COURSE FACT SHEET FOR DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAM REVIEW
1. Title, Course, Number, and Credit Hours. (Explain credit load of course if
it is in some way unusual.)
General Physics I, Mechanics; PHYS 251; 4 credit hours.
2. What is the catalog course description for the course?
Calculus-based physics course for majors in engineering and the physical sciences.
Introduction to Mechanics, Rotational Motion, Fluids and Waves. Three lectures,
one laboratory and one problem period per week. Prerequisite: Mathematics 191, Corequisite
or Prerequisite: Mathematics 192.
3. What are the prerequisites or other background required of students for this
course? Are these requirements adequate?
The prerequisite for this course is Mathematics 191, and the corequisite or prerequisite
is Mathematics 192. These requirements are adequate for all students to successfully
complete this course.
4. How does this course fit into the departmental program?
This course is the first course in the calculus-based, introductory sequences of physics
courses required of all physics and engineering majors. It seeks to develop students'
understanding of the subject matters and abilities in problem-formulating and problem-solving, using the mathematical skills learned in calculus courses.
5. At what type of student is this course aimed? What gaps or needs in the curriculum
is this course intended to fill?
This course is primarily aimed at physics, engineering physics, and engineering majors.
It may also be suitable for some advanced chemistry majors. It is the most fundamental
course of the physics and engineering programs. It builds the foundation for an understanding of all physical concepts and methodology for all later courses in
the curriculum.
6. How is this course important to a particular field of study?
This course is the most fundamental course of the physics and engineering programs.
It builds the foundation for all physical concepts and methodology of all later
courses in the curriculum.
7. How is this course different from any other courses in the catalog or why must
the material covered in the course be treated separately instead of being incorporated
into another course?
There is no other course like it in the whole catalog; it is the only calculus-based
introductory physics course. The material covered in the course introduces students
to the basic concepts and mathematical skills in mechanics, rotational motion, waves,
fluids, and thermodynamics. Later in the curriculum, each segment of this course
will develop into a separate course for more in-depth study.
8. If this course is similar to another course in the catalog, explain why both
courses should exist or suggest whether something should be dropped or changed.
This course in unique in the catalog; there are no similar courses in the entire catalog.
Phys. 203 may look similar to this course; however, it uses only algebra-based teahniques
and does not dela with problems of the level of sophistication and depth as in this course.
9. When, how and by whom is this course taught?
This course is now taught every spring semester . The course has three lecture periods,
and one laboratory period per week. It has been taught by Dr. Kuo-Ho Yang.
10. Are the current holdings of the Learning Center adequate to support this course
or are additional materials needed?
Current holdings of the Learning Center are adequate for this course. Additional
materials may be of help but are not absolutely necessary. The physics department
has computers andsoftware to help students tackle complicated and difficult problems
encountered in this course.