Courses offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, their frequencies, and possible textbooks are listed below. Please see the schedule of classes to determine the name of the instructor teaching each course and consult with the instructor for the particulars of that course.

 

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

The following courses satisfy the Subject Exploration: Natural Sciences section of the Univeristy Genral Education requirement:

Astronomy 152/154L - Elementary Astronomy: Offered every Fall and Spring with some sections offered on-line.
A General Education astronomy course intended for science and non-science majors.
Textbook: Stars and Galaxies by Seeds, Brooks/Cole, ISBN: 0534394477 and department lab manual.

Astronomy 312/L - Exploring the Solar System: Offered on demand.
An upper division General Education astronomy course on our solar system. This course is open to science and non-science majors.
Textbook: Voyages through Planets by Franknoi, Harcourt Brace, ISBN: 0030267935 and department lab manual.

Astronomy 352/L - Current Developments in Astronomy - Offered every Fall and Spring.
An upper division General Education astronomy course on the latest ideas in astronomy and astrophysics. This course is open to science and non-science majors.
Textbook: Current literature is used.

Physics 100A/AL and 100B/BL - General Physics I and II. Offered every Fall, Spring and Summer.
A non-calculus based introductory physics sequence and their associated laboratories.
Textbook: Physics by James S. Walker, Third Edition, Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2007, ISBN: 0-13-153631-1 and department lab manuals.

Physics 161/L - The Physics of Experience. Offered on demand.
A General Education (non-mathematical) physics course and its associated laboratory. This course is intended primarily for non-science majors.
Textbook: Physics Concepts and Connections by Art Hobson, Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2003, ISBN: 0-13-035709-X and department lab manual.

Physics 220A/AL and 220B/BL - Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism. Offered every Fall and Spring.
A calculus based introductory physics sequence and their associated laboratories intended for engineering majors.
Textbook: Physics for Scientists & Engineers by Douglas C. Giancoli, Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2000, ISBN: 0-13-243106-8 and department lab manuals.

Physics 305/L - Physics of Music. Offered on-line every Fall and Spring.
An upper division General Education course on the physics of music and its associated laboratory. This course is intended primarily for non-science majors.
Textbook: Measured Tones: The Interplay of Physics & Music by Johnston, Institute of Physics, ISBN: 0750307625.

 

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES FOR THE MAJOR

Astronomy 301 - The Dynamical Universe. Offered every Fall.
An upper division course intended for physics majors in the astrophysics option.
Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics by Zeilik, Gregory & Smith, 4th Edition, International Thomson, ISBN: 0030062284.

Astronomy 401 - The Radiative Universe - Offered every Spring.
An upper division course intended for physics majors in the astrophysics option.
Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics by Zeilik, Gregory & Smith, 4th Edition, International Thomson, ISBN: 0030062284.

 

Physics 225 - Physics I. Offered every Spring.

A calculus based course on mechanics, fluids and waves. This course is also taken by chemistry and geophysics majors.
Textbook: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Extended Version), 5th Edition, by Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca, W. H. Freeman, 2004, ISBN: 0-7167-4389-2.
[Note: Students taking this course also take Physics 220AL for the laboratory]

Physics 226 - Physics II. Offered every Fall.

A calculus based course on electricity & magnetism and optics. This course is also taken by the chemistry and geophysics majors.
Textbook: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Extended Version), 5th Edition, by Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca, W. H. Freeman, 2004, ISBN: 0-7167-4389-2.
[Note: Students taking this course also take Physics 220BL for the laboratory]

 

Physics 227/L - Physics III. Offered every Spring.

A calculus based course on thermodynamics and modern physics and its associated laboratory.

Textbook: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Extended Version), 5th Edition, by Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca, W. H. Freeman, 2004, ISBN: 0-7167-4389-2 and department lab manual.

 

Physics 301 - Analytical Mechanics I. Offered every Fall.
A junior level course on classical mechanics.
Textbook: Analytical Mechanics by Fowles, Thomson Learning, ISBN: 0030223172.

Physics 311 - Electromagnetism I. Offered every Fall.
A junior level course on electricity and magnetism.
Textbook: Electromagnetic Fields by Wangsness, Wiley, ISBN: 0471811866.

Physics 365 and 366 - Experimental Physics I and II. Offered every Fall and Spring respectively.

A junior level series of experimental modules.

Textbook: Faculty members use a combination of notes, manuals and textbooks suitable to the topics.

 

Physics 375 - Quantum Physics I. Offered every Spring.

A junior level course on quantum mechanics.
Textbook: Introductory Quantum mechanics, 4th Edition, by Richard L. Liboff, Addison Wesley, 2003, ISBN: 0-8053-8714-5.

Physics 402 - Analytical Mechanics II. Offered every Spring.

A continuation of the course on classical mechanics.

Textbook: Analytical Mechanics by Fowles, Thomson Learning, ISBN: 0030223172..

Physics 410 - Electromagnetism II. Offered Spring.
A continuation of the course on electricity and magnetism.
Textbook: Electromagnetic Fields by Wangsness, Wiley, ISBN: 0471811866.

Physics 420 - Modern Optics. Offered based on interest.
An upper division elective on optics.
Textbook: Optics by Hecht.

Physics 431- Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Offered every Fall.
An upper division course themal and statistical physics.
Textbook: Introduction to Thermal Physics by Schroeder, Addison-Wesley, ISBN: 0201380277

Physics 451 - Quantum Physics II. Offered every Fall.
A continuation of the course on quantum mechanics.
Textbook: Introductory Quantum mechanics, 4th Edition, by Richard L. Liboff, Addison Wesley, 2003, ISBN: 0-8053-8714-5.

Physics 465 and 466 - Experimental Physics III and IV. Offered every Fall and Spring respectively.

A senior level series of experimental modules.

Textbook: Faculty members use a combination of notes, manuals and textbooks suitable to the topics.

Physics 470 - Introduction to Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics: Offered based on interest.
An upper division elective on high energy physics.
Textbook: Introduction to Elementary Particles by Griffiths, Wiley, ISBN: 0471603864.

Physics 480 - Introduction to Solid State. Offered based on interest.
An upper division elective on solid state physics.
Textbook: Introduction to Solid State Physics by Kittel, Wiley, ISBN: 0471111813.

Physics 489 - Mathematical Physics. Offered based on interest.

An upper division elective on mathematical methods for physicists.
Textbook: Mathematical Methods for Physicists by Arfken, Academic Press, ISBN: 0120598159

Physics 490 - Computer Applications in Physics. Offered based on interest.
An upper division elective on the applications of computers to physics.
Textbooks: Introduction to Scientific Computing by Vanloan, Prentice, ISBN: 013125444-8 and Matlab Primer by Sigmon, CRS, ISBN: 0849313058.

GRADUATE COURSES
Physics 600 - Classical Mechanics. Offered every Fall in the evening.
A graduate level course on classical mechanics.
Textbook: Classical Dynamics. A Contemporary Approach by Jose & Saleton, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 0521636361.

Physics 601 - Selective Topics in Astrophysics. Offered based on interest.
A graduate level elective on current research topics in astronomy and astrophysics.
Textbook: Current literature is used.

 

Physics 610 - Electromagnetic Theory. Offered every Spring in the evening.
A graduate level course intended for students in the Master of Science program.
Textbook: Classical Electrodynamics by Jackson, Wiley, ISBN: 047130932X.

Physics 615 - Plasma Physics. Offered based on interest.
A graduate level elective on plasmas.
Textbooks: Introduction to Plasma by Shen, Plenum Press and The Framework of Plasma Physics by Hazeltine & Waelbroeck, Perseus Books.

Physics 620 - Optics - Offered based on interest.
A graduate level course intended for students in the Master of Science program.
Textbook: Optical Electronics by Yariv, 4th Edition, Saunders, ISBN: 003047444-2

Physics 630 - Statistical Physics. Offered every Spring in the evening.
A graduate level course on themal and statistical physics.
Textbook: Modern Course in Statistical Physics by Reichl, Wiley, ISBN: 0471595209.

Physics 640 - General Relativity - Offered based on interest.
A graduate level elective on general relativity.
Textbook: First Course in General Relativity by Schupz, Cambridge University Pres, ISBN: 0521277035.

Physics 650 - Quantum Mechanics I - Offered every Fall in the evening.
A graduate level course on quantum mechanics.
Textbook: Principles of Quantum Mechanics by Shankar, 2nd Edition, Kluwer Academy/Plenum Press, ISBN: 0306447908.

Physics 651 - Quantum Mechanics II - Offered based on interest.
An elective on advanced topics in quantum mechanics.
Textbook: Principles of Quantum Mechanics by Shankar, 2nd Edition, Kluwer Academy/Plenum Press, ISBN: 0306447908.

Physics 680 - Solid State Physics I. Offered based on interest.
A graduate level elective on condensed matter physics.
Textbook: Solid State Physics by Ashcroft & Mermin, Saunders, ISBN: 003083993-9.

Physics 681 - Solid State Physics II. Offered based on interest.
A graduate level elective on advanced topics in condensed matter physics.
Textbook: Solid State Physics by Ashcroft & Mermin, Saunders, ISBN: 003083993-9.

Physics 690 - Mathematical Physics. Offered based on interest.
A graduate level elective on mathematical physics.
Textbook: Principles of Advanced Mathematics, Vol. I and II, by Richtmyer, Springer-Verlag.

SERVICE COURSES
Physics 376 - Radiologic Physics. Offered every Fall.
A junior level course intended for students in the radiologic technology program.
Textbooks: Radiologic Science for Technologists by Bushong, Mosby-Year Book, ISBN: 0815115792.
Christensen's Physics of Diagnostic Radiology by Curry, Lippincott Williams & Williams, ISBN: 0812113101.