Courses
Courses currently being offered:
Fall ASTR >
Fall PHYS >
Spring ASTR >
Spring PHYS >
Check the course schedules/descriptions available via the Registrar's Office for the official schedules for the widest range of terms for which such information is available.
General Course Information
Introductory Physics sequences
The Department offers three introductory basic sequences in physics:
PHYS 113, 114: General Physics I & II—This two-semester calculus-based sequence covers similar material as the three semester sequence PHY 121-123 (see below), but at a lower level. This sequence is intended for students in the life sciences and others desiring a working knowledge of basic physics.
PHYS 121, 122, 123: Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics—This is the basic calculus-based sequence for prospective physics, or physics and astronomy, majors and engineering students.
PHYS 141, 143, 142: Mechanics, Modern Physics, Electricity and Magnetism—This is the honors sequence of the above, recommended for students with strong interests and abilities in physics. The department strongly recommends this sequence for all suitably prepared prospective majors (those who have taken AP Physics / high school physics), and encourages it for any student who has had a good high school introduction to differential and integral calculus. Note that PHYS 143: Honors Modern Physics, is restricted to first-years, and precedes PHYS 142 in the normal sequence.
Introductory Astronomy Courses for Science Majors
The department offers two introductory courses in astronomy, intended for students with a strong physics and mathematics background. The department strongly recommends these courses for prospective majors in physics and astronomy. Each student in ASTR 111 & ASTR 142 spends at least one night per semester using the telescope and CCD camera/spectrograph.
ASTR 111: The Solar System and It's Origins
ASTR 142: Elementary Astrophysics (Honors)
Courses for Non-Science Majors
The department offers several courses in physics and in astronomy designed for students in non-science majors, which require no specific prior knowledge of physics or calculus:
PHYS 100: The Nature of the Physical World
PHYS 102: Visions of the Multiverse
ASTR 102: Black Holes, Time Warps and the Large Scale Structure of the Universe
ASTR 104: The Solar System
ASTR 105: Introduction to the Milky Way Galaxy
ASTR 106: Cosmic Origins of Life