Course Proposals

Course Name:Nuclear and Particle Physics 
Course Prefix: PHYS
Course Number: 3710
             Submitted by (Name & E-Mail):  Daniel Schroeder, dschroeder@weber.edu

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

Substantive

new 

Current Course Subject N/A
Current Course Number

New/Revised Course Information:

Subject:  PHYS            

Course Number: 3710

 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: Nuclear and Particle Physics

Abbreviated Course Title: Nuclear and Particle Physics

Course Type:  LEC

Credit Hours:  3  or if variable hours:    to

Contact Hours: Lecture 3  Lab    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 2710

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

Nuclear structure and nuclear reactions including radioactive decay, fission, and fusion, with selected applications. The standard model of elementary particles and interactions. Collider experiments and their interpretation in terms of Feynman diagrams. Topics of current research at the high-energy frontier. Prerequisite: PHYS 2710.

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.)

Nuclear and Particle Physics was a separate one-quarter course in the Physics Department before semester conversion in 1999. Since then it has been combined in a one-semester course (Physics 4620) with certain advanced topics from applied quantum mechanics. This requires that the course have senior-level Quantum Mechanics (Physics 4610) as a prerequisite, even though this prerequisite isn’t actually needed for the nuclear and particle physics topics that make up two thirds of the course. Because of the 4000-level prerequisite (which itself has several prerequisites), physics majors have typically been unable to study nuclear and particle physics until their final semester, just before graduation.

The Physics Department is now proposing to split Physics 4620 into two courses: an advanced quantum mechanics course numbered 4620, and an expanded course in nuclear and particle physics, numbered 3710. Teaching nuclear and particle physics at the 3000 level will allow interested students to take it sooner and potentially follow-up with individual reading or research projects in nuclear or particle physics. The coverage of nuclear and particle physics in the new 3710 course will be at the same level as before, and will be improved because we will now have a full semester for these subjects. The prerequisite will be Introductory Modern Physics (Physics 2710), which covers relativity and basic quantum mechanics.
 

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?

As explained in the Justification section above, our existing Physics 4620 course (Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics) is an awkward mix of topics at different levels. Even though that course currently includes most of the material for this proposed new course, our students need an opportunity to learn this material sooner, in a course with fewer prerequisites, if they are interested. Our Physics 2710 course (Introductory Modern Physics) traditionally includes a very brief introduction to these topics, but in that course there isn't nearly enough time to do them justice.

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.

Nuclear physics and particle physics don't fall within the subject area of any other WSU department.

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.).