Physics and Earth Sciences
A. Antar, Chair; C. Baskerville, M. Bednarski, S. F. Burns, C. C. Chow,
C. W. Dimmick, K. Larsen, P. LeMaire, S. B. Newman, N. Parikh, T. A.
Roman, N. Sadanand, L. Tongson (Dept. phone 832-2930)
Located in Copernicus Hall, the facilities of the Physics and Earth Sciences
Department include numerous introductory and intermediate/advanced laboratories
as well as two teaching laboratories, an observatory containing a 16-inch
telescope, a 100-seat planetarium, a 400-kv Van de Graaff linear accelerator, an
ion implanter and a fully-equipped weather center which includes a National
Weather Service Digital Computer Facsimile System, a rooftop satellite data
retrieval system and a fully operational color weather radar monitoring system.
In addition to teaching, the faculty pursues many areas of interest, including
atomic collisions; ground water pollution; public planetarium productions;
lunar, planetary and deep sky observing; weather forecasting and analysis;
prediction of thunderstorm activity in Connecticut; science education; particle
physics; solid state physics; applied holography and general relativity.
Wherever possible, students enrolled in the programs listed below are encouraged
to join with the faculty in ongoing studies in these and other areas.
Credit is not given toward a major or minor in this department for PHYS 111,
113, 115 or ESCI 110, 111, 117 or 118.
Major in Physics, B.S. (non-teaching)
39 credits in Physics, including: PHYS 125, 126, 220, 225, 250, 305, 320, 331,
350, 425, 450, 460, 470 and 471. In addition, the student must take CHEM 121 and
122 and MATH 122, 221 and 222. Completion of a minor is required, and for
students planning graduate work a year of French, German or Russian should be
taken.
Major in Earth Sciences, B.S. (non-teaching)
30 credits in the Earth Sciences are required, including ESCI 121, 122, 123,
129, 178 or 179, and 460. The remaining 13 hours of Earth Science shall be
elected from the following: ESCI 218, 221, 222, 278, 330, 342, 421, 424, 430,
431, 442, 450, 462 or GEOG 374.
In addition, CHEM 121, 122; PHYS 121, 122; and MATH 122, 221 are required.
Note: A minor is not required except for those in the general
(i.e., non-specific track) program.
Note: A year of French, German or Russian is recommended if graduate study is
being contemplated.
Major in Physics, B.S. (Certifiable for secondary teaching)
33 credits in Physics: PHYS 125, 126, 220, 225, 250, 305, 320, 331, 350, 425,
450 and 470. In addition, the student must take BIO 121; CHEM 121 and 122; EDTE
315; EDF 415; SPED 315; EDSC 425, 435; RDG 440; SCI 416, 417, 419; MATH 122, 221
and 222.
Minor in Physics (Certifiable for secondary teaching) Subject to change.
18 credits in Physics, including: PHYS 125, 126, 220 and 250, and 6 credits of
Physics electives. In addition, a student must take CHEM 121 and 122, MATH 122,
221, 222 and SCI 417.
Major in Earth Sciences, B.S. (Certifiable for secondary teaching)
30 credits in Earth Sciences, including ESCI 121, 122, 123, 129, 178 or 179,
430, and other electives as approved by faculty adviser. In addition, the
student must take CHEM 121, 122; PHYS 121, 122; BIO 121, 122; EDTE 315; EDF 415;
SPED 315; EDSC 425, 435; RDG 440; SCI 416, 417, 419; and MATH 122, 221.
Minor in Earth Sciences (Certifiable for secondary teaching) Subject to
change.
20 credits in Earth Sciences, including ESCI 121, 122, 123, 129, 178 or 179, and
other electives as approved by faculty adviser. In addition, a student must take
SCI 416, 417, 419; MATH 122, 221; and PHYS 121, 122.
Interdisciplinary Major — Sciences with Specialization in Earth Sciences,
B.S.
(Acceptable for certification in elementary education)
39 credits. For course listing, see major in Interdisciplinary Sciences, page
51.
Minor in Physics
18 credits in Physics, including: PHYS 125, 126 and 220. The remaining Physics
courses will be selected after consultation with the student’s Physics
Department adviser. In addition, the student must take MATH 122, 221 and 222.
Minor in Meteorology
18 credits in Earth Sciences and related fields including: ESCI 129, 461 and
462. The remaining 8 credits will be chosen from ESCI 342, 430, 442, GEOG 374.
In addition, the student must take MATH 122, 221.
Minor in Geology
18 credits in Earth Sciences, including: ESCI 121, 122, 123, 221, 222 and
one course from ESCI 421, 424 and 450.
Minor in Astronomy
18 credits in Astronomy and related fields, including ESCI 178, 179, 278 and
330. The remaining course will be selected from PHYS 220, 225 or 425 after
consultation with an Earth Sciences Department adviser. In addition, the student
must take MATH 122, 221 and PHYS 121, 122.
For certification in elementary or middle level education, Complementary
Subject Matter Area in Earth Sciences:
18/19 credits, as follows: ESCI 111, 121, 123 and 129; two courses from the
following, one of which must be either ESCI 178 or 179: ESCI 122, 178, 179, 222,
278 or 424. Please consult with the School of Education and Professional Studies
concerning additional requirements for dual subject programs and
interdisciplinary majors.