Instructions

1. Please describe what the students will be able to do, not what they will "know" or "learn" (this is partly semantics, but not entirely).   A course activity is not a course objective.

2. Group objectives together in logical units whenever possible, and avoid creating long lists.

3. Include only those objectives that are core  to the course.  We will probably have to be able to give evidence that students are achieving these.  Different professors include some topics and objectives that others do not; consider these as optional and do not include them.  Work out with others teaching this course which are the essential objectives. 

4. Limit everything to 100 words for each course.  We can negotiate on this later if you feel it's essential, but for now, the discipline will be good for us. 

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Physical Science 100: Physical Science

• discuss the fundamental principles that govern the physical universe.  This includes the behavior of the forces of nature, Newton's laws of motion, energy and order, conserved quantities, and the construction of matter.

• demonstrate how these few principles, and models built on them, explain what we observe in nature, including the very small, large, and fast.
  
• apply the scientific method by postulating what might be, experimenting, and using measured results to test for consistency between postulate and observation.
  
• explain that a study of the universe, done in the proper spirit, can increase faith in God.

Physical Science 110A: Physical Science A

• explain the fundamental principles that govern the universe to elementary and middle school children. This includes the behavior of the forces of nature, Newton's laws of motion, energy, conserved quantities, waves, light, properties of matter, the molecular model of matter, atoms and molecules, the periodic table, the law of increasing disorder, chemical reactivity, bonding in metals, alloys, ionic compounds and non-metal compounds, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, the astronomy of the earth, moon and the sun and basic cosmology.    
• conduct inquiry based physical science laboratories for elementary and middle school children.
• explain that a study of the universe, done in the proper spirit, can increase faith in God.
  

Physical Science 111A: Physical Science A Laboratory 

• conduct inquiry based physical science laboratories for elementary and middle school stdents.   

 

Physics 101: Fundamentals of Physics

• Qualitatively discuss the physical laws and concepts that describe everyday phenomena and do simple calculations involving those laws.  These laws and concepts include Newton's laws of motion, conservation laws, simple thermodynamics, fluids, and electricity and magnetism.
• Qualitatively discuss and do simple calculations involving modern physics concepts that are not everyday but which have important practical and philosophical implications in today's world, such as quantum mechanics, nuclear physics and relativity.

Physics 105: Introductory Applied Physics

• Use concepts and the simplest mathematical descriptions of force, energy, momentum and thermodynamics to predict and describe the behavior of moving and rotating objects, fluids, waves and simple thermodynamic systems.

Physics 106: Introductory Applied Physics

• Use concepts and simple mathematical descriptions of electricity and magnetism, and optics to predict and describe the behavior of charge in electric and magnetic fields, circuits, and light.
• Use concepts and simple mathematical descriptions of modern physics concepts to understand important practical and philosophical implications of quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, and relativity.
  

Physics 107: Introductory Applied Physics Laboratory

• Develop a greater conceptual understanding of mechanics and thermodynamics through hands-on experience with physical systems that illustrate lecture course material.
• Develop skills in measuring and analyzing physical data.

Physics 108: Introductory Applied Physics Laboratory

• Develop a greater conceptual understanding of electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics through hands-on experience with physical systems that illustrate lecture course material.
• Develop skills in measuring and analyzing physical data.
  

Physics 121: Principles of Physics 1

• Convert quantities from one set of units to another.

• Express numerical answers using a reasonable number of significant digits.

• Compute a particle’s classical translational motion in one or two dimensions, including circular motion.

• Use the ideas of energy, work and power to arrive at conclusions about the motion of a system.

• Use linear momentum to describe the motion of systems of particles.

• Compute the rotation of a rigid body about a fixed axis.

• Relate the forces on objects in static equilibrium.

• Compute the motion of objects and planets moving in response to the gravitational force.

• Compute the motion of objects in simple harmonic motion.

 

Physics 123: Principles of Physics 2

• Solve problems using the basics of fluid statics and dynamics, including Bernoulli's principle and Pascal's law.
  
• Calculate changes in temperature, pressure, entropy and volume for quasi static ideal gas processes and be able to determine work done and efficiency for gas engines, heat pumps, and refrigerators.
  
• Determine the heat flow and temperatures in systems in steady state.
  
• Solve problems involving waves, using concepts such as wave speed, wavelength, frequency, superposition, beats, and resonance.

• Find the location and magnification of images in single- and multiple-lens/mirror systems by calculation and by ray tracing, and be able to work general problems in optics using Snell's law and specular reflection.
• Solve wave interference problems involving slits and thin films.
  
• Solve problems in basic modern physics including special relativity, quantum mechanics, and nuclear physics.
  
  

Physics 127: Descriptive Astronomy

• Identify approximately 50 major northern hemisphere constellations and bright stars.
• Explain the development of modern astrophysical concepts using current terminology. 
• List the significant and unique characteristics of each planet and other components of the solar system.
• Describe the Sun in detail by comparing it to other stars.
• Describe the life history of a star as a function of mass including its energy sources, "motion" on an HR diagram, and possible end states.
• Describe how the Universe is organized by gravity at all scales from the solar system to the superclusters of galaxies.
• Describe the evidences and central ideas of big bang cosmologies. 
• Explain that a study of the Universe, done in the proper spirit, can increase faith in God.

Physics 137: Introduction to the Atmosphere and Weather

• Enjoy enhanced aesthetic experiences with one of nature’s most fascinating and beautiful endowments, the continually changing atmosphere, through increased familiarity and comprehension of the physics of weather.
  
• Understand "severe weather" and its potential impact in their lives.
• More fully comprehend and assess the reliability of meteorological ideas and information to which he or she is exposed in present and future encounters which might occur in other courses, through the media, or in the student's own experience, thereby enabling the student to  enjoy a richer life of greater awareness.
• Formulate short-term weather forecasts, based upon personal knowledge and observations, without any reference to professionally-produced prognostications and "fine tune" professionally-prepared forecasts to his or her specific location.
  

Physics 140: Electronics Lab

• build and debug simple circuits that are of practical use in experimental physics.
• do basic analysis of those same types of circuits.
  

Physics 145: Experimental Methods in Physics

• Learn the basics elements of experimental physics, including experiment design and construction, data collection and analysis, record keeping and presentation.  Data analysis concepts include systematic and statistical errors, error propagation and curve fitting.
• use simple devices (e.g. lenses, mirrors, slits and gratings, polarizers) to explore the geometric and wave properties of light.
• Fourier transform a time signal to and from the frequency domain; apply frequency-domain filters.
• apply AC impedance concepts a to sinusoidally-driven electrical, mechanical and acoustical systems.
• use Labview to perform simple computer-assisted instrument control, data acquisition and data analysis tasks.

Physics 167: Descriptive Acoustics of Music and Speech

• apply a conceptual understanding of physical principles to phenomena encountered in the production and perception of sound 
• understand and use essential acoustics-related terminology

 

• Explain the fundamental physical properties of simple and compound vibrators, waves on strings and in fluid media, and the use of instruments for the detection and analysis of sound and vibration.

• Explain wave phenomena, including superposition, reflection, diffraction, refraction, absorption, and the Doppler effect.

• Explain the basic anatomy, physical properties, and functions of the human ear, as well as the nature and causes of hearing impairments, and the fundamental perceptual aspects of the human ear-brain system.

• Become conversant in the desirable and undesirable aspects of noise, listening environments, and audio systems.

• Explain the basic anatomy, physical properties, and functions of the human speech system and singing voice, as well as the nature and causes of speech impairments.

• Explain the physical characteristics and functions of mechanical reed, lip reed, air-jet, string, percussion, and electronic musical instruments.

• Demonstrate conceptual understanding of these systems and perform basic calculations in their descriptions.

 

Physics 191: Introduction to Physics Careers and Research

• describe the major subfields of physics and the breadth of interdisciplinary research physicists contribute to
  
• describe examples of current reasearch in physics or astronomy, explaining what questions are being asked by the investigators and why these questions are interesting.
• describe career opportunities available in physics and astronomy and the specific preparation necessary for these careers.
  
• begin planning for undergraduate and graduate educational choices

 

Physics 291: Introduction to Physics Careers and Research

• describe career opportunities for physicists in industry, interdisciplinary research, national labs and observatories, and professions such as medicine, law and business.
• describe how to prepare for and succeed in such careers
• take steps toward research or internship involvement
• begin planning toward finding employment or graduate school admission
  

Physics 198: Physics and Mathematics Review

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Physics 220: Principles of Physics 3

• define vocabulary terms used to describe concepts in electromagnetic theory and electrical circuits.
• describe how fields account for the fundamental electric and magnetic forces on charged particles and currents.
• write Maxwell's Equations in integral form, explain how these equations describe the sources of electric and magnetic fields, and use them to derive expressions for fields in several important cases.
• describe how our understanding of electromagnetic theory has led to a number of practical applications.
• analyze basic AC and DC circuits.
• better apply abstract geometrical and algebraic models to a variety of applications.
  
  

Physics 222: Modern Physics

• Use the principles of special relativity in astrophysical and particle physics problems.
• Discuss the origins of quantum mechanics and the experiments which led to its discovery.
• Explain the significance of a wave function and use simple operators to extract information from a wave function. 
• Describe stationary states and their superpositions and resulting time dependence, and calculate these for a free particle and a particle in a 1-D infinite square well. 
  
• Apply principles of quantum mechanics to describe the stability, binding energies and interaction with light of nuclei, atoms, molecules, and solids, as well as technological applications in nuclear, atomic/laser and condensed matter physics. 
• Explain the properties of the most fundamental building-blocks of matter, including hadrons, leptons, and quarks.  
  
• Discuss the counter-intuitive nature of quantum mechanics and the new concepts required to describe quantum physics.

Physics 227: Solar System Astronomy

• solve elementary problems in classical celestial mechanics, interaction of light with atoms and molecules
  
• describe the differences between the planets and moons and their relation to their formation history
  
• use observational data of binary stars to determine fundamental stellar parameters, and apply understanding to characterize other stars
  
• describe various telescopes and how they are used with detectors for photometry and spectroscopy
  

Physics 228: Stellar and Extragalactic Astronomy

• display a qualitative understanding of stellar structure and evolution;
• demonstrate their understanding of stellar populations and galactic structure;
• display a knowledge of the basic properties of galaxies;
• solve elementary problems in theoretical cosmology
  
• display a qualitative grasp of up-to-date observational cosmology.

 

Physics 230: Computational Physics Lab 1

• use a symbolic mathematics program to analyze and solve physics problems typical of our undergraduate curriculum.
  
  

Physics 240: Design, Fabrication, and Use of Scientific Apparatus

• Design, build, and interface experimental apparatus.
• Solve problems in complex physical/electronic systems.
• Make involved physical measurements and analyze experimental results.
• Document in a personal lab notebook the procedures, methods, results, and analysis of laboratory exercises.
• Present work in writing and through oral presentations.
• Follow professional ethics guidelines in research activities and presentation of results.

Physics 245: Experiments in Contemporary Physics

• Gain mastery of contempory physics equipment and proceedures including coherent optical systems, optical imaging systems, and vacuum systems.
• Learn to direct and independantly carry out the experimental research process on in-depth projects lasting several weeks. 
• Present work through oral presentations. 

Physics 281: Principles of Solid State Physics

• describe mathematically and identify visually the lattices and crystalline structures of common cubic materials.
• identify reciprocal lattices and use them in describing the first Brillouin zone, wave diffraction, dispersion graphs of lattice waves, and electron energy bands.
• apply basic principles of quantum mechanics to describe the behavior of electrons in crystalline solids and describe the concepts of density of states, Pauli's exclusion principle, the Dirac distribution function, and band structure.
• describe the relationship between band structure and the electrical properties of materials. 
• describe how doping affects the electrical properties of semiconductors.

Physics 297R: Introduction to Research

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Physics 314: History and Philosophy of Science

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Physics 318: Introduction to Classical Field Theory

• Confidently perform algebraic computations involving complex numbers and functions.
• Expand well-behaved functions in terms of Fourier series and series of other orthogonal functions.
• Generate Fourier and Laplace transforms of well-behaved functions.
• Apply Fourier analysis to the characterization of physical signals and systems.
• Derive response functions for linear systems.  Apply the convolution integral and Dirac delta function to them.

• Find solutions to differential equations using generalized power series (Frobenius method).

• Identify the Legendre and Bessel differential equations and explain their solutions.

• Explain the origin, use, relationships, and orthogonality conditions of special functions used in Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical coordinate systems.

• Use the properties (such as recursion relations, derivative relationships, and orthogonality conditions) of various special functions, including the trigonometric functions, Bessel functions, and Legendre polynomials to solve problems involving those functions.

• Use the generalized Bessel's equation to find solutions to many differential equations in terms of Bessel functions.

• Properly apply boundary conditions in a variety of boundary value and eigenvalue problems.

• Use Sturm-Liouville theory to generate and evaluate orthogonal functions for use in the solution of differential equations and expansion of functions.

• Produce generalized Fourier series expansions using eigenfunctions of pertinent systems.

• Explain the origin and use of various classical equations of physical fields.

• Solve partial differential equations in Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates using separation of variables and expansions in orthogonal functions.

• Explain the significance of Green's functions in the analysis of physical systems.
  
• Use Fourier transforms to expand functions on infinite or semi-infinite domains.
• Solve partial differential equations on infinite or semi-infinite domains using Fourier transforms.

 

Physics 321: Mechanics

• use Newtonian mechanics with forces and torques to solve problems in Cartesian and curvilinear coordinates.
• solve mechanics problems using work-energy, and conservation of energy, momentum and angular momentum.
• solve and analyze rigid-body problems.
• solve mechanics problems in non-inertial frames.
• use Lagrangian mechanics to obtain the equations of motion for a variety of problems, including the use of generalized coordinates and  cyclic coordinates.
• use perturbation and similar techniques to linearize equations of motion to analyze stability and study coupled systems using normal modes.

Physics 329: Observational Astronomy

• obtain publication quality astronomical data (photometric data) using a telescope and CCD camera.
  
• process raw data and extract astrophysically significant information from data about astronomical objects.
• interpret data obtained and present results in astronomical publication format written in AASTeX.
• prepare a request for external telescope time.
• follow professional ethics guidelines in research activities and presentation of results.

Physics 330: Computational Physics Lab 2

Physics 360: Statistical and Thermal Physics

• use probability arguments to understand heat flow and increasing entropy and use those arguments to solve quantitative problems in thermodynamics; use statistics to explain thermodynamics from first principles.
  
• use simple physical models to illustrate the fundamental ideas of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
• use thermodynamic quantities such as heat capacity, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, etc. to predict equilibrium states in physical systems.
• use the concept of free energy to understand how equilibrium arises and to construct phase diagrams and predict phase transformations.

Physics 399R: Academic Internship

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 Physics 416A and B: Writing in Physics

• access physics literature and read professional writing more effectively
• deal with ethical issues in physics
• write a resume, persuasive memo, and abstract
• write more succinctly and precisely
• prepare a professional presentation
• create a website
• use graphs and graphics effectively
• write a professional paper
• write a thesis or capstone paper

Physics 427: Introduction to Astrophysics I

          Students will be able to:

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Physics 428: Introduction to Astrophysics II

• Describe the various mechanisms that broaden and shape the profile of a stellar spectral line, including the uncertainty principle,  particle collisions, thermal motions, Stark effect, Zeeman effect, atmospheric turbulence (micro- and macro-), stellar rotation and stellar pulsation. 
• Explain and mathematically model the changes that occur in a spectral line profile as the number density of absorbing (or emitting) atoms or ions changes (curve-of-growth analysis) and/or as physical conditions change.
  

Physics 430: Computational Physics Lab 3

• solve physics problems involving partial differential equations numerically using a symbolic mathematics program and MATLAB.
  

Physics 441: Electrostatics and Magnetism

• Solve Maxwell's Equations at the level of partial differential equations and multidimensional vector calculus to provide a mathematical description and conceptual understanding of illustrative time-independent electrostatic and magnetostatic phenomena.
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Physics 442: Electrodynamics

• Solve Maxwell's Equations at the level of partial differential equations and multidimensional vector calculus to provide a mathematical description and conceptual understanding of illustrative time-dependent electrodynamic and magnetodynamic phenomena including waves, radiation, and relativity.
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Physics 451: Quantum Mechanics

• Identify the underlying principles of wave-particle duality, which motivate the Schrödinger equation.

• Develop free-particle and bound-state solutions to the Schrödinger equation. 

• Express and manipulate eigen solutions using Dirac notation and matrix mechanics. 
• Construct eigen functions for hydrogenic, angular momentum, and spin systems.

Physics 452: Applications of Quantum Mechanics

• Apply techniques such as time-independent perturbation theory, variational methods, time-dependent perturbation theory, and scattering theory to quantum systems.  

• Describe and quantify fine, hyperfine, and Zeeman level splittings in atoms.  

• Characterize emission and absorption of radiation by atoms, and derive the associated selection rules.  

• Solve quantum scattering and tunneling problems.

Physics 471: Principles of Optics

Students will be able to:

• Use theoretical descriptions and conceptual understanding of wave and ray depictions of light to describe and predict: reflection/transmission at boundaries, dispersion, polarization effects, interference, diffraction, coherence, ray optics and imaging, the propagation of light in matter and the quantum nature of light. 
• Manipulate and measure properties of light, optical components and systems in a laboratory setting.
• Demonstrate understanding of and ability to use mathematical tools such as: vector calculus, complex numbers, matrices, and Fourier transforms (1D and 2D).
   
  

Physics 492R: Capstone Project in Applied Physics

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Physics 497R: Research in Physics

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Physics 498R: Senior Thesis

• perform significant research in physics or astronomy under the direction of a faculty or internship mentor.
• present their research in a written document that follows professional standards in the field.
  

Physics 529: Advanced Observational Astronomy

• reduce raw astronomical spectroscopic data, both 2D and 2D to 1D.
  
• do a basic analysis of spectroscopic data such as determining radial velocities.
• perform more complex photometric reductions, including using radial profile fitting to obtain stellar magnitudes.
• write scripts in the IRAF scripting language to help in the reduction of data.
• explain the wide variety of non-optical astronomy and the detectors and methods used at each wavelength.
  

Physics 545: Introduction to Plasma Physics

• Understand the basic concepts of plasma physics.
• Be able to solve problems involving both the single-particle and the fluid description of a plasma.
• Describe and characterize the various waves found in a plasma.
• Be able to determine the equilibrium and evaluate the stability of simple plasma configurations.
• Understand the basic ideas of the kinetic theory of a plasma and nonlinear effects.
  

Physics 561: Fundamentals of Acoustics

• Conceptualize and solve problems in fundamental areas of vibroacoustics, including: strings, rods, membranes, plane and spherical waves, reflection and transmission phenomena, radiation of sources, coupling between sources, waveguides, enclosures, and Helmholtz resonators, physics of human hearing, and nonlinear acoustics. 
• Acquire and analyze acoustical data for physical understanding. 

Physics 571: Laser Physics

• Design stable laser resonators, frequency-locking feedback systems, and pulsed-output mode-locking systems. 
• Measure durations of femtosecond pulses and the line width and center frequency of frequency-stablized sources. 
• Compute cavity threshold gain, optimal output coupling, and gain saturation.  
• Describe interactions of light and matter within a semiclassical two-level-atom framework. 
• Compute cross sections and selection rules for transitions in hydrogen.

Physics 581: Solid-State Physics

• explain the following basic concepts underlying the topics in solid state physics: (1) crystal symmetry, (2) reciprocal lattice and the first Brillouin zone in k space, and (3) the quantum behavior of electrons, Pauli's exclusion principle, and the Fermi-Dirac distribution function.
• use these basic concepts to explain crystal structure, x-ray diffraction, lattice vibrations, behavior of electrons in metals and semiconductors, superconductivity, and thermal, magnetic, dielectric and optical properties of materials.
• show their understanding of these topics and their underlying concepts by solving problems using a variety of mathematical tools.
  

Physics 583: Physics of Nanostructures, Surfaces, and Interfaces

• recite the ways that the surface

Physics 585: Thin-Film Physics

• Interpret the graphs, figures and photographs of thin film material science to deduce structural and chemical aspects of thin films in relation to their environment.
• Sort among the various possible ways of depositing and characterizing films and choosing ones that best match resources and requirements.
• Read and utilize contemporary thin-film literature, including topical conferences.

Physics 587: Physics of Semiconductor Devices

• Physically model basic semiconductor devices at the level used in research literature.  
• Read and utilize contemporary semiconductor device physics literature

Physics 599R: Academic Internship

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Physics 601: Mathematical Physics

• solve mathematical problems with applications in physics using vector analysis, complex analysis, infinite and asymptotic series, finite dimensional vector spaces, linear algebra, and tensor analysis.

Physics 602: Mathematical Physics

• solve mathematical problems with applications in physics using infinite dimensional vector spaces, including expansions in orthogonal functions.
• solve ordinary differential equations.
  
• solve linear partial differential equations using separation of variables, Green's functions, and transform methods.

Physics 611: Stellar Astrophysics I

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Physics 612: Stellar Astrophysics II

• explain the physics that leads to the formation of a stable stellar structure.
• explain the modes of energy transport inside a star and its affect on struture and stability.
  
• explain the equations of state that describe the interior material of a star.
• discuss how the preceding change over time.

Physics 617: Advanced Topics in Theoretical Physics I

• understand and solve mathematical problems in differential geometry and tensor analysis with applications to mechanics, optics, relativity or fluid dynamics. 
  

Physics 618: Advanced Topics in Theoretical Physics II

• understand and solve elementary mathematical problems in groups, algebras, and their representations with applications to physics.

Physics 619: Advanced Topics in Theoretical Physics III

• understand and solve advanced mathematical problems in groups, algebras, and their representations with applications to physics.

Physics 625: Theory of Relativity

• understand and solve problems associated with special relativity using the four-vector formalism of Minkowski space.
  
• learn the elements of differential geometry necessary for the study of physics in curved spacetimes. 
  
• understand the equivalence principle and the Einstein equations.
  
• understand and solve problems associated with the classical tests of general relativity.
  

Physics 626: Theory of Relativity

• understand and solve problems associated with the physics of black holes. 
  
• understand and solve problems associated with linearized general relativity and the production of gravitational radiation.
• understand and solve problems associated with standard model Big Bang cosmology.

Physics 627: Galactic Astrophysics I

• Identify the five phases of the ISM, the physics and chemistry that characterizes these different regions and their interaction.  Key concepts to be introduced include:  atomic and molecular spectroscopy, gas cooling, gas heating, gas-phase chemical reactions and grain-surface chemistry.
• Apply this knowledge to understanding the importance of dust, PAHs, HII regions, PDRs, phases in the ISM, molecular clouds, shock waves and SN explosions.
• Write in standard journal format, as evidenced by a term paper.
• Give a professional oral presentation 
• Reduce and analyze actual observations
  

Physics 628: Galactic Astrophysics II

• demonstrate their understanding of galactic positional astronomy;
• display a grasp of the role of stellar populations in galactic structure;
• show that they are well acquainted with the basic properties of both open and globular clusters; and
• demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between interstellar matter and galactic structure.
  

Physics 641: Mathematical Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I

• understand the physics of and solve problems in macroscopic electrostatics and magnetostatics.
• solve the time independent Maxwell equations using standard mathematical techniques for boundary value problems. 
  
• solve the time dependent Maxwell equations for elementary problems including the propagation of plane electromagnetic waves. 
  

Physics 642: Mathematical Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II

• understand and solve problems associated with time dependent, electromagnetically radiating systems. 
  
• understand and solve problems associated with the special theory of relativity and the classical dynamics of relativistic particles and fields. 
  

Physics 645: Magnetohydrodynamic Theory of Plasmas

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Physics 651: Quantum Mechanics I

• Describe the reasons for introducing quantum theory and spell out the connection between classical physics and quantum physics.
• Apply the quantum formalism to microscopic physical systems.
• Solve simple one-dimensional time-independent problems in wave mechanics using analytic solution techniques.
• Apply approximation methods to simple one-dimensional systems.

Physics 652: Quantum Mechanics II

• Extend quantum theory to three dimensions using the machinery of angular momentum for systems with spherical  symmetry.
• Use the spinor formalism to describe physical spin and two-level systems.
• compute the dynamical evolution of quantum systems and convert results between the different representations of quantum theory.
• Couple independent quantum systems, including identical particles, and give their quantum information content

Physics 660: Analysis of Acoustic Systems

• Model and analyze electro-mechano-acoustic systems using various theoretical, numerical, and experimental tools.

• Work independently and collaborate with others on problems involving system modeling and analysis, acoustical measurements, analogous circuits, source radiation, source coupling, arrays, the Kirchhoff-Helmoltz integral theorem, self and mutual radiation impedance, transducers, duct acoustics, electro-mechano-acoustic filters, and energy-based acoustics.

• Develop skills and proficiencies in all of these areas and become aware of key resources for further study.

• Become more effective researchers and designers for future work in academics or industry.

Physics 661: Acoustics of Music, Speech, Architecture, and Audio

• Use advanced theoretical, numerical, and experimental techniques to model and analyze acoustical elements in musical instruments, the human voice, room acoustics, and audio.

• Explain and calculate the physical effects of acoustic reflections, absorption, scattering, diffusion, diffraction, and propagation losses.

• Model the acoustical effects of apertures, horns, nonuniform waveguides, acoustic filters, etc.

• Model the physical properties of acoustical treatments and design treatments for custom applications.

• Model damped enclosed sound fields using eigenmode expansions, statistical formulations, and numerical methods.

• Apply advanced tools to characterize and improve the performance of sound reproduction and reinforcement systems.

• Develop skills and proficiencies in all of these areas and become aware of key resources for further study.

• Become more effective researchers and designers for future work in academics or industry.

Physics 662: Interactions of Sound Fields and Vibrating Structures

• Demonstrate an understanding of physical principles associated with active noise control by applying those principles to analyze and assess potential active noise control solutions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of sound/structure interaction by successfully solving problems involving structural radiation.
• Demonstrate ability to set up an active noise control system, obtain data, and properly analyze the data.
• Demonstrate good writing skills, as evidenced in the reports submitted. 

Physics 670: Atomic Physics

• Use the quantized description of light to describe interactions of light with matter. 
  
• Compute phase matching and conversion efficiencies for lasers in nonlinear media.  
• Describe down conversion and resulting entangled photon states.

Physics 671: X-Ray Physics

• Teach their fellow students or colleagues key concepts in the generation, interaction, manipulation, and use of VUV, EUV and x-rays in physics and astronomy.
  
• Read and utilize contemporary literature of x-ray phenomena, including topical conferences.
• Collect, interpret and present VUV, EUV and/or x-ray research data to solve important problems in the student's research.

Physics 681: Modern Theory of Solids I

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Physics 682: Modern Theory of Solids II

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Physics 691R: Colloquium

• sit through an hour long physics lecture not necessarily in their field.
  

Physics 696R: Introduction to Research

• access the graduate material on the internet and demonstrate that they understand it by writing a summary of the important parts.
• choose a research area and topic, organize their committee, choose a thesis/dissertation topic and work on a prospectus.  Master's students will have their prospectus finished by the end of the second semester.  PhD students will at least have a draft.
  
• conduct ethical research, experimentation, and publication.
  

Physics 697R: Research

• demonstrate that they can conduct productive research by going through all the steps of the scientific method.
• prove progress in their research from the hours spent by increasing the writing in their dissertation, producing a paper, documenting advancements in learning, etc.  
  

Physics 699R: Graduate Thesis/Dissertation

• demonstrate specific progress on the thesis/dissertation.  This can take the form of writing in their thesis/dissertation, producing a paper, or any other activity that is important and timely for their specific situation.
  
  

Physics 711R: Advanced Topics in Physics

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Physics 721: Dynamics

• solve problems using Lagrangian dynamics and generalized coordinates, including conserved quantities and forces of constraint.
  
• solve problems using the calculus of variations, including constraints.
• solve central force problems, including 2-body gravitation and perturbations to circular motion.
• solve problems involving coupled oscillators and normal modes.
• solve problems in special relativity using its 4-vector formulation.
  
• solve dynamics problems using the Hamiltonian and canonical transformations.
  
• solve dynamics problems using Hamilton-Jacobi theory and action-angle variables, including adiabatic invariants and perturbation theory.
  

Physics 727: Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmology I

• identify and describe the morphology, population, color, spectral signature, and preferred location of every type of galaxy. 
  
• manipulate on-line data bases such as those of the NVO and SDSS to glean galaxies of different properties for research.
• extend their understanding of the morphology of the Milky Way to all galaxy types.
• present the standard model of AGN and explain how it accounts for what is observed in galaxy nuclei.
• conduct an in-depth literature search on one aspect of the course material of their choosing and present the results in a paper.

Physics 728: Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmology II

• derive a universe model based on Newtonian cosmology and modify this to account for relativistic effects.
  
• apply the Einstein equations to derive Freidmann's equation and from there setup and explore basic models.
  
• correlate theory with observed data including object counts, color evolution, WMAP data, LyAlpha forests, etc.
• use arguments from first principles and a review of the literature to explain the evidence for dark energy.
  
• conduct an in-depth literature search on one aspect of the course material of their choosing and present the results in a paper.

Physics 731: Statistical Mechanics

• understand the formalism of ensemble theory and solve problems related to thermodynamics.   
  
• apply the techniques to systems with many degrees of freedom.

Physics 745: Kinetic Theory of Plasmas

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Physics 751: Advanced Quantum Theory I

• understand the Lorentz group and symmetry applications to particle physics.
  
• analyze and solve relativistic wave equations for simple problems. 
  
• understand the quantization of free fields. 
  

Physics 752: Advanced Quantum Theory II

• understand and solve problems with free quantized fields. 
  
• understand and solve problems with interacting quantized fields using perturbation methods and Feynman diagrams.
  
• understand and use path integral methods in field theory. 
  
• apply these techniques to fundamental interactions. 
  

Physics 781: Modern Theory of Solids

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Physics 782: Modern Theory of Solids

• Obj 1
• Obj 2

Physics 795R: Readings in the Research Literature

           Students will be able to:

• compile a comprehensive list of relevant literature that pertains to their discipline.
  
• read scientific papers in a way that produces an appropriate understanding of their important points.