Transcript Physics Department Univ. of Chicago

Physics Department
University of Chicago
presented at the SPIN-UP Workshop
June 4-6, 2010
who teaches
• faculty: 33 full-time teaching faculty
+ 2 Senior Lecturers (Dept advisers)
• graduate students:
required to take Physics 300 (seminar)
who do we teach
•
•
•
•
PhySci 111-112
Phys 120’s
Phys 130’s
Phys 140’s
non-science majors
40-90
premeds et al.
~140
“engineers”
~160
Honors
60-80
+ upper-level courses
degree programs
• BA in Physics
– with Honors
– with Specialization in Astrophysics
• Minor in Physics
BA curriculum
General (3)
Modern (1)
Interm. Mechanics (1)
Interm. E & M (2)
Quantum Mechanics (2)
Statistical (1)
Experimental (1)
Math. Methods (1)
+ electives (3)
advising
•
•
•
•
placement advising: 130’s / 140’s
Spring interviews
Grad School Forum
Physics 990
… and UG Town Hall mtgs (to advise us)
concerns c. 2000
• curriculum too “Victorian”
• leaky pipeline for non-Honors students
(tied to “math problem”)
• no flexibility in coursework
changes
Three goals:
• teach quantum physics earlier and more often
 Phys 154, reordering
• make the non-Honors sequence a viable pathway
 Math 220
• more flexibility
 program electives
while retaining ability to complete major in 3 years
(without heroics)
Program Electives offered in Physics
(2003-2010)
Phys 223
Topics in Math. Physics
Phys 226
Electronics
Phys 236
Solid State Physics
Phys 237
Nuclei & Particles
Phys 238
Modern Atomic Physics
Phys 250
Computational Physics
Phys 251
Chaos and Complexity
Phys 253
Materials of Tomorrow
Phys 255
Biological Physics
Phys 260
Fluid Dynamics
Phys 261
Structured Fluids
Phys 264
Spacetime and Black Holes
Phys 271
Cosmology (new for 2010-2011)
Phys 280
Current Research Topics
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2006-07
2005-06
2004-05
2003-04
2002-03
2001-02
2000-01
1999-00
1998-99
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
Undergrad Physics degrees
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
133/143 split vs. year entered
for Physics BA's
45
40
35
30
25
143
133
20
15
10
5
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
0
successes
• number of majors
– large (and increasing?)
• participation in research
– most undergrad’s do research
– 3 Apker Awards since 1992
(but process too unstructured?)
existing concerns
• space (Kersten built in 1985)
• women in major (~ 20%)
– Society of Women in Physics formed this year
• other