Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2011
Physics & Earth Sciences
Faculty
A. A. Antar, Chair; M. Bednarski, M. Evans, K. Larsen, P.
LeMaire, S. B. Newman, J. Piatek, N. Sadanand, N. C. P. Sharma, J. Thomas, L.
Tongson, M. Wizevich (Dept. phone: 860-832-2930)
Department Overview
Located in
Copernicus Hall, the facilities of the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences
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 that 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, ESCI 110, 117, or 118, SCI 111.
Programs
Major
in Physics, BS (Non-teaching, 39 credits)
| PHYS 125 |
University Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 126 |
University Physics II |
4 |
| PHYS 220 |
Mechanics I |
3 |
| PHYS 250 |
Intermediate Lab I |
1 |
| PHYS 305 |
Foundations of Electricity & Magnetism |
3 |
| PHYS 320 |
Heat and Thermodynamics |
3 |
| PHYS 325 |
Optics |
4 |
| PHYS 331 |
Electronics I |
3 |
| PHYS 350 |
Intermediate Lab II |
1 |
| PHYS 425 |
Modern Physics |
3 |
| PHYS 450 |
Advanced Laboratory |
1 |
| PHYS 460 |
Seminar in Physics |
1 |
| PHYS 470 |
Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
| PHYS 471 |
Quantum Mechanics II |
3 |
In addition,
students must take:
| CHEM 161 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
| CHEM 162 |
General Chemistry I Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 163 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEM 164 |
General Chemistry II Lab |
1 |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| MATH 222 |
Calculus III |
3 |
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, BS (Non-teaching, 30 credits)
| ESCI 121 |
Physical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 122 |
Historical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 129 |
Introduction to Meteorology |
4 |
| ESCI 178 |
Planetary Astronomy |
4 |
| or |
|
|
| ESCI 179 |
Stellar Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 460 |
Seminar in Earth Science |
1 |
|
|
|
| and
13 credits of earth science selected from the following: |
| ESCI 221 |
Mineralogy |
4 |
| ESCI 223 |
Stratigraphy and Sedimentology |
4 |
| ESCI 278 |
Observational Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 321 |
Structural Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 330 |
Astrophysics |
3 |
| ESCI 335 |
Physical Oceanography |
3 |
| ESCI 424 |
Geomorphology |
3 |
| ESCI 431 |
Introduction to Hydrogeology |
4 |
| ESCI 442 |
Weather Analysis and Forecasting |
4 |
| ESCI 450 |
Environmental Geology |
3 |
| ESCI 462 |
Dynamic Meteorology |
3 |
| ISCI 118 |
Women’s Contributions to Science
|
3
|
| GEOG 374 |
Climatology |
3 |
|
|
|
In addition, the
following are required:
| CHEM 161 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
| CHEM 162 |
General Chemistry I Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 163 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEM 164 |
General Chemistry II Lab |
1 |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| PHYS 121 |
General Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 122 |
General Physics II |
4 |
A minor is not
required except for those in the general (i.e., non-specific track) program.
A year of French,
German, or Russian is recommended if graduate study is being contemplated.
Major
in Physics, BS (Certifiable for secondary teaching, 33 credits)
| PHYS 125 |
University Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 126 |
University Physics II |
4 |
| PHYS 220 |
Mechanics I |
3 |
| PHYS 250 |
Intermediate Lab I |
1 |
| PHYS 305 |
Foundations of Electricity & Magnetism |
3 |
| PHYS 320 |
Heat and Thermodynamics |
3 |
| PHYS 325 |
Optics |
4 |
| PHYS 331 |
Electronics I |
3 |
| PHYS 350 |
Intermediate Lab II |
1 |
| PHYS 425 |
Modern Physics |
3 |
| PHYS 450 |
Advanced Laboratory |
1 |
| PHYS 470 |
Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
In addition,
students must take:
| BIO 121 |
General Biology I |
4 |
| CHEM 161 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
| CHEM 162 |
General Chemistry I Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 163 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEM 164 |
General Chemistry II Lab |
1 |
| EDTE 315 |
Principles of Learning: Elementary |
4 |
| EDF 415 |
Educational Foundations |
3 |
| SPED 315 |
Introduction to Educating Learners with Exceptionalities |
3 |
| EDSC 425 |
Principles of Secondary Education |
3 |
| EDSC 435 |
Secondary Education Student Teaching |
3-9
|
| RDG 440 |
Literacy in the Secondary School |
3 |
| SCI 416 |
Educational Technology in Secondary Science |
3 |
| SCI 417 |
Teaching of Science in the Secondary School |
3 |
| SCI 419 |
Student Teaching Seminar |
1 |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| MATH 222 |
Calculus III |
3 |
Minor
in Physics (Certifiable for secondary teaching, 18 credits)
| PHYS 125 |
University Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 126 |
University Physics II |
4 |
| PHYS 220 |
Mechanics I |
3 |
| PHYS 250 |
Intermediate Lab I |
1 |
| Physics
electives |
6 |
In addition,
students must take:
| CHEM 161 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
| CHEM 162 |
General Chemistry I Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 163 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEM 164 |
General Chemistry II Lab |
1 |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| MATH 222 |
Calculus III |
3 |
| SCI 417 |
Teaching of Science in the Secondary School |
3 |
Major
in Earth Sciences, BS (Certifiable for secondary teaching, 30
credits)
| ESCI 121 |
Physical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 122 |
Historical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 129 |
Introduction to Meteorology |
4 |
| ESCI 178 |
Planetary Astronomy |
4 |
| or | | |
| ESCI 179 |
Stellar Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 335 |
Physical Oceanography |
3 |
and other electives
as approved by faculty advisor
In addition,
students must take:
| CHEM 161 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
| CHEM 162 |
General Chemistry I Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 163 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
| CHEM 164 |
General Chemistry II Lab |
1 |
| PHYS 121 |
General Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 122 |
General Physics II |
4 |
| BIO 121 |
General Biology I |
4 |
| BIO 122 |
General Biology II |
4 |
| EDTE 316 |
Principles of Learning (Sec/K-12) |
4 |
| EDF 415 |
Educational Foundations |
3 |
| SPED 315 |
Introduction to Educating Learners with Exceptionalities |
3 |
| EDSC 425 |
Principles of Secondary Education |
3 |
| EDSC 435 |
Secondary Education Student Teaching |
3-9 |
| RDG 440 |
Literacy in the Secondary School |
3 |
| SCI 416 |
Educational Technology in Secondary Science |
3 |
| SCI 417 |
Teaching of Science in the Secondary School |
3 |
| SCI 419 |
Student Teaching Seminar |
1 |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
Minor
in Earth Sciences (18 credits)
[Note: This minor was added on 2.8.10 as a correction. The minor was passed by the Faculty Senate on March 10, 2008.]
| ESCI 121 |
Physical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 129 |
Introduction to Meteorology |
4 |
| ESCI 178 |
Planetary Astronomy |
4 |
| or | | |
| ESCI 179 |
Stellar Astronomy |
4 |
The remaining credits will be chosen after consultation with an Earth Sciences advisor.
Minor
in Earth Sciences (Certifiable for secondary teaching, 20 credits)
| ESCI 121 |
Physical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 122 |
Historical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 129 |
Introduction to Meteorology |
4 |
| ESCI 178 |
Planetary Astronomy |
4 |
| or | | |
| ESCI 179 |
Stellar Astronomy |
4 |
and
other electives as approved by faculty advisor
In addition,
students must take:
| SCI 416 |
Educational Technology in
Secondary Science |
3 |
| SCI 417 |
Teaching of Science in the Secondary School |
3 |
| SCI 419 |
Student Teaching Seminar |
1 |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| PHYS 121 |
General Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 122 |
General Physics II |
4 |
Major
in General Science with Specialization in Earth Sciences, BS
(Certifiable for elementary education, 39-42 credits)
For course
listing, see major in general science linked here.
| Minor in Physics (18 credits) |
|
| PHYS 125 |
University Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 126 |
University Physics II |
4 |
| PHYS 220 |
Mechanics I |
3 |
The remaining
physics courses will be selected after consultation with the student's physics
department advisor.
In addition,
students must take:
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| MATH 222 |
Calculus III |
3 |
Minor in Meteorology (21 credits)
| ESCI 129 |
Introduction to Meteorology |
4 |
| ESCI 431 |
Introduction to Hydrogeology |
4 |
| ESCI 461 |
Physical Meteorology |
3 |
| ESCI 462 |
Dynamic Meteorology |
3 |
7 credits from the
following:
| ESCI 335 |
Physical Oceanography |
3 |
| ESCI 442 |
Weather Analysis and Forecasting |
3 |
| GEOG 374 |
Climatology |
3 |
In
addition, students must take:
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
Minor
in Geology (18 credits)
| ESCI 121 |
Physical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 122 |
Historical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 221 |
Mineralogy |
4 |
| ESCI 321 |
Structural Geology |
4 |
and
one course from the following:
| ESCI 223 |
Stratigraphy and Sedimentology |
4 |
| ESCI 424 |
Geomorphology |
3 |
| ESCI 450 |
Environmental Geology |
3 |
Minor
in Astronomy (18 credits)
| ESCI
178 |
Planetary Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 179 |
Stellar Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 278 |
Observational Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 330 |
Astrophysics |
3 |
The
remaining course will be selected from PHYS 220, 325, or other electives after
consultation with an earth sciences department advisor.
In addition,
students must take:
| MATH 152 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 221 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| PHYS 125 |
University Physics I |
4 |
| PHYS 126 |
University Physics II |
4 |
For Certification in Elementary Education, Complementary
Subject Matter Area in Earth Sciences (18-19
credits)
| ESCI 121 |
Physical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 129 |
Introduction to Meteorology |
4 |
18
credits in astronomy and related fields, including:
| ESCI
178 |
Planetary Astronomy |
4 |
and
a minimum of 6 credits from the following:
| ESCI 122 |
Historical Geology |
4 |
| ESCI 179 |
Stellar Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 278 |
Observational Astronomy |
4 |
| ESCI 321 |
Structural Geology |
4 |
| or |
|
|
| ESCI 424 |
Geomorphology |
3 |
Other electives as
approved by advisor. Please consult with the School of Education and
Professional Studies concerning additional requirements for dual subject
programs and interdisciplinary majors.
CLICK HERE FOR COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
