Revisions of the Physics BS
and BA programs
1) Remove all references to PHYS 201 and PHYS 202 as well as to MATH 221 and MATH 222 from all physics degree programs.
2) Strengthen the BS degrees by
a. Making CHEM103 a required course for both BS programs, to be taken in the freshman year, preferably in the first semester.
b. Making CISC106 a required course for both BS programs, to be taken no later than the Fall semester of the sophomore year.
c. Making PHYS311, Aspects of Modern Physics a required course for both BS programs. This course would normally be taken in the second semester of the sophomore year.
3) Strengthening the BA degrees by
a. Making CHEM103 a required course for both BA programs, to be taken in the freshman year, preferably in the first semester.
b. Making CISC106 a required course for both BA programs, to be taken no later than the Fall semester of the sophomore year.
Removal of PHYS 201 and PHYS 202 as well as to MATH 221 and MATH 222 as courses acceptable for a degree in
physics. These courses don not at all
provide an appropriate starting point for the PHYS300 and PHYS400 level
courses.
CHEM 103.In physics courses, especially at the 300 and 400 level, the assumption is made that students are thoroughly familiar with concepts that one would normally encounter in an introductory chemistry course. However, some fraction of our majors report that they have never taken a chemistry course, and many of those who have taken a chemistry course clearly did not retain all that much. CHEM 103 is a required course for the regular BS degree. We should make sure that all students take this course, and that they take it before they take the physics courses that make use the material covered in CHEM 103.
CISC106. We do believe that everyone who graduates with a physics degree should have had some exposure to computer science, and should have some minimal skills regarding the use of computers. We would also like to make much more use of computational methods in our 300 and 400 level physics courses. A recent survey of the incoming class revealed that experience with programming is rare. The need to incorporate a course that teaches students some basic computer and programming skills seems self-evident. CISC 106 is designed to provide science and engineering majors with exactly that skill set.
PHYS 311. For several years now students in the graduating class have commented on the fact that significant parts of modern physics are not covered anywhere in the curriculum, namely basic solid state physics, nuclear physics, and introductions to elementary particle physics, general relativity and cosmology. We have indeed the bizarre situation that students can graduate without ever having heard about crystal structure, nuclear decay, the Standard Model or cosmic background radiation. Currently, PHYS309 provides an introduction to special relativity and to quantum mechanics at the level of a typical “Modern Physics” text. PHYS 311 continues at that level, completing the modern physics sequence.
BA degrees. The main reason for changes to the BA degrees is to make sure that the students who start on this track have the appropriate background for the PHYS300 and 400 level courses. We also want to make sure that those students can seamlessly switch over to the BS track, as this happens with great regularity.
1. To make sure that CHEM 103 and CISC 106 are taken early on, proper prerequisites should be added to the PHYS300 level courses. Specifically, PHYS 309 and PHYS 310 should have CHEM 103 as prerequisite. PHYS 313 and possibly other courses, such as PHYS 460, PHYS 424, and PHYS446 should have CISC 106 as prerequisite.
2. CHEM 103 and CISC 106 should be added as required courses for the BA in physics. There is enough space in this program to make that possible.
3. The BA in Physics Education already requires CHEM 103. CISC 106 should be added as a required course. Again, there is enough space in this program.
4. The BS in Physics would acquire two new courses, namely CISC 106 and PHYS 311. To compensate somewhat, BISC 207 will be dropped as a required course. (Note that this course is not particularly popular. The students do not really see the need and take it late in their undergraduate career. The course does not support any of the higher level physics courses.)
5. The program that would be most impacted by the proposed changes is the BS in Physics with a concentration in Astronomy. This concentration currently does not require CHEM or BISC courses. By making CHEM 103, CSIC 106 and PHYS311 required courses, 11 credits are added to this program. One way we can handle this is by taking out the 12 credits of MATH/PHYS at or above the 300 level, and adding PHYS603. This will also remove the peculiar situation that students can graduate with a BS in Physics having seen electrodynamics only at the PHYS 208 level.