fall 2016 incoming freshmen presentation · mpe score 1 - 21 mpe score 22 - 25 mpe score 26 + math...

Fall 2016 Incoming Freshmen Presentation

Department of Physics & Astronomy

979-845-7717https://physics.tamu.ed

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Agenda

Department Information

Schedule Building

Picture

Lunch Break

Registration (begins at 2, please be back here by

1:30 – 1:45)

Building Tour

Out by 3 – 3:30

979-845-7717https://physics.tamu.edu

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Avoid the dreaded “Closet Major”

(handout in your folder)

Approved Course Options for Physics Majors by MPE score:

MPE Score 1 - 21 MPE Score 22 - 25 MPE Score 26 +

MATH 150 MATH 171 MATH 171

CHEM 107/117 CHEM 107/117 PHYS 218

PHYS 101 PHYS 101 PHYS 101

Failure to register for the appropriate classes will result in a closet major registration block,

and a change of major will be required before registration for the next semester will be allowed.

Notes:

CHEM 107/117 may be substituted for PHYS 218

Adjustments may be made to these courses based on AP or dual credit

Under certain circumstances, CHEM 101/111 may be approved in place of CHEM 107/117

Any deviations from these options should be discussed with an advisor


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What if I want to change to Engineering?

1st two semesters PHYS-

Fall – MATH 171, PHYS 218, PHYS 101 (for most), core

Spring – MATH 172, PHYS 208, PHYS 102 (for most), CHEM 107/117, core

1st two semesters ENGR-

Fall – MATH 151, PHYS 218, ENGR 111, core

Spring – MATH 152, PHYS 208, ENGR 112, CHEM 107/117, core

Essentially identical.

Engineering will accept MATH 171 and 172 in place of MATH 151 and 152.

So what is the real difference? PHYS 101 and 102 vs. ENGR 111 and 112.

MATH 171/172 – theory, MATH 151/152 - application


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AP Credit:

With AP exams, you have the option of whether to accept credits awarded based on your

scores. Although a score of 3 will award credit for any test, our faculty expect a 5 on any

Calculus you choose to accept credit for.

• Cal AB test - we suggest you not accept credit and begin in MATH 171.

• Cal BC test - we suggest you accept credit for MATH 151 and start in MATH 172.

• PHYS B awards credit for PHYS 201 and 202, Algebra-based Physics, which cannot be

used in a Physics Degree.

• Our research has shown that AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism do

not adequately prepare you to take PHYS 221, Optics and Thermal Physics, in your first

semester. We strongly encourage you to take PHYS 218 and 208 regardless of AP scores.

• Please discuss other AP credits with an advisor before accepting. There is no time limit for

accepting AP credits, so there is usually no urgency. It is likely most AP credits for general

education core courses will be recommended for acceptance.

Ultimately, accepting AP credits is your decision. We can only offer advice based on what we

have observed with previous students.


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Dual Credit:

With dual credit courses, you do not have the option of whether to accept credits.

Texas law requires that transcripts from all college level classes be reported to each school you

attend.

Courses taken through dual credit that have direct equivalents will automatically populate in your

degree evaluation. TAMU does not accept transfer grades, only credits. If you choose to retake

a class at TAMU, the class will not automatically appear in place of the transferred course, but a

request can be made. This adjustment allows a grade to be recorded in your major GPA.

If you have taken calculus dual credit, we recommend starting one level back from what you

have completed. That is, if you completed only Cal I, we recommend you start in MATH 171. If

you completed Cal II, we recommend you start in MATH 172.

Our research on transfer students indicates PHYS 218 and 208 equivalents at community

colleges do not adequately prepare you to take PHYS 221, Optics and Thermal in your first

semester. We strongly recommend you start in PHYS 218 regardless of prior coursework.

Other dual credit courses that meet core requirements are acceptable.

As noted with AP credit, the decision of which courses to use and which to retake is yours.


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Core Curriculum (handout in your folder)

The Core Curriculum is a set of classes (42 total hours) across a variety of disciplines that are

designed to round out your educational experience. All core curriculum requirements must be met

before graduation. Many students meet non-math and science requirements through AP credits,

dual credit courses and summer school classes.

A student must have 6 credits of International and Cultural Diversity (ICD) coursework before

graduating. Many of the classes in the Language, Philosophy and Culture, the Creative Arts, and

the Social and Behavioral Sciences, as well as a few in the American History categories are

classified as ICD. If a student takes a Creative Arts class that is classified as ICD, both the Creative

Arts requirement and the ICD requirement will be met. A class CANNOT count in two core areas.

Required Core Areas:

• Communication: ENGL 104 and one communication elective (ENGL or COMM)

• Mathematics: will be met by MATH 171 and MATH 172

• Life and Physical Sciences: will be met by PHYS 218, PHYS 208 and CHEM 107/117

• Language, Philosophy and Culture: One course required

• Creative Arts: One course required

• American History: Two courses required, one may be Texas History

• Government/Political Science: POLS 206 and POLS 207

• Social and Behavioral Science: One course required

• ICD: double dips primarily available in Lang., Phil. And Cult., Creative Arts and Soc. &

Behavioral Sci.


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Computer Support “Group”

The CSG can help with the

computers in the computer lab,

card access and problems with

your personal electronic device.

They can also offer some basic

audiovisual support in our

classrooms.

They cannot assist you with

problems with your NetID, your

TAMU email, or the TAMU

wireless internet. Please

contact Help Desk Central

(helpdesk.tamu.edu) for these

problems.

Email [email protected]


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Learning Assistance (handout in your folder)

If you need help, it is available on campus. Please address problems

early, and don’t wait until they get out of hand. If you don’t know where

to go, please ask us.

Academic Success Center – SIs, Tutoring, Academic Coaching,

Workshops (time management, test anxiety and test-taking skills, how to

study for finals)

Help Desks – Physics, Chemistry and Math

Tutoring – Dept. of Multicultural Services, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society,

Society of Physics Students

University Writing Center


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The Personalized Precalculus Program (PPP) at Texas A&M University is a three-week, online program

designed to improve the success rates of prospective students who will be taking Calculus I. Students

who obtain a score in the range of 14 to 21 (out of 33) on the Math Placement Exam (MPE) are strongly

encouraged to enroll in the program. The cost of enrollment for the summer 2016 session is $150.

PERSONALIZED STUDY PLAN

Students enrolled in the Personalized Precalculus Program will receive a Personalized Study Plan

(PSP), which will be stored in an online assessment application called WebAssign. While working on

their PSP, each student will take category pretests, which will identify their individual mathematical

weaknesses.

PERSONAL TUTORS

In addition to the PSP, each student is assigned a personal, online tutor who works with the student to

clear misconceptions, fill gaps, strengthen the student’s mathematical foundation, and help move each

student to higher levels of mathematical understanding. The student’s tutor is an experienced math

school teacher who has been trained in all forms of technology for the program. During the program,

students work independently on their PSP and meet online, Monday through Friday, at previously

scheduled times with their tutor in small groups. The tutors monitor the progress of each student’s PSP,

they analyze student responses, and they answer student’s individual questions.

ppp.tamu.edu

Personalized Precalculus Program

(Pre-Cal Boot Camp)

https://www.webassign.net/tamu/login.html


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Degree Plans for Physics (handout in your folder)


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Texas A&M University Career Centercareercenter.tamu.edu

Available Part-time jobs on-campus and off-campus:

jobsforaggies.tamu.edu

Internships, Co-ops and Full-time jobs:

HireAggies.com

Fall Career Fairs: http://careercenter.tamu.edu/events

Engineering – Sept. 6 & 7, 9 am – 4 pm – Reed Arena

Sciences – Sept. 8, 10 am – 3 pm – Bethancourt Ballroom, MSC

Business – Sept. 21 & 22 9am – 4 pm – Reed Arena


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What can you do with a Physics degree?


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Get a job!


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Employers that hired TAMU students who graduated with a BA or BS in Physics over the

past 3 years

φ Accenture

φ Amazon (this year)

φ Call Box (this year)

φ Capital One (two this year)

φ Capsher Technology (this year)

φ Credera (this year)

φ GHG Corp. – NASA contractor

φ L3 Mustang Technologies

φ Price Waterhouse Coopers

φ Quorum Business Solutions

φ SpaceX


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Go to graduate school!


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Graduate and Professional Schools where students who graduated with a BA or BS in

Physics have gone over the past 5 years

∞ Baylor College of Medicine

∞ Duke University School of Law

∞ Emory University

∞ Georgia Tech

∞ Harvard University

∞ Institute for Astro and Particle Physics, Innsbruck

∞ M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

∞ MIT

∞ The Ohio State University

∞ Rice University

∞ Rutgers University

∞ Stanford University

∞ Texas A&M University

∞ Texas A&M Univ. Health Science Ctr.

∞ Univ. of California, Berkeley

∞ Univ. of California, Los Angeles

∞ Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

∞ University of Colorado, Boulder

∞ University of Helsinki

∞ University of Rochester

∞ University of Texas – Austin

∞ University of Wisconsin - Madison

∞ Washington University (St. Louis)

∞ Yale University


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Interested in Undergraduate Research?

The Physics and Astronomy Department has a long history of award winning undergraduate research in many areas:

• Applied Physics

• Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

• Atomic Physics

• Condensed Matter Physics

• Materials Physics

• Nuclear Physics

• Particle Physics

• Quantum Optics

• String Theory…

Nationally, ~75% of students

graduating with a Physics

degree have research

experience. 100% of

students graduating with a

B.S. in Physics from TAMU

have research experience (4

hours required in degree), as

well as many B.A. students.


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Section 564 – unavailable, no seats opened

Section 565 – available, 23 seats remain

Section 566 – unavailable, no seats remain

C – Closed

SR – Seats Remain

Let’s Build a Schedule

Section 565:

MWF 10:20 – 11:30 am – lecture

R 8 – 8:50 am – recitation

R 9 – 10:50 am – lab

T 7 – 10, T 7 – 10, R 7 – 10 – common exams

Note the dates – 9/27, 10/25, 12/1

TAMU.Physics

Sherree Kessler

Senior Academic Advisor

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: 979.458.5948

Office: Mitchell Physics Building, 156

Jill Lyster

Academic Advisor II

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: 979.845.7738

Office: Mitchell Physics Building, 154

https://physics.tamu.edu/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

fall 2016 incoming freshmen presentation · mpe score 1 - 21 mpe score 22 - 25 mpe score 26 + math...

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