed totals are 26,438 off campus, 26,018 on campus and 20,648 living with parents. Non-residents—tuition 22,232 with the same other items (transportation 3,590); the printed totals are 44,336 off campus, 43,916 on campus and 37,911 living with parents. The page says the budgets are estimates for awarding aid and may not match each student's actual cost.
• Department scholarships: the physics pages read list no undergraduate scholarships of the department; ask the department office and FSU's financial aid office.
• Outcomes: the department's undergraduate page prints: the average salary for an FSU physics bachelor's graduate is $106,000, according to FSU's Office of Institutional Research as of Fall 2024; and, citing the American Institute of Physics, that 75% of physics bachelor's graduates work in science-related jobs including software, engineering, secondary education and technical fields, about 25% in software; that about 48% of the nation's 2022–2024 physics bachelor's graduates were employed a year after graduation, more than half in the private sector; and that among the 45% attending graduate or professional school, two-thirds studied physics or astronomy and many others engineering. These are the page's own sentences, and the AIP figures are national, not FSU-specific; see the original page.

9. Transfer students

• Deadlines: spring 1 October, summer 1 March, fall 1 June (a weekend deadline moves to the next Monday; FSU may close transfer admission early; some programs have earlier deadlines in the program guide). The application fee is $30.
• Eligibility: at least 12 semester hours of transferable college credit after high school. FSU enrolls about 3,000 transfer students a year, most from the Florida College System and most with an AA degree, but accepts students from other accredited institutions.
• University requirements: college-level English composition and mathematics (at least three hours each, grade C or higher); the Florida world-language requirement (second level in high school or college). Junior and senior applicants (60+ hours or an AA) should have a 3.0 on all attempted college coursework and at the last institution; Florida public-institution AA graduates transferring directly get priority if they meet the major requirements. Applicants with 12–59 hours need a strong high school profile and ACT/CLT/SAT scores (“very few students with less than a 3.5 academic GPA will be admissible”) and a 3.0 college GPA. Applicants with 90 or more attempted hours must upload a personal statement.
• Physics: the program guide says transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be admitted into the major; the prerequisites are calculus I–III and general physics A and B (chemistry I and II are statewide common prerequisites but not required for the FSU physics major), and it recommends that AA transfer students take ordinary differential equations (MAP 2302) before arriving. The conditions for the upper-division major are in section 2. For questions on admission and mapping the guide refers transfer students to the College of Arts and Sciences admissions address (as-admissions@fsu.edu).
• International transfer applicants: all non-U.S. credentials need evaluation by an agency (preferably a NACES member); high school documents must include a U.S.-equivalent GPA and college documents a course-by-course evaluation with credit recommendations and a GPA; non-English documents need certified translations; freshman and sophomore transfers submit ACT/CLT/SAT scores; non-native English speakers submit English scores. Deadlines are the same as for domestic transfers.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Early Decision / Early Action 15 October (materials 22 October), Regular 1 December, Rolling 1 March; $30; STARS; at least one ACT/CLT/SAT score; essay (up to 650 words) and resume
• Prerequisites: calculus I (or AP/IB) before PHY 2048C; for the upper-division major, 52 hours, a 2.00 adjusted GPA and a C- or better in each required physics and math course

International applicants (including China):

• Regular 1 December or Rolling 1 March; International School Form; official records plus a Secondary School Evaluation (unless waived); ACT/CLT/SAT required
• TOEFL 80 (4.0 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5, PTE 55, MLA 55, Duolingo 125 or Cambridge 180; proof of funds after admission before the I-20

Transfer students:

• Fall 1 June; 12 semester hours at least; English and math (3 hours each, C or higher); a 3.0 GPA; calculus I–III and general physics A and B; international transfers need a course-by-course evaluation

Sources: Florida State University, Physics: undergraduate; Physics: majors, minors and advising; Physics: undergraduate courses; Program guide: Physics; Program guide: Physics & Astrophysics; Program guide: Physical Science; First-year apply; Deadlines and fees; What we are looking for (first-year); First-year scholarships; AP credit; IB credit; International first-year; English proficiency; International FAQ; Transfer apply; Transfer deadlines; What we are looking for (transfer); International transfer; 2026-27 cost estimates. The deadline pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures) and see Florida State for the latest.