2007-2008 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]
Physics and Astronomy
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The following areas are administered by this department: Astronomy; Meteorology;
and Physics.
Professor Hastings, Chairperson
Astronomy (ASTR)
Meteorology (METR)
Physics (PHYS)
Associate Professors Bochner, Edwards, Garuthara, Levine; Assistant Professor Lawrence
Mission
The Department of Physics and Astronomy seeks to prepare students for
the future as professionals and citizens. We offer three undergraduate
majors: the B.A. in Physics, the B.S. in Physics, and the B.S. in
Applied Physics, as well as a minor in Physics and a minor in Astronomy.
All programs actively engage students in doing science. Physics majors
begin by exploring the foundations of physics, the roles of hypotheses,
measurement and analysis, and the development of scientific theory
through small classes and laboratories. Intermediate level courses in
modern physics, mechanics, optics, and electricity and magnetism
further prepare students for senior-level courses in quantum mechanics
and thermodynamics. Intermediate-level laboratory courses, a wide
variety of elective courses, and faculty-guided research internships
build upon prior course and laboratory work to provide exciting
preparation for careers or graduate study.
Physics minors take the same introductory classes and laboratories, followed by three intermediate courses.
Astronomy minors take a year of introductory astronomy, at least a
semester of introductory physics, and additional courses in astronomy,
astrophysics or physics. Please see detailed program requirements below.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy takes a personal interest in
the education of all of its students – close student-faculty contact is
encouraged, and students may join an active chapter of the Society of
Physics Students. Faculty are pleased to work with students in
developing their programs of study, and students are encouraged to seek
faculty advice early in their undergraduate careers. Advanced students
may join active faculty research groups in astronomy, astrophysics,
condensed matter and solid state physics, laser physics, physics of the
heart and excitable chemical systems, and quantum computing.
Other departmental facilities include a Beowulf class supercomputer, an
advanced laboratory, where projects include a scanning tunneling
microscope, and a computer laboratory shared by the Chemistry and
Physics Departments.
Paid summer internships are available for our best students, supported
by grants to physics and astronomy faculty. Grants were recently
received from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes
of Health, the Space Telescope Science Institute and Research
Corporation.
Programs
The B.A. program is intended for students seeking careers in physics
education or careers not requiring graduate study in physics, and
provides extensive opportunities to take courses in the liberal arts
and to pursue other minors. Students interested in K-12 education
major in both physics and elementary or secondary education, and are
strongly encouraged to seek advice from both departments early in their
careers. The B.A. in physics is also especially appropriate for
students seeking careers in law or medicine.
The B.S. in Physics will provide students seeking careers requiring
graduate study in physics or engineering with an in-depth study of
physics appropriate to their needs.
The B.S in Applied Physics combines the B.S. in Physics with a focused
concentration in any one of biochemistry, computer science, or
engineering. As focused as many accredited engineering B.S. programs,
it provides more than adequate preparation for students seeking careers
requiring graduate study in physics or engineering.
All three programs–the B.A. in Physics, the B.S. in Applied Physics,
and the B.S. in Physics–share a common first-year program, facilitating
student transfer among programs after completion of a year of college
study. Students typically begin with PHYS 11A and 11B (General Physics
and Laboratory) and MATH 71 (Analytic Geometry and Calculus I).
Students with advanced placement credit begin at a higher level.
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