Introduction to Physics I

University of California, Santa Cruz

PHYS 5A at UCSC: average GPA 2.86 across 3,377 students. Grade distribution by term. Elementary mechanics. Vectors, Newton's laws, inverse square force laws…

Average GPA: 2.86

Grade distribution records: 3,377 students across 16 terms.

Enrollment requirements

Prerequisite(s): MATH 19A or MATH 20A. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5L, and either MATH 19B or MATH 20B, is required.

2026–2027 · UCSC catalog

Grade distribution

Grade	Students	Percent
A+	131	3.9%
A	746	22.1%
A-	314	9.3%
B+	269	8.0%
B	470	13.9%
B-	213	6.3%
C+	179	5.3%
C	527	15.6%
C-	64	1.9%
D+	14	0.4%
D	99	2.9%
D-	1	0.0%
F	198	5.9%
P	23	0.7%
NP	76	2.3%
W	53	1.6%

Based on 3,377 student grade records across 16 terms and 5 professors.

Instructors

• Barun Dhar 2,028 students, Average GPA 2.77
• Jason A Nielsen 456 students, Average GPA 2.86
• David M Smith 431 students, Average GPA 3.08
• Steven Ritz 265 students, Average GPA 3.19
• Robert Preston Johnson 197 students, Average GPA 2.88