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Faculty Retreat 2007 - Course and Curriculum Committee
Report on Piggy-Back Courses
Rationale
o Graduate students need a full year each of
intermediate mechanics and E&M in order to be prepared for PY783 (mechanics)
and PY785 (E&M).
o Many institutions no longer require two semesters of intermediate-level
mechanics and E&M.
o It follows that some entering graduate students (typically
about half) have gaps in their mechanics and E&M backgrounds, which
need to be filled before attempting our advanced-level courses
| previous implementation: |
| Mechanics: |
PY511 (Fall) and PY512 (Spring) taught in sync with PY411 (Fall) and
PY412 (Spring) |
| E&M: |
PY514 (Fall) and PY515 (Spring) taught in sync with PY414 (Fall) and
PY415 (Spring) |
| |
|
| "new" implementation: |
| Mechanics: |
PY512 (Fall) contains elements of PY411 and PY412 |
| E&M: |
PY515 (Spring) contains elements of PY414 and PY415 |
Recommended Actions:
1. Continue to offer an intermediate-level course to graduate students, but
one that is stand-alone (not combined with the 400-level courses). This is
the "new" implementation.
2. Formalize the "new" implementation which has already been in place for about
three years. The paperwork to do this has been prepared and is ready to go
up to the graduate school for approval.
3. No longer offer PY511 and PY514. |
