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.)

Modern Physics; WI-PHYS 317; 3 credit hours.

2. What is the catalog course description for the course?

Spectroscopy, X-rays, photoelectric effect, introduction to quantum mechanics, special relativity, natural and induced radioactivity, nuclear energy levels and structure, nuclear reactions, shielding, accelerators and reactors. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: Physics 254 or 204.

3. What are the prerequisites or other background required of students for this course? Are these requirements adequate?

The prerequisite for this course is Physics 254 or 204 (with consent of instructor). This requirement is adequate for students to complete this course since, by this time, the students should have acquired enough mathematical and physical understandings and skills.

4. How does this course fit into the departmental program?

This course intriduces the student to all new physical phenemena, concepts and theories developed in the early 20th century: statistical physics, relativity, wave mechanics, and atomic, molecular, nuclear, solid state, low temperature and high energy physics. This course is an introductory course, necessary for all advanced courses for all advanced studies and graduate school.

5. At what type of student is this course aimed? What gaps or needs in the curriculum is this course intended to fill?

The course is aimed only at physics and engineering physics majors. It introduces the student to the subjects of studies in graduate schools and of contempory research.

6. How is this course important to a particular field of study?

This course is absolutely necessary for a physics major to understand the physical laws and phenemena of the atomic and the subatomic particles. It is also a prerequite for all advanced courses in graduate education in physics.

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 courses in the catalog that cover the same material with the same level of sophistication and breadth. The material covered in this course is so broad that it is impossible to incorporate this course into any other courses.

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.

No other courses in the catalog is remotely similar to this course.

9. When, how and by whom is this course taught?

The course is offered on demand. It consists of three lecture periods per week. Dr. Yang and Mr. Calsyn have been the instructors for this course.

10. Are the current holdings of the O'Keefe Library adequate to support this course or are additional materials needed?

The current holdings of the O'Keefe Library are adequate to support this course. The physics department has computers and software to aid students to tackle complicated and difficult problems in this course.