There is a simple conversion factor between quarter units and
semester units, i.e. 1.0 QU = 0.667 SU. Thus three 5 QU courses are
equivalent to two 5 SU courses. The problem you have is that your
semester courses are only 4 unit courses, not 5 unit courses. Here we
have spread the introductory sequence over three 4 SU courses. So a
person taking all three will cover just about the same material as in your
year-long sequence of three 5 QU courses.
There is a difference though. By spreading it over three
semesters, there is a better chance that the average student will actually
learn some of the material.
Dr. Mark H. Shapiro
Physics Department
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, California 92634