PHYSICS, APPLIED PHYSICS, AND ASTROPHYSICS

Student-Faculty Conference

April 5, 2007

Sarah Stokes, Micha Fireman, Michael Forte, Michael Inadomi, Christopher Klein, David Zeb Rocklin, Steven Wang

Harry Atwater, Lynne Hillenbrand, Kenneth Libbrecht, Robert McKeown

PHYSICSTOPICS DISCUSSED

Overwhelming enrollment in upper division classes.

Not enough Faculty-Student interaction. Freshman lab quality improvement. Allow more math and astronomy courses to

be taken as electives. Other Topics

PHYSICSOVERWHELMING ENROLLMENT Ph125a:

71 enrolled32 undergraduate physics majors

Ph 106a:50 enrolled31 undergraduate physics majors

It is ridiculous that less than half of the students in Ph125a are physics majors! Ph125 is serving as a work horse course for the entire institution. Many of the students are graduate students from other departments.

PHYSICSOVERWHELMING ENROLLMENT

Suggestions to alleviate the stresses put on the physics classes: More TAs (funding sources needed): In a survey of undergraduates, regarding Ph125

and Ph106: 38 (70%) say it needs more TA and/or recitations

5 (9%) say it doesn't need more help11 (20%) unsure

Create APh125: Quantum Mechanics with an emphasis on solid state physics This will take much of the strain from Ph125 because

APh undergraduates and many graduate students will find an APh quantum mechanics class more appealing to their academics pursuits.

PHYSICSFACULTY-STUDENT INTERACTION

Many physics students feel that the faculty is unapproachable for various reasons.

We would like to foster a community feeling within the department by: Establishing a seminar course aimed at junior

physics students. Encouraging more undergraduates to attend

weekly department seminars. Softball game and barbeque

PHYSICSCLASS QUALITY

Issues regarding Physics 3 lab course quality have been discussed in preliminary SFC meetings. Since then, faculty attention has been brought to the issue.

In general regarding class quality: Talk to the professor Fill out the course surveys (Prof. Libbrecht

promises he reads them) Be proactive

PHYSICSEXTRA ELECTIVES

Allow Ay20, Ay21, Ma5 to count for 9 units towards the 90-unit elective requirement within the PMA division.

Ay20 is a prerequisite to take 100-level Ay courses, so it should be counted towards the physics major.

Math is applicable to many aspects of physics, and Ma5 is a tough course. C’mon.

If you want other math courses to count, petition to Prof. Libbrecht.

PHYSICSOTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED

The course catalog should recognize that the Ph1 analytical track prepares you better for upper level physics courses.

Matlab and Mathematica are essential tool for physics, but not covered specifically in any class. It is the responsibility of the student to become fluent is using this software.

APPLIED PHYSICSTOPICS DISCUSSED

Redundancy of APh 17 a and c Possibility of additional electives Update model schedule in catalog New course to fulfill APh communications

requirement Emphasis and size of Ph 125

APPLIED PHYSICS APH 17 A AND C

APh 17 a is meant to cover thermal physics from a statistical mechanics perspective

APh 17 c is meant to do so from the viewpoint of classical thermodynamics

Students felt the two classes were too similar and that they were not learning anything new in APh 17 c

APh 17 c will cover new topics

APPLIED PHYSICS ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES

Examined the possibility of instituting a requirement for a lower-level elective

Looked at the possibility of cross-listing more courses to fulfill the upper-level requirement

APPLIED PHYSICS MODEL COURSE SCHEDULE

Recommend Ph 1 analytical track for Ph/APh/Ay majors

Recommend ACM 95 to be taken sophomore year

Recommend Ph 12 instead of Ph 2 for APh majors

APPLIED PHYSICS OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED

Examination of communications requirement Possibility of creating a course similar to Ay 30 More student-faculty interaction

Adequacy of Ph 125 Need more TA’s to hold recitation due to class

size. APh 125 that will focus on applications of

quantum mechanics; in the past, APh 125 has been offered.

If not possible, two different tracks (Ph 125c or APh 125c) can be offered third term.

ASTROPHYSICSTOPICS DISCUSSED

Astrophysics department is awesome. Decreased enrollment in Ay20 and Ay21. Not

as many physics majors take it for fun. Maybe the enrollment will increase with the electives change in the course catalog.

PHYSICS, APPLIED PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICSSUMMARY OF MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Reinstatement of APh125. Allow Ay20, Ay21 and Ma5 to count as

physics electives. Cross list several courses for APh. Allow for lower-level courses to be taken for

credit in APh. Oral requirement for APh.

DA

TA

FO

R P

H125A

Ph125a

SOPHOMORES

2 - Physics

JUNIORS

29 - Physics major

6 - Astrophysics

6 - Applied Physics

SENIORS

1 - Physics

1 - Applied Physics

UNDERGRAD EXCHANGE

3 - no major

FIRST YEAR GRADS.

3 - Applied Physics

1 - Astrophysics

6 - Electrical Engineering

4 - Material Science

3 - Physics

SECOND YR. GRADS

1 - Applied Physics

1 - Bioengineering

1 - Electrical Engr.

1 - Chemical Engr.

1 - Aeronautics

THIRD YEAR GRAD.

1 - Bioengineering