Physics and Astronomy

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Chair: Associate Professor C. Orzel
Faculty: Professors R. Koopmann, S. Maleki, J. Newman, G. Reich, M. Vineyard; Associate Professor S. Amanuel; Senior Lecturer S. LaBrake; Lecturers J. Marr, F. Wilken.
Staff: J. Sheehan (Technician), L. Stec (Administrative Assistant)

Common Curriculum (CC) Courses
Courses numbered in the 050’s are designed particularly for non-science majors seeking to satisfy Common Curriculum requirements, and all of these courses carry Common Curriculum credit. These courses may count toward the major in astronomy or the interdepartmental major (see requirements for the Astronomy, B.A.  major and  Astronomy, B.A.  ID major), but they may not be counted toward the major in physics or toward any other science or engineering major.

Course Selection Guidelines

Placement: Students who score a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement C-exam (mechanics and/or electromagnetics), an A on the physics A-levels, a 5 or above on the Higher Level or a 6 or above on the standard exam of the International Baccalaureate (provided they earn the IB diploma), may be given credit for up to a maximum of two courses (PHY 120  and/or PHY 121 ). If a student does not earn the IB diploma, they will be given credit only if they pass the higher level exam with a grade of 6 or above.

Courses Suitable for Non-Majors: The following courses are designed to fulfill the Science and Technology Common Curriculum requirement (some of these courses have labs and some do not): AST 050 , AST 051 , AST 052 , AST 058 , PHY 051 , PHY 053 , and PHY 054 . Life-science students should take PHY 110 -PHY 111 . Engineering and physical-science students should take PHY 120 -PHY 121 . Other courses suitable for selected non-majors include AST 100 , AST 200 , AST 210 , AST 220 , AST 230 , AST 240  , PHY 122 , PHY 123 , PHY 200 , and PHY 210 .

Prerequisites: There are no placement test requirements for courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. All courses numbered 100 or above have prerequisites. Please review the course descriptions below to identify the requirements.

Programs

• Astronomy, B.A.
• Physics, B.S.

• Astronomy, B.A.
• Physics, B.S.

• Astronomy Minor
• Astrophysics Minor
• Physics Minor

Courses

• AST 050 - The Solar System
• AST 051 - Introduction to Astronomy
• AST 052 - Relativity, Black Holes, and Quasars
• AST 058 - Astrobiology: Life in the Universe
• AST 100 - Introduction to Astrophysics
• AST 105 - Introduction to Planetary Science
• AST 200 - Stellar Structure and Evolution
• AST 210 - Galaxies
• AST 220 - Cosmology and General Relativity
• AST 230 - Observational Astronomy
• AST 240 - Radio Astronomy
• IMP 120 - Integrated Math/Physics
• IMP 121 - Integrated Math/Physics
• PHY 051 - Seeing the Light: Concepts of Vision
• PHY 053 - Physics and Politics
• PHY 054 - Laser Technology and Modern Optics
• PHY 100 - First-Year Seminar
• PHY 110 - Classical and Modern Physics for the Life Sciences 1
• PHY 111 - Classical and Modern Physics for the Life Sciences 2
• PHY 120 - Matter in Motion
• PHY 121 - Principles of Electromagnetics
• PHY 122 - Relativity, Quantum, and Their Applications
• PHY 123 - Heat, Light, and Astronomy
• PHY 200 - Molecular Biophysics
• PHY 210 - The Physics of Modern Medicine: Applications in Imaging, Surgery and Therapy
• PHY 220 - Relativity and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
• PHY 230 - Intermediate Classical Mechanics
• PHY 270 - Intermediate Electromagnetism
• PHY 295H - Physics Honors Independent Project 1
• PHY 296H - Physics Honors Independent Project 2
• PHY 300 - Methods of Modern Experimental Physics
• PHY 310 - Advanced Topics in Physics 1
• PHY 311 - Advanced Topics in Physics 2
• PHY 312 - Advanced Topics in Physics 3
• PHY 350 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics
• PHY 490 - Research in Physics
• PHY 491 - Research in Physics
• PHY 492 - Research in Physics
• PHY 493 - Research in Physics
• PHY 495 - Independent Study in Physics
• PHY 496 - Independent Study in Physics
• PHY 497 - Independent Study in Physics
• PHY 498 - Independent Study in Physics

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