undergraduate physics · fields: atomic and molecular optics, biophysics, high energy physics,...

Undergraduate Physics

30-Sept-13 1

http://www.uiuc.edu/

http://physics.illinois.edu/

PHYS 110 Announcements

Today: curriculum and resources

Next week: – academic advising for spring registration – Teaching option

Two weeks:

– Careers

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How to succeed

Studying/group study “getting it” versus memorizing it Excelled in HS but…

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How to Succeed in Physics (and College)

1. Take responsibility 2. Take responsibility 3. Take responsibility 4. Study regularly 1 hour for 6 days >> 6 hours for 1 day

5. Get help!! 20 minutes w/ TA/instructor >> banging head

6. When you wonder why your roommate or neighbor never studies, don’t forget that he/she won’t be here next year.

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Resources Big campus – lots of resources Do you have a problem or concern?

There is somebody here who can help and wants to help!

Studying

– Office hours, CARE, tutors

Stress? Test anxiety? – Counseling Center

Scheduling? Planning your future? – Academic advisors. (Merissa et al.)

Careers? – Career Center, Engineering Career Services, Physics

Department

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Class of 2011

About 55 grads, where did they go? – 50% grad school in physics

Schools: Stanford, Cornell, Princeton, Harvard, Caltech, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Indiana, Washington, MIT, Colorado, University of California, University of Chicago, Wisconsin, Florida, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Maryland.

Fields: Atomic and molecular optics, biophysics, high energy physics, astrophysics, condensed matter physics, quantum computing, nuclear physics, nanotechnology.

– 20% grad school in other field(CS, EE, NuclE, MatSE, Math)

– 20% industry Software engineer (CISCO Systems), manufacturing systems (Intel), information

technology (Simplex Investments, Accenture Consulting), finance (Belvedere Trading Company), public policy.

– 5% teaching – 5% military (service or teaching)

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Class of 2012

Grad school in Physics: Stanford, Princeton, Ohio State, Virginia, Notre Dame, MIT, Cornell, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana.

Grad school in other fields: economics, applied physics, architectural acoustics, biomedical engineering, secondary education, law school, neuroscience, astronomy and materials science

Jobs: software firms, the Department of Defense, IBM, Google, and HRL Labs

About 60 grads, where did they go?

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Class of 2013

Total number of graduates: 60 Physics grad school: Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, MIT, Princeton, Case-

Western, Ohio University, UIUC, U Chicago, Virginia, Johns Hopkins Other grad school: MatSE, Finance, Applied Stats, Law, Geophysics, ECE,

Journalism, CS, Math, Nucl Eng Jobs: Viasat, Studio 222, IMC Finance, EPIC (2), Inservice Engineering,

Creat-a-Soft, U-Line distributor, Qualcomm, Google, Twitch LLC, HS teaching (3), software startup, Jump Trading, Green Line, Olenick & Associates

Several people “looking” taking a “gap year” or staying here for a year of research.

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http://physics.illinois.edu/ 30-Sept-13 9

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Engineering Physics – Offered through Engineering College

LAS

– Science and Letters Physics – LAS Specialized Physics – Physics Teaching Option

Includes secondary education minor (and teaching certification)



Degree Requirements

“Core” Physics Courses “Core” Math courses

(+2 courses = math minor) Supporting courses (Chem, CS) General Education requirements Elective Options Free electives



Core physics courses

PHYS 211, 212, 213, 214(Intro sequence) PHYS 225 Relativity & Math Applications PHYS 325 Classical Mechanics I PHYS 435 Electromagnetic Fields I PHYS 485/6 Quantum Mechanics

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Core math courses

MATH 220/221 Calculus I MATH 231 Calculus II MATH 241 Calculus III MATH 285 Differential Equations

Comments:

– MATH 415 Linear Algebra is required in some programs.

– Many of you will take much more math than this.

– These courses put you close to a math minor.

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Flexible core Choose 3: PHYS 326 Classical Mechanics II PHYS 402 Light PHYS 427 Thermal & Statistical Physics PHYS 436 Electromagnetic Fields II PHYS 487 Quantum Mechanics II With at least 1 from: PHYS 401 Classical Physics Lab PHYS 403 Modern Physics Lab PHYS 404 Electronic Circuits PHYS 406 Acoustical Physics of Music

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Introductory Courses Introductory sequence (3 semesters)

– PHYS 211 – Mechanics – PHYS 212 -- Electricity and Magnetism – PHYS 213 -- Thermal Physics (half-semester) – PHYS 214 -- Waves and Quantum Physics (half-semester) – PHYS 225 – Relativity and Math Methods

Notes:

– Courses have calculus prerequisites – Take Phys 225 the same semester you take Phys 212 – Phys 213 and 214 are two half-semester courses (for

practical purposes, it’s a single four hour course)

What if you change your mind? – Calculus and Phys 211-214 are required for most engineering

majors.



Introductory Courses Introductory sequence (3 semesters)

– PHYS 211 – Mechanics – PHYS 212 -- Electricity and Magnetism – PHYS 213 -- Thermal Physics (half-semester) – PHYS 214 -- Waves and Quantum Physics (half-semester)

Course format:

– Lecture, discussion (interactive problem-solving), labs – Lectures are highly interactive using iClickers



Elective Options

Allows students to tailor curriculum to their needs and interests.

Examples: – Professional Physics (this is the grad school track) – Astrophysics – Biophysics – Bioengineering – Computational Physics – Materials Science – Physical Electronics – Earth Science – Science Writing – Pre-law – Pre-med – User defined

New options coming: •Nuclear physics •Energy/sustainability •Management •Atmospheric science •…



Recent user defined options – Electrical Engineering Technical Option – Geology/Geophysics – Pre-Optometry – Mathematical Physics – Prep for Grad School in Library Science – Economics – Acoustic Engineering – Atmospheric Sciences – Acoustics – Biomedical Engineering – Nuclear Physics – Sustainable Technology Commercialization

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Teaching Option

Offered through Liberal Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the College of Education

Must complete a secondary education minor

Apply to Science and Letters Physics (then tell us you are interested in teaching option after admission)

Contact advisor Prof. Mats Selen ([email protected])



Academic Advising

Every major is assigned an advisor and a faculty mentor – Advisor is the expert on

courses/programs/graduation requirements – Mentor is the faculty member, expert on

research/areas of study/careers

Required to meet academic advisor and mentor until PHYS 325 is taken

We are working on some new programs to further aid the mentoring process.



PHYS 199REL The Relevance of Physics New course spring 2012 For Physics majors only Discuss the societal relevance of physics…

– Energy, space travel, nuclear power, weapons, electricity, light, radiation, climate

…and the relevance to physics majors – Careers, funding, education

Project-based – Career project, poster project, position

papers, videos. In class discussion & debate

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PHYS 199REL The Relevance of Physics

Projects Careers in physics (not research, faculty)

– In class presentation Team poster project Position paper on some alternative energy

technology Interview a faculty member and report on

research in physics (team) – In class presentation

Video (team)

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Example video from PHYS 199REL http://courses.physics.illinois.edu/phys199rel/sp2012/project5team1final2.wmv

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http://courses.physics.illinois.edu/phys199rel/sp2012/project5team1final2.wmv


PHYS 199 RES

Spring course for physics majors.

Title: Undergraduate Research

Topics: Research areas, off campus research, how to find research

Seminar course, 1 hour

Meets Monday 4pm.

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undergraduate physics · fields: atomic and molecular optics, biophysics, high energy physics,...

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