Course Proposals

Course Name:Advanced Physics Laboratory 
Course Prefix: PHYS
Course Number: 3640
             Submitted by (Name & E-Mail):  Daniel Schroeder, dschroeder@weber.edu

Current Date:  10/11/2011
College: Science
Department:   Physics                              
From Term: Fall  2012 

Substantive

change number  PHYS 3640

 Current Course Subject PHYS
Current Course Number 3640

Advanced experiments in the areas of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, and nuclear physics. Introduction to computerized data acquisition and data analysis. Two two-hour labs each week. Prerequisite: PHYS 2220 and PHYS 3410.

New/Revised Course Information:

Subject:  PHYS            

Course Number: 4400

 Check all that apply:
    This is for courses already approved for gen ed.
    Use a different form for proposing a new gen ed designation.
DV  CA  HU  LS  PS  SS 
EN  AI  QL  TA  TB  TC  TD  TE

Course Title: Advanced Physics Laboratory

Abbreviated Course Title: Advanced Physics Laboratory

Course Type:  LAB

Credit Hours:  2  or if variable hours:    to

Contact Hours: Lecture   Lab 4   Other

Repeat Information:  Limit 0   Max Hrs 0 

Grading Mode:  standard

This course is/will be: a required course in a major program
a required course in a minor program
a required course in a 1- or 2- year program
elective

Prerequisites/Co-requisites:

PHYS 2220 and either PHYS 3190 or PHYS 3410

Course description (exactly as it will appear in the catalog, including prerequisites):

Advanced experiments in mechanics, electromagnetism, modern physics, and nuclear physics. This course also covers general laboratory practice, data analysis, and error propagation. Four hours of lab per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 2220; either PHYS 3190 or PHYS 3410.

Justification for the new course or for changes to an existing course. (Note: Justification should emphasize academic rationale for the change or new course. This is particularly important for courses requesting upper-division status.)

This is a renumbering of our current PHYS 3640, and a change in the prerequisite to allow PHYS 3190 (Applied Optics) as an alternate to PHYS 3410 (Electronics for Scientists). The content of this course will not change, but the 4000-level numbering is a better reflection of the level of this advanced and demanding course, generally taken by students in their senior year. The alternate prerequisite will give students more flexibility in tailoring their overall course program to meet their personal interests and career goals. Either of these 3000-level lab courses will adequately prepare students to do the advanced lab work that this course demands.

INFORMATION PAGE
for substantive proposals only

1. Did this course receive unanimous approval within the Department?

true

If not, what are the major concerns raised by the opponents?

2. If this is a new course proposal, could you achieve the desired results by revising an existing course within your department or by requiring an existing course in another department?

N.A.

3. How will the proposed course differ from similar offerings by other departments? Comment on any subject overlap between this course and topics generally taught by other departments, even if no similar courses are currently offered by the other departments. Explain any effects that this proposal will have on program requirements or enrollments in other department. Please forward letters (email communication is sufficient) from all departments that you have identified above stating their support or opposition to the proposed course.

N.A.

4. Is this course required for certification/accreditation of a program?

no

If so, a statement to that effect should appear in the justification and supporting documents should accompany this form.

5. For course proposals, e-mail a syllabus to Faculty Senate which should be sufficiently detailed that the committees can determine that the course is at the appropriate level and matches the description. There should be an indication of the amount and type of outside activity required in the course (projects, research papers, homework, etc.).