Physics Major, Education Option

Physics Core

A physics major must satisfactorily complete the following courses: Physics 51, 52, 54, 64, 111, 116, 133, 134, 151, 195 (taken four times), and Mathematics 82. In addition, a physics major must satisfactorily complete the courses in the standard program or in one of the Physics options. A final oral and written report of completed research, Clinic, or independent project work is required for all physics majors. The Physics 195 Colloquium requirement is waived for any semester during which a student is away on a study abroad program.

  • MATH082 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Modeling physical systems, first-order ordinary differential equations, existence, uniqueness, and long-term behavior of solutions; bifurcations; approximate solutions; second-order ordinary differential equations and their properties, applications; first-order systems of ordinary differential equations. Applications to linear systems of ordinary differential equations, matrix exponential; nonlinear systems of differential equations; equilibrium points and their stability. Additional topics.

    Prerequisites: (MATH019 HM and MATH073 HM) or equivalent 

  • PHYS051 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Breznay, Gerbode, Tamayo

    Offered: Fall

    Description: An introduction to electricity and magnetism leading to Maxwell's elec­tromagnetic equations in differential and integral form. Selected topics in classical and quantum optics.

    Prerequisites: PHYS023 HM and PHYS024 HM 

    Corequisites: MATH082 HM or MATH056 HM 

  • PHYS052 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: The development and formulation of quantum mechanics, and the application of quantum mechanics to topics in atomic, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.

    Prerequisites: PHYS051 HM and MATH082 HM 

  • PHYS054 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Eckert, Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Classical experiments of modern physics, including thermal radiation and Rutherford scattering. Nuclear physics experiments, including alpha, beta and gamma absorption, and gamma spectra by pulse height analysis. Analysis of the buildup and decay of radioactive nuclei.

    Corequisites: PHYS050 HM and PHYS052 HM 

  • PHYS064 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: This course combines mathematical and computational methods that are useful for studying physical systems. Topics include: Linear algebra, Hilbert spaces, the eigenvalue problem and numerical algorithms for solving problems in linear algebra, including various modes of decomposition; Fourier series and transforms, convolution, correlation and numerical methods using fast Fourier transforms; computer simulation methods based on integrating coupled differential equations and also using pseudorandom numbers, including Monte Carlo methods; partial differential equations, separation of variables, Laplace and Poisson equations in various dimensions, the wave equation, and numerical approaches to solution.

    Prerequisites: (CSCI005 HM or CSCI042 HM) and MATH082 HM 

  • PHYS111 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Tamayo

    Offered: Fall

    Description: The application of mathematical methods to the study of particles and of systems of particles; Newton, Lagrange, and Hamilton equations of motion; conservation theorems; central force motion, collisions, damped oscillators, rigid body dynamics, systems with constraints, variational methods.

    Prerequisites: PHYS023 HM, PHYS024 HM, and (MATH082 HM or PHYS064 HM) 

  • PHYS116 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Gerbode

    Offered: Spring

    Description: The elements of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Topics include the general formalism, one-dimensional and three-dimensional problems, angular momentum states, perturbation theory and identical particles. Applications to atomic and nuclear systems.

    Prerequisites: PHYS052 HM 

  • PHYS133 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Gallicchio, Staff

    Offered: Fall

    Description: An intermediate laboratory in electronics involving the construction and analysis of rectifiers, filters, transistor and operational amplifier circuits.

    Prerequisites: PHYS054 HM 

  • PHYS134 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: A laboratory-lecture course on the techniques and theory of classical and modern optics. Topics of study include diffraction, interferometry, Fourier transform spectroscopy, grating spectroscopy, lasers, quantum mechanics and quantum optics, coherence of waves and least-squares fitting of data.

    Prerequisites: PHYS051 HM and PHYS054 HM 

  • PHYS151 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Sahakian

    Offered: Fall

    Description: The theory of static and dynamic electromagnetic fields. Topics include multipole fields, Laplace's equation, the propagation of electromagnetic waves, radiation phenomena and the interaction of the electromagnetic field with matter.

    Prerequisites: PHYS051 HM and (PHYS111 HM or PHYS116 HM) and (MATH180 HM or PHYS064 HM)

  • PHYS195 HM (taken four times)

    Credit: 0.5

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall and spring

    Description: Oral presentations and discussions of selected topics, including recent developments. Participants include physics majors, faculty members, and visiting speakers. Required for all junior and senior physics majors. No more than 2.0 credits can be earned for departmental seminars/col­loquia. 

Education Core

  • EDUC170G CG (to be taken in the junior year or earlier)

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Staff

    Description: This course examines the foundations of teaching and learning in public schools from various perspectives. These include, but are not limited to, philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, politics and economics. A primary aim of this course is to explore habitually unexamined attitudes and assumptions that bear on teaching practices in public schools. Another goal is to ground our readings and discussions in the realities of contemporary public school classrooms. The course requirements include 9 hours of public classroom observation.

AND

At least 3 credits of: 

  • PHYS183 HM (taken in lieu of thesis or clinic)

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Lynn, Saeta

    Offered: Fall and spring

    Description: An Introduction to K–12 classroom teaching and curriculum development. Internship includes supervision by an appropriate K–12 teacher and a member of the physics department and should result in a report of a laboratory experiment, teaching module, or other education innovation or investigation. Internship includes a minimum of three hours per week of classroom participation.

    Prerequisites: EDUC170G CG (or as corequisite by permission of instructor)

AND

9 credits of approved technical electives to add breadth. Recommended courses include:

  • ASTR062 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Esin, Tamayo

    Offered: Spring

    Description: A general survey of modern astrophysics. Topics covered include electromagnetic radiation, gravitation, stellar structure and evolution, the interstellar medium and the birth of stars, supernovae and the death of stars (including the physics of neutron stars and black holes), synthesis of the elements, and the formation, structure and evolution of galaxies and of the universe. Offered jointly with Pomona and Joint Sciences.

    Prerequisites: PHYS051 HM 

  • BIOL108 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Adolph, McFadden

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Principles of organization of natural communities and ecosystems, including population dynamics, species interactions, and island biogeography. Modern experimental and mathematical approaches to ecological problems. Application of ecological principles to conservation biology, climate change, and other environmental impacts.

    Prerequisites: BIOL046 HM and MATH019 HM 

  • CHEM051 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Healy, Hernandez-Castillo, Zhuang

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Applications of thermodynamics to chemical and phase equilibria. Chemical kinetics in the gas phase, in solution and on solid surfaces.

    Prerequisites: CHEM024 HM and CHEM042 HM 

  • CHEM103 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Hawkins, Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Applications of chemical equilibria in qualitative and quantitative analysis with emphasis on inorganic systems. Introduction to electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, and chromatography.

    Prerequisites: CHEM042 HM and CHEM024 HM 

    Concurrent requisites: CHEM109 HM is recommended

  • CSCI042 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Stone and Wiedermann

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Accelerated breadth-first introduction to computer science as a discipline for students (usually first-year) who have a strong programming background. Computational models of functional and object-oriented programming. Data structures and algorithm analysis. Computer logic and architecture. Computability. Extensive practice constructing applications from principles, using a variety of languages. Successful completion of this course satisfies the CSCI005 HM Core requirement and CSCI060 HM coursework.

    Prerequisites: Permission of instructor

  • CSCI060 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Boerkoel, Breeden, Dodds, Padmanabhan, Stone, Talvitie, Trushkowsky, Wiedermann, Wu

    Offered: Fall and spring

    Description: Introduction to principles of computer science: Information structures, functional programming, object-oriented programming, grammars, logic, correctness, algorithms, complexity analysis, and theoretical limitations. Those who have completed CSCI042 HM cannot take CSCI060 HM.

    Prerequisites: CSCI005 HM or CSCI005GR HM 

  • PHYS166 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Special topics in geophysical methods and their application to construction of earth models.

    Prerequisites: PHYS023 HM and PHYS024 HM 

  • PHYS170 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Sahakian

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Advanced techniques in computational physics including high performance computing using parallelization (both CPU- and GPU-based ), machine learning and neural networks, and metaprogramming.

    Prerequisites: PHYS052 HM, PHYS064 HM, and PHYS111 HM