Transcript THE RUTGERS UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICS PROGRAM

THE RUTGERS UNDERGRADUATE
PHYSICS PROGRAM
Mohan Kalelkar
Rutgers University
CURRICULUM OPTIONS
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Professional Option (B.S.)
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2)
For students intending to go on for PhD in Physics
Astrophysics Major (B.S.)
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3)
Like the Professional Option, but for those who aspire to PhD in Astronomy/Astrophysics
Applied Option (B.S.)
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Preparation for careers in industry, patent law, etc.
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Engineering double majors
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General Option (B.A.)
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Preparation for careers in high school teaching, health professions, business/finance, etc.
Ocean Physics Option (B.S.)
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Preparation for careers in Marine Sciences
PHYSICS MAJOR GRADUATES
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34% Professional Option
14% Astrophysics Major
20% Applied Option
32% General Option
Ocean Physics Option just got going. First graduate
in Class of 2008
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
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SEVEN (!) INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS SEQUENCES
CALCULUS-BASED
• Honors Physics I, II, III
For 100 students with Physics AP credits and/or in Rutgers Honors Program (2/3 are Engineering
students)
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Analytical Physics IA, IB, IIA, IIB
For 480 students who don’t qualify for Honors Physics (mainly Engineering students)
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Extended Analytical Physics IA, IB
For 150 at-risk Engineering freshmen who place into Precalculus; REFORMED COURSE
ALGEBRA/TRIG-BASED
• General Physics I, II
For 550 students majoring in sciences that require Physics, including Premedical curricula
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Extended General Physics I, II
For 140 students self-selected as being at-risk
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Physics for the Sciences I, II
For 190 students majoring in sciences that require Physics; REFORMED COURSE
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Elements of Physics
For 190 students in Rutgers School of Pharmacy
PROFESSIONAL OPTION (B.S.)
FALL TERM
SPRING TERM
Year 1: Honors Physics I
Physics Lab I
Calculus I
Honors Physics II
Physics Lab II
Calculus II
Year 2: Honors Physics III
Mechanics I
Intermediate Lab
Calculus III
Thermal Physics
Mechanics II
Electronics Lab
Ordinary DiffEq
Year 3: Electromagnetism I
Quantum/Atomic
Modern Physics Lab
Electromagnetism II
Modern Physics Lab
Partial DiffEq
Year 4: Intermediate Quantum
Optics
Honors Project
Nuclei and Particles
Solid-State Physics
Honors Project
ASTROPHYSICS MAJOR (B.S.)
Most course requirements are the same as for Professional Option, except:
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Replace “Year 2” Physics labs by two terms of Principles of Astrophysics
Replace “Year 3” Physics labs by:
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Observational Optical Astronomy (20-inch telescope)
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Observational Radio Astronomy (10-foot telescope)
3) Must take at least two Astrophysics advanced electives, out of:
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Stars and Star Formation
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Galaxies and the Milky Way
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Introduction to Cosmology
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High Energy Astrophysics
APPLIED OPTION (B.S.)
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Any introductory Physics sequence, including introductory labs
Two terms of introductory Chemistry, including Chemistry labs
Four terms of Calculus (i.e. through Ordinary DiffEq)
Course in Computing for Math and the Sciences (includes Matlab and
Maple)
Required Physics courses:
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Advanced General Physics (two terms)
Modern Physics
Optics
Thermal Physics
Intermediate Lab
Electronics Lab
Modern Physics Lab
GENERAL OPTION (B.A.)
1) Any introductory Physics sequence, including introductory labs
2) Two terms of Calculus
3) Six intermediate Physics courses, out of:
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Advanced General Physics (2 terms) (REQUIRED)
Modern Physics
Physics of Modern Devices
Physics of Sound
Optics
Astrophysics I or II or both
Intermediate Labs (REQUIRED)
Electronics Lab (REQUIRED)
4) Six Natural Science courses (could be more Physics) but not courses
intended for non-science majors
Aspiring teachers commonly do 5-year program with Rutgers Graduate School of
Education. After Year 5, they get Master’s Degree in Education and Teacher
Certification.
UNUSUAL ADVANCED GENERAL PHYSICS COURSES
• Two terms, self-paced
• 26 “units” covering Physics topics:
Mechanics/Relativity: 7 units
Thermal Physics: 5 units
Electricity and Magnetism: 6 units
Modern Physics: 8 units
• Each unit has some suggested reading and homework (not collected)
• No live lectures; a few units have videotaped lectures
• In class, professor and two TAs circulate among students and answer
questions about reading and homework
• When a student feels that she has mastered a unit, she is given a written
quiz, which is graded Pass/Fail
• Final course letter grade depends mainly on HOW MANY quizzes were
passed. For an “A” grade, must pass 10 quizzes and an oral exam
Graduate or Professional Schools for last two graduating classes
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Columbia Univ (2 students)
Duke Univ
Georgia Tech
Harvard
M.I.T. (3 students)
U. Maryland
U. Michigan
New York Univ
Notre Dame Univ
Ohio State (2 students)
Penn State (2 students)
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U. Pittsburgh
Princeton Univ
Rutgers Physics (5 students)
Rutgers Graduate School of
Education (7 students)
Rutgers Computer Science
UC San Diego
Texas A&M
U. Texas Austin
Univ of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey (2 students)
Yale Univ
Jobs right after Bachelor’s degree for recent majors
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Edmund Optics
Image Ware Systems (Biometrics)
Thorlabs (Optics, Photonics)
Petro-Lubricant Test Labs
Kulite Semiconductors (Pressure
Transducers)
Lockheed Martin
Farious Industries (Computer
Servicing)
Raytheon
High Power Devices Inc. (bought
by Intense Ltd.)
ITT Corp
Lucent Technologies
• Level 8 Systems (Electronic
Medical Records)
• Prudential Insurance
• Deutsche Bank
• Bank of America
• Bloomberg
• PSE&G (Utility in New Jersey)
• TUMI Inc.
• Accenture (Management
Consulting)
• U.S. Marine Corps (3 in recent
years)
• Indian Head Naval Surface
Warfare Center
NOTABLE FEATURES OF OUR PROGRAM
1) Single adviser for all our majors. It ensures consistency of advice, and avoids
disruptions because of sabbaticals. Adviser gets to know all of our majors very
well.
2) Research opportunities abound for majors doing Professional Option and
Astrophysics major.
3) We award seven $7500 merit-based scholarships each year, exclusively for our
majors, and winners selected by us. Two of these are reserved for women majors.
4) We participate actively in recruitment of high school seniors who have been
accepted by Rutgers: Open House, Scholars Days, Scarlet Days, etc.
5) Annual student-faculty banquet, heavily subsidized.
6) Active SPS Chapter:
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Monthly speakers, with free pizza and sodas
GRE study sessions
Field trips
Two barbecues for whole Department
7) Key challenges:
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Only 24% of our majors are women
Only 5% of our majors are Black or Hispanic
We lose contact with too many of our majors after graduation
OCEAN PHYSICS OPTION (B.S.)
In cooperation with Rutgers Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences.
Most requirements are the same as for Applied Option. But require only four
intermediate Physics courses instead of eight. Replace other four by:
• Physical Oceanography
• Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems
• Oceanographic Methods and Data Analysis
• Special Problems in Marine and Coastal Sciences
This Option is in its infancy. First graduate in Class of 2008.
STAFF SUPPORT FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
• Two staff members to run all aspects of all our introductory labs, including
developing experiments, writing lab manuals, training and supervising lab
TAs, doing equipment setups and takedowns, buying new equipment, etc.
Also do lab setups for intermediate and advanced labs.
• One staff member to handle lecture demonstration support. Also do VERY
extensive outreach.
• One staff member to handle all aspects of our reformed introductory
sequence, including giving lectures, teaching one workshop and one lab
section, training and supervising TAs, doing setups for labs and for lecture
demonstrations, etc.
• One staff member to teach our primary algebra/trig-based sequence, as
well as our sequence for at-risk students. He also has responsibilities not
specifically for Physics.
• One staff member to teach and run all aspects of our reformed course for
at-risk Engineering freshmen. She also has responsibilities not specifically
for Physics.
CONCLUSIONS
1) Healthy 40+ majors graduate each year. Multiple curriculum options
(tracks) allow us to cater to students with diverse career aspirations.
2) Graduates get admission to very good graduate programs. Most of
those who desire jobs after Bachelor’s degree do obtain them.
3) Single adviser system for all majors has worked very well.
4) Good research opportunities for majors who aspire to graduate study.
5) Seven endowed, merit-based scholarships awarded annually provide not
only funding but also credentials to enhance graduate school
applications.
6) Seven introductory Physics sequences cater to diverse populations.
7) Great collaboration with Rutgers Graduate School of Education.
8) Highly successful introductory courses for at-risk students.
9) Key challenges: paucity of women and minority majors. Lose contact
with too many majors after graduation.