At Berkeley, for instance, there were multiple Physics sequences: engineering + physics + chem majors took the 7 series ("Physics for Scientists and Engineers")

At Berkeley, for instance, there were multiple Physics sequences: engineering + physics + chem majors took the 7 series ("Physics for Scientists and Engineers"), which used calculus; for most other majors (e.g. premed), the 8 series ("Introductory Physics") sufficed for degree requirements. http://guide.berkeley.edu/courses/physics/ http://guide.berkeley.edu/courses/physics/ (Also, note that this is similar to the split between the AP Physics B and C courses that high school students might take. Physics B has apparently been replaced with Physics 1 / 2, both of which are algebra- rather than calculus-based.) I think ultimately this is a function of where you went to school, more than anything.