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Course Descriptions

Physics (PHY)                           Course Schedules

PHY 505 Teaching Chemistry/Physics in Secondary School 3(3-0) Sp
Course surveys materials for the teaching of secondary chemistry/ physics. For students on teaching curricula, the course must be completed prior to student teaching. Identical to CHM 505. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: junior standing; CHM 132 or CHM 161; PHY 131 or PHY 146 or equivalent.

PHY 507 Field Experience in Teaching Chemistry/Physics 1(Spec) Sp
Supervised experience in high school chemistry and/or physics classes. Experience will include observation, participation in instruction, and critical analysis of the experience.  CR/NC only. Identical to CHM 507. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Corequisites: CHM/PHY 505 or equivalent.

PHY 517 Computational Physics 3(3-0) (Odd Year)
Introduction to standard numerical techniques applied to problems in physics, including numerical differentiation and integration, systems of differential equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and Monte-Carlo simulations. Prerequisites: PHY 312, PHY 322, and PHY 332, and a basic knowledge of a programming language such as FORTRAN. Co-requisite or prerequisite: PHY 442.

PHY 533 Electromagnetic Waves 3(3-0) D
Maxwell’s equations and boundary value problems in electrostatics. Production and propagation of electromagnetic radiation. Prerequisite: PHY 332.

PHY 552 Nuclear Physics 3(3-0) Sp (Odd Year)
Radioactive transformations, detection of radiation, methods of producing high-speed particles, nuclear structure, fission, cosmic radiation and applications of radioactivity. Prerequisite: PHY 247.

PHY 554 Optics 3(3-0) F (Even Year)
Geometrical and physical optics; electromagnetic theory of light, interference and diffraction from the standpoint of Huygens’ principle, and polarized light. Prerequisite: PHY 247.

PHY 556 Solid State Physics 3(3-0) Sp (Even Year)
Atomic, molecular and crystal structure, energy levels of electrons, and binding energies in molecules and solids. Prerequisites: PHY 322 and PHY 332.

PHY 578 Experimental Physics 2-4(Spec) Sp
Selected experiments utilizing the techniques of modern experimental physics. May be retaken for up to 4 hours of credit. Prerequisite: PHY 277 or equivalent.

PHY 580 Special Topics 1-9(Spec) D
Topics not ordinarily covered in regular courses. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

PHY 614 Methods of Theoretical Physics 3(3-0) D
Application of advanced mathematical techniques to physical theory. Prerequisite: PHY 313 or equivalent.

PHY 619 Continuing Registration for Final Research Project 1(1-0)
A non-credit course intended for students who have completed all program credits but still need to use university resources to complete their degree requirements.

PHY 624 Advanced Mechanics 3(3-0) F (Odd Year)
Special relativity, kinematics, and dynamics of rotational motion, coupled oscillations, canonical transformation, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, classical fields. Prerequisite: PHY 322 or equivalent.

PHY 634 Advanced Electricity and Magnetism 3(3-0) Sp (Even Year)
Boundary value problems, time-varying fields and the initial value problem. Covariant description of electrodynamics and radiation by point charges. Prerequisite: PHY 332 or equivalent.

PHY 643 Quantum Mechanics I 3(3-0) F (Even Year)
The scattering matrix formulation of quantum mechanics, symmetry groups in quantum mechanics, perturbation theory. Prerequisite: PHY 442 or equivalent.

PHY 644 Quantum Mechanics II 3(3-0) Sp (Odd Year)
Identical particles, the self-consistent field, theory of multiplets, semiclassical theory of radiation, atomic collisions. Prerequisite: PHY 643 or equivalent.

PHY 685 Seminar: Contemporary Physics 1-4(Spec) F, Sp
Discussion of recent research in various subfields of physics. Emphasis on oral presentation and literature searches. Offered in 1 hour blocks, but may be retaken three times. Prerequisite: graduate standing in physics.

PHY 780 Topics in Physics 1-9(Spec) D
Topics not ordinarily covered in regular courses. Prerequisite: one course at 500 or 600 level.

PHY 790 Independent Study 1-3(Spec) F, Sp
Individual study in an area not covered by regular courses. Prior permission of instructor must be obtained.

PHY 798 Thesis 1-6(Spec) F, Sp
Individual research, with thesis. Directed by a committee. CR/NC only.

Unspecified content or variable credit courses.  The following courses offered through the department are of unspecified content or variable credit: PHY 578, 580, 685, 780, 790.

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