It might be because you weren't in a Physics or an Engineering program. Colleges tend to have two tracks for physics, one that's closer to high school physics,

It might be because you weren't in a Physics or an Engineering program. Colleges tend to have two tracks for physics, one that's closer to high school physics, which is as you described. A collection of algebraic equations that you have to either remember or, if your professor was kind, given a crib sheet of. The other is the "Engineering" or "Calculus" based physics track where, as you can imagine, you're taking Calc 1 and Physics 1 at the same time. I have seen some, kinder, programs where you take Calc 1 in your first semester and start the Physics classes in your second semester.