Author: Ted Bunn

Summary

There’s a lot of information below about how wait-lists are implemented in the physics department. The policies are pretty much the same as they have been for the past few semesters. Here’s a brief summary for those who already know how our wait-lists work:

If your desired section(s) of PHYS 131 or 132 are full when your registration slot comes, sign up for the wait-lists by filling out a Google form. You may not sign up for the wait-list until after your registration time has begun.

To sign up for a wait-list, click on the appropriate link:

PHYS 131 wait-list sign-up
PHYS 132 wait-list sign-up

Details

Registration for Fall 2022 classes is starting. The physics department is offering three sections of PHYS 131 and one of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section of PHYS 131 and 132 will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 18 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As in past semesters, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open. If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.) Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

• A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
• A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.  Any student on the wait-list who is already registered for a section will NOT be offered a seat in another section if one becomes available.
• The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “junior scholar / athlete” or “sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. Please check all sections that will fit your schedule.
• If a student needs to change their list of “desired sections”, they may simply sign up on the wait-list again, with an updated list of desired sections, without losing their place in line.  Students on the wait-list will always be offered seats based on their earliest sign-up time and their latest list of desired sections.
• Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the advising period for incoming first-year students.
• Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
  • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
  • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
  • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
• When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify them by email. The student will have 24 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, they will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Matt Trawick, the current physics department chair.

Once again, here are the links to sign up for the wait-lists:

Wait-list for PHYS 131
Wait-list for PHYS 132

Summary

There’s a lot of information below about how wait-lists are implemented in the physics department. The policies are pretty much the same as they have been for the past few semesters. Here’s a brief summary for those who already know how our wait-lists work:

If your desired section(s) of PHYS 131 or 132 are full when your registration slot comes, sign up for the wait-lists by filling out a Google form. You may not sign up for the wait-list until after your registration time has begun.

To sign up for a wait-list, click on the appropriate link:

PHYS 131 wait-list sign-up
PHYS 132 wait-list sign-up

Details

Registration for Spring 2020 classes is starting. The physics department is offering two sections of PHYS 131 and three of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section of PHYS 131 will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 18 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

For PHYS 132, the limits will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 17 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As in past semesters, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open. If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.) Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

• A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
• A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
• The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “junior scholar / athlete” or “sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. Please check all sections that will fit your schedule.
• Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for incoming first-year students.
• Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
  • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
  • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
  • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
• When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 48 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, they will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Ted Bunn, the current physics department chair.

Once again, here are the links to sign up for the wait-lists:

Wait-list for PHYS 131
Wait-list for PHYS 132

Wait-list information for introductory physics courses, Fall 2021.

Summary

There’s a lot of information below about how wait-lists are implemented in the physics department. The policies are the same as they have been for the past few semesters. Here’s a brief summary for those who already know how our wait-lists work:

If your desired section(s) of PHYS 131 or 132 are full when your registration slot comes, sign up for the wait-lists by filling out a Google form. You may not sign up for the wait-list until after your registration time has begun.

To sign up for a wait-list, click on the appropriate link:

• PHYS 131 wait-list sign-up
• PHYS 132 wait-list sign-up

Details

Registration for Fall 2021 classes is starting. The physics department is offering three sections of PHYS 131 and one section of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 16 (for 131) or 18 (for 132) students during sophomore registration,
• 22 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As of now, we are assuming that covid distancing measures will still be in place. If that is not true, the final caps will be 24, not 22 students, and the caps during sophomore registration will be 18 for both 131 and 132.

As in past semesters, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open. If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.) Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

• • A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
  • A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
  • The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “junior scholar / athlete” or “sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. Please check all sections that will fit your schedule. (For PHYS 132, there is only one section, so the last item does not apply.)
  • Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for incoming first-year students.
  • Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
    • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
    • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
    • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
  • When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 24 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, he or she will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Ted Bunn, the current physics department chair.

Once again, here are the links to sign up for the wait-lists:

• Wait-list for PHYS 131
• Wait-list for PHYS 132

Summary

There’s a lot of information below about how wait-lists are implemented in the physics department. The policies are the same as they have been for the past few semesters. Here’s a brief summary for those who already know how our wait-lists work:

If your desired section(s) of PHYS 131 or 132 are full when your registration slot comes, sign up for the wait-lists by filling out a Google form. You may not sign up for the wait-list until after your registration time has begun.

To sign up for a wait-list, click on the appropriate link:

• Wait-list for PHYS 131
• Wait-list for PHYS 132

Details

Registration for Spring 2019 classes is starting. The physics department is offering two sections of PHYS 131 and four sections of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 16 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As in past semesters, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open. If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.) Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

• • A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
  • A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
  • The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “junior scholar / athlete” or “sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. Please check all sections that will fit your schedule.
  • Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for incoming first-year students.
  • Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
    • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
    • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
    • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.

• When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 48 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, he or she will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Ted Bunn, the current physics department chair.

Once again, here are the links to sign up for the wait-lists:

• Wait-list for PHYS 131
• Wait-list for PHYS 132

Summary

There’s a lot of information below about how wait-lists are implemented in the physics department. The policies are the same as they have been for the past few semesters. Here’s a brief summary for those who already know how our wait-lists work:

If your desired section(s) of PHYS 131 or 132 are full when your registration slot comes, sign up for the wait-lists by filling out the forms at these sites:

• Wait-list for PHYS 131
• Wait-list for PHYS 132

You may not sign up for the wait-list until after your registration time has begun.

 Details

Registration for Spring 2018 classes is about to start. The physics department is offering two sections of PHYS 131 and four sections of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 16 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As in past semesters, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open. If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.) Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

• A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
• A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
• The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “junior scholar / athlete” or “sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. Please check all sections that will fit your schedule.
• Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for incoming first-year students.
• Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
  • • • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
      • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
      • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
• When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 24 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, he or she will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.
• • If you have any questions, ask Ted Bunn, the physics department chair.

    Once again, here’s where you go to sign up for the wait-lists:

    • Wait-list for PHYS 131
    • Wait-list for PHYS 132

Summary

There’s a lot of information below, which you should read, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s the quick summary. If your desired section(s) of PHYS 131 or 132 are full when your registration slot comes, sign up for the wait-lists by filling out the forms at these sites:

• Wait-list for PHYS 131
• Wait-list for PHYS 132

You may not sign up for the wait-list until after your registration time has begun.

 Details

Registration for Fall 2017 classes is about to start. The physics department is offering four sections of PHYS 131 and one section of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 16 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As in past semesters, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open. If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.) Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

The rest of this post contains details about the wait-list policies. (They’re the same as last semester.) At the very bottom, you will find links to sign up for the wait-lists (but note that you can’t sign up until your registration time has arrived).

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

1. A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
2. A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
3. The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “rising junior scholar / athlete” or “rising sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. “Rising sophomore” means that you will be a sophomore in the coming semester. For PHYS 131, please check all sections that will fit your schedule. For PHYS 132, there is only one section, so you don’t have to provide the section.
4. Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for incoming first-year students.
5. Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
   • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
   • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
   • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
6. When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 12 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, he or she will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Ted Bunn, the physics department chair.

Once again, here’s where you go to sign up for the wait-lists:

• Wait-list for PHYS 131
• Wait-list for PHYS 132

Update, 8/23/2016:  As of 5pm today, all 131-132 wait-lists will be closed.  All 131-132 sections will be re-opened as first-come, first-serve for adding and dropping on Bannerweb.

Registration for Fall 2016 classes will begin soon. The physics department will be offering four sections of PHYS 131 and one section of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 18 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

As we did last semester, we will have wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. (Do continue to try to add the sections you want for as long as your registration window is open.  If a seat opens up, we can’t stop somebody else from beating you to it.)  Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

The rest of this post contains details about the wait-list policies. (They’re the same as last semester.) At the very bottom, you will find links to sign up for the wait-lists (but note that you can’t sign up until your registration time has arrived).

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

1. A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
2. A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
3. The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “rising junior scholar / athlete” or “rising sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course. “Rising sophomore” means that you will be a sophomore in the coming semester. For PHYS 132, there is only one section, so you don’t have to provide the section.
4. Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for first-year students.
5. Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
   • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections.
   • If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
   • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
6. When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 12 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, he or she will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Matt Trawick, the physics department chair.

Here’s where you go to sign up for the wait-lists for PHYS 131 and PHYS 132.

Check out the American Institute of Physics‘s list of undergraduate physics programs that graduate the most majors:

This is the first time we’ve made the list.

Everyone in the department has worked hard to build our program, but particular credit has to go to the two previous department chairs, Jerry Gilfoyle and Con Beausang.

Registration for Spring 2016 classes will begin soon. The physics department will be offering two sections of PHYS 131 and four sections of PHYS 132. As in the past, some seats in these courses will be reserved for students in each year. To be specific, the seating limits on each section will be

• 6 students during senior registration,
• 12 students during junior registration,
• 18 students during sophomore registration,
• 24 students during first-year registration.

The reason for this is that prospective physics majors need to be able to take these courses early, so we can’t let all the seats be taken by juniors and seniors.

This semester, for the first time, we will have formal wait-lists for these courses. If all the sections that fit your schedule are full when your registration time comes, you can sign up for the wait-list. Then, after first-year registration is complete, any available seats will be filled off the wait-lists.

The rest of this post contains details about the wait-list policies. At the very bottom, you will find links to sign up for the wait-lists (but note that you can’t sign up until your registration time has arrived).

PHYS 131-132 Wait-list policies

1. A student may only sign up for the wait-list after that student’s registration time has begun.
2. A student who is enrolled in one section of the course may not sign up for the wait-list for other sections.
3. The student must provide name, email address, ID number, registration group (e.g., “junior scholar / athlete” or “sophomore”), and desired section(s) of the course.
4. Students will be admitted off the wait-list beginning at the end of the registration period for first-year students.
5. Students will be offered admission off the wait-list in the order they signed up. To be specific,
   • If any seats are available in any sections listed by the first student on the list, then that student will be offered a seat in one of those sections. If a student has listed multiple sections, and seats are available in more than one section, then the chair will choose which section to offer the student.
   • The same procedure will be applied to each student in order.
6. When a student becomes eligible to be admitted off the wait-list, the chair of the physics department will notify him or her by email. The student will have 12 hours to accept this invitation by replying to the email. If the student does not reply within that time, he or she will be dropped from the wait-list, and the next eligible student will be admitted.

If you have any questions, ask Ted Bunn, the physics department chair.

Here’s where you go to sign up for the wait-lists for PHYS 131 and PHYS 132.

with a Facebook page and a Twitter feed.

We’ll be posting announcements of public observing nights in both places, so if you want to know when things are going on at the telescope, follow us on Twitter and/or sign up to get notifications on Facebook. (If I’m not mistaken, to do the latter you want to go to the Facebook page and check the “Get Notifications” line under the Like button.)

Tell your friends!

We in the UR physics department are looking forward to welcoming the new members of the Class of 2016 in the fall. Here’s some information you might find helpful as you think about registering for fall courses.

If anything’s not clear, or if you have any questions about which course is for you, ask us!

Physics majors typically start with Physics 131 in the fall and either 132 or 134 in the spring.  There are four sections of physics 131 available this fall.  Physics 131 is mostly about mechanics but has some other topics as well.  It requires either that you’ve had some calculus or that you take Calc. 1 at the same time.

Pre-med students and students in other science majors also take Physics 131, and the course fulfills the science requirement for non-science majors, so even if you’re not sure what you’re majoring in, keep this course in mind.

Students with strong high school physics backgrounds can skip Physics 131 and start right away with Physics 132.  There is one section of this course offered in the fall. University policy says that you need a 4 or 5 on the Physics C Mechanics, or departmental permission, to skip Physics 131.  If you have a strong physics background but didn’t take the right AP exam, email us or talk to one of the physics faculty when you arrive in town to see if you should be in 132.  (This applies especially to international students, who aren’t part of the US AP system.)

If you think you might want to major in physics (even if you’re not sure), and you’re eligible to skip 131, we strongly urge you to sign up for Physics 132 in the fall.  Finishing the introductory physics sequence early will give you a lot more scheduling flexibility in future semesters (and remember that even if you end up majoring in another science, you may still need to take this course).

Students with very strong physics backgrounds (a 4 or a 5 on the Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism AP exam) are eligible to skip both semesters of the introductory sequence.  If you’re in that category, and you think you might want to study physics, the best courses for you are Physics 205 (Modern Physics) and/or Physics 301 (Mathematical Methods).  Once again, if you didn’t take the appropriate AP exam but think you might have the right background for this option, ask us.

For students who aren’t planning to major in a science, we offer Physics 125, a survey of conceptual physics.  This course fulfills the general-education science requirement, but it does not fulfill prerequisites for more advanced science courses.

Finally, I’ll point out that there’s one physics-related first-year seminar this fall:

Space is Big. This course will examine three occasions in the history of Western thought when the conception of the size of the Universe underwent large expansions: 1) The transition from an Earth-centered to Sun-centered view of the Universe, which led to an enormous increase in estimates of distances to stars, and hence in the scale of the known Universe; 2) The gradual understanding, in the early 20th century, of an expanding Universe filled with billions of galaxies; and 3) Contemporary ideas of the multiverse, according to which our observed environment is only a tiny fraction of all that exists. The most extreme and controversial versions of the multiverse hypothesis propose that the very laws of physics vary throughout the Universe, and that our observed patch may be quite atypical. In the course of examining the amount of space in the Universe, we will examine ideas about the nature of space, which also underwent major shifts during each of these periods.

Like all first-year seminars, this course is open to all first-year students, not just science majors. But I thought I’d mention it, because someone who’s read this far down into this post might be particularly interested in a topic like this.

The University of Richmond Board of Trustees met today, and among other less important business they voted to promote  Ovidiu Lipan to the rank of associate professor of physics and to grant him tenure. Please give Ovidiu your heartiest congratulations when you see him.

It's time for incoming first-year students to register for classes for the fall semester.  We in the physics department are looking forward to meeting you all in the fall.

Here's some information about the physics courses available for new students.  If anything here isn't clear, or if you have any questions about which course is for you, ask us!

Physics majors typically start with Physics 131 in the fall and either 132 or 134 in the spring.  There are four sections of physics 131 available this fall.  Physics 131 is mostly about mechanics but has some other topics as well.  It requires either that you've had some calculus or that you take Calc. 1 at the same time.

Pre-med students and students in other science majors also take Physics 131, and the course fulfills the science requirement for non-science majors, so even if you're not sure what you're majoring in, keep this course in mind.

Students with strong high school physics backgrounds can skip Physics 131 and start right away with Physics 132.  There is one section of this course offered in the fall. University policy says that you need a 4 or 5 on the Physics C Mechanics, or departmental permission, to skip Physics 131.  If you have a strong physics background but didn't take the right AP exam, email us or talk to one of the physics faculty when you arrive in town to see if you should be in 132.  (This applies especially to international students, who aren't part of the US AP system.)

If you think you might want to major in physics (even if you're not sure), and you're eligible to skip 131, we strongly urge you to sign up for Physics 132 in the fall.  Finishing the introductory physics sequence early will give you a lot more scheduling flexibility in future semesters (and remember that even if you end up majoring in another science, you may still need to take this course).

Students with very strong physics backgrounds (a 4 or a 5 on the Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism AP exam) are eligible to skip both semesters of the introductory sequence.  If you're in that category, and you think you might want to study physics, the best courses for you are Physics 205 (Modern Physics) and/or Physics 301 (Mathematical Methods).  Once again, if you didn't take the appropriate AP exam but think you might have the right background for this option, ask us.

For students who aren't planning to major in a science, we offer Physics 125, a survey of conceptual physics.  This course fulfills the general-education science requirement, but it does not fulfill prerequisites for more advanced science courses.

Finally, I’ll point out that there’s one physics-related first-year seminar this year:

Space is Big. This course will examine three occasions in the history of Western thought when the conception of the size of the Universe underwent large expansions: 1) The transition from an Earth-centered to Sun-centered view of the Universe, which led to an enormous increase in estimates of distances to stars, and hence in the scale of the known Universe; 2) The gradual understanding, in the early 20th century, of an expanding Universe filled with billions of galaxies; and 3) Contemporary ideas of the multiverse, according to which our observed environment is only a tiny fraction of all that exists. The most extreme and controversial versions of the multiverse hypothesis propose that the very laws of physics vary throughout the Universe, and that our observed patch may be quite atypical. In the course of examining the amount of space in the Universe, we will examine ideas about the nature of space, which also underwent major shifts during each of these periods.

Like all first-year seminars, this course is open to all first-year students, not just science majors. But I thought I’d mention it, because someone who’s read this far down into this post might be particularly interested in a topic like this.

UPDATE: We had to change it yet again! I’m sorry for all the confusion. The following should be really truly final.

We have had to move the meeting time of PHYS 132. It will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:00-11:45.

I’m sorry for the last-minute change. If you need to talk to me about scheduling issues, let me know.

UPDATE: We had to make a number of changes to the fall schedule. The most important one for current and prospective physics majors is that we’re moving computational physics from fall to spring. In addition, instructors for some courses got shuffled around, and math methods moved from Tuesday-Thursday to Monday-Wednesday. Details below. Changes are marked in bold italics.

Here is our current plan for the schedule of physics courses for next fall. It may change, but probably not dramatically. Instructors’ names are listed in parentheses.

• PHYS 125: Elements of Physics. MWF 9:00-11:00 (Serej).
• PHYS 131: General Physics w/ Calc. I. Four sections:
  • MWF 9-11 (Nebel).
  • TTh 1:30-4:15 (Nebel).
  • MWF 1:30-3:30 (Lipan).
  • TTh 9-11:45 (Gilfoyle).
• PHYS 132: General Physics w/ Calc. II. MWF 1:30-3:30 (Serej).
• PHYS 205: Modern Physics. MWF 10:30-11:20 (Bunn).
• PHYS 215: Cancelled for fall. Moved to spring.
• PHYS 301: Mathematical Methods in Physics. MW 1:30-2:45 (Fetea).
• PHYS 309: Quantum Mechanics I. TTh 3-4:15 (Lipan).
• PHYS 397/398/497/498: Junior and Senior Seminar. W 4:30-5:30 (Beausang).
• IQS (Physics portion taught by Dr. Fetea).
• First-year seminar: “Space is Big.” MWF 3-3:50 (Bunn).

Let me know if you have questions about physics courses.

 CLARIFICATION: When I said that electronics is one of the ways of satisfying the experimental requirement, I should have been clearer.  The physics major requires Intermediate Lab, and one more experimental thing.  Electronics and research are the two ways to get that extra thing.  You still need Intermediate Lab.

Registration for spring semester’s not far off.  Here’s some potentially useful information for physics majors and minors.

First, here are the upper-level physics courses we expect to offer.  (There are the usual bunch of intro courses too.)

• PHYS 216 (Electronics): MWF 1:30-3:30, Matt Trawick.
• PHYS 221 (Intermediate Lab): TTh 1:30-4:15, Jerry Gilfoyle.
• PHYS 303 (Classical Mechanics): TTh 10:30-11:45, Ovidiu Lipan.
• PHYS 306 (Electricity & Magnetism II): MWF 10:30-11:20, Ted Bunn.
• Junior-Senior seminar, W 4:30-5:30, Ted Bunn.

A couple of other items to note as you prepare to register:

• Electronics will almost certainly not be offered during the following (2011-2012) academic year. Electronics is one of only two ways to satisfy the physics major’s experimental requirement, the other being research for credit with a faculty member.  (See clarification above: this is the post-intermediate-lab experimental requirement.  Intermediate lab is required too.)
• E&M II will almost certainly not pass your way again any time soon.
• The 2011-2012 schedule is not fixed yet, but we’re pretty certain to offer Modern, Math Methods, Computational, Stat. Mech., Intermediate Lab, and a new Systems Biology course.  Quantum 1 is also very likely, and with luck one more advanced course to be named later.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, ask me.

It's time for incoming first-year students to register for classes for the fall semester.  We in the physics department are looking forward to meeting you all in the fall.

Here's some information about the physics courses available for new students.  If anything here isn't clear, or if you have any questions about which course is for you, ask us!

Physics majors typically start with Physics 131 in the fall and either 132 or 134 in the spring.  There are four sections of physics 131 available this fall.  Physics 131 is mostly about mechanics but has some other topics as well.  It requires either that you've had some calculus or that you take Calc. 1 at the same time.

Pre-med students and students in some other science majors also take this same sequence of courses, and the course fulfills the science requirement for non-science majors, so even if you're not sure what you're majoring in, keep this course in mind.

Students with strong high school physics backgrounds can skip Physics 131 and start right away with Physics 132.  There is one section of this course offered in the fall. University policy says that you need a 4 or 5 on the Physics C Mechanics AP test, or departmental permission, to get credit for Physics 131. If you got a 4 or 5 on the Physics B AP test, then you’re eligible for credit for physics 127-128.  This in principle allows you to go straight into physics 132, but if you’re thinking about a physics major we usually recommend taking 131 in this situation.

If you have a strong physics background but didn't take the right AP exam, email us or talk to one of the physics faculty when you arrive in town to see if you should be in 132.  This applies especially to international students, who aren't part of the US AP system.

If you think you might want to major in physics (even if you're not sure), and you're eligible to skip 131, we strongly urge you to sign up for Physics 132 in the fall.  Finishing the introductory physics sequence early will give you a lot more scheduling flexibility in future semesters (and remember that even if you end up majoring in another science or going pre-med, you may still need to take this course).

Students with very strong physics backgrounds (a 4 or a 5 on the Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism AP exam) are eligible to skip both semesters of the introductory sequence.  If you're in that category, and you think you might want to study physics, the best courses for you are Physics 205 (Modern Physics) and/or Physics 301 (Mathematical Methods).  Once again, if you didn't take the appropriate AP exam but think you might have the right background for this option, ask us.

For students who aren't planning to major in a science, we offer Physics 125, a survey of conceptual physics.  This course fulfills the general-education science requirement, but it does not fulfill prerequisites for more advanced science courses.  (Also, it’s full at the moment.)