The department offers several general introductory sequences, as
well as some nontechnical courses listed in the following section.
Courses 01:750:271-272, 273 Honors Physics with 275-276 Classical
Physics Laboratory are for honors students and well-prepared physics
majors. It uses calculus as a pre- or corequisite. Courses
01:750:123-124, 227-228 Analytical Physics with 229-230 Analytical
Physics Laboratory are for engineering students and physics majors. It
uses calculus as a pre- or corequisite. Engineering students who need
extra help or who have nontraditional backgrounds should ask the
engineering dean's office for permission to take 01:750: 115-116
Extended Analytical Physics instead of 01:750:123-124. There are three
introductory sequences for majors in the biological sciences (including
premedical curricula), computer science, chemistry, and other sciences,
as well as for students who desire an elementary but thorough
introduction to physics. All three cover basically the same material,
but utilize different teaching techniques and require different levels
of mathematical preparation. Courses 01:750:203-204 General Physics
with 205-206 General Physics Laboratory require calculus as a pre- or
corequisite, and use a lecture/recitation format. Courses
01:750:201-202 Extended General Physics are intended for students who
need extra help or who have nontraditional backgrounds. Recitations are
replaced by cooperative learning workshops, and a laboratory is
integrated into the course. Courses 01:750:193-194 Physics for the
Sciences use only algebra and trigonometry. Recitations are replaced by
cooperative learning workshops, and a laboratory is integrated into the
course. Course 01:750:161 Elements of Physics is a one-term noncalculus
course intended primarily for pharmacy students, but also suitable for
well-prepared liberal arts majors. Courses that are suitable for
nonscientists, requiring only high-school algebra, include
01:750:109,110 Astronomy and Cosmology, 01:750:140 The Greenhouse
Effect, and 01:750:296 Great Ideas That Shook Physics and the World.
Students who are unsure which sequence to take are urged to consult an
adviser in the physics department. Credit cannot be given for courses
taken in different sequences if they cover substantially similar
topics. Students who wish to switch from one sequence to another are
urged to consult a departmental adviser; students who change their
major or who have advanced standing also are urged to consult a
departmental adviser.
