Overview
This course and PHYS 395 Advanced Lab constitute a two-semester sequence in which you will have the opportunity to design and implement your own research project. The course is designed to introduce you to different research topics in physics and let you reflect on your own interests and goals. At the end of the course the you will produce a research paper and give an oral presentation on your research.
Goals
At the end of the course students will be able to:
- Improve scientific writing skills: write clearly, analytically and purposefully using professional scientific language
- Become aware of undergraduate research opportunities, graduate school application procedures, and career opportunities
- Design an experiment to acquire quantitative measurements of a physical system and/or develop a computational model of physical system
- Work effectively as part of a collaborative team to design a research project
- Clearly present scientific ideas, data and theories orally to a professional audience
Grades
Your grade for the course will be based on the following:
- 25% - Homework, Quizzes & Projects
- 40% - 2 exams @ 20% each
- 25% - Final cumulative exam
- 10% - Participation, Attendance and Discussion