Physics DepartmentUniversity of Chicago

presented at the SPIN-UP Workshop

June 4-6, 2010

who teaches

• faculty: 33 full-time teaching faculty

+ 2 Senior Lecturers (Dept advisers)

• graduate students:

required to take Physics 300 (seminar)

who do we teach

• PhySci 111-112 non-science majors 40-90

• Phys 120’s premeds et al. ~140

• Phys 130’s “engineers” ~160

• Phys 140’s Honors 60-80

+ upper-level courses

degree programs

• BA in Physics– with Honors– with Specialization in Astrophysics

• Minor in Physics

BA curriculum

General (3)Modern (1)Interm. Mechanics (1)Interm. E & M (2)Quantum Mechanics (2)Statistical (1) Experimental (1)Math. Methods (1)+ electives (3)

advising

• placement advising: 130’s / 140’s

• Spring interviews

• Grad School Forum

• Physics 990

… and UG Town Hall mtgs (to advise us)

concerns c. 2000

• curriculum too “Victorian”

• leaky pipeline for non-Honors students

(tied to “math problem”)

• no flexibility in coursework

changesThree goals:• teach quantum physics earlier and more often

Phys 154, reordering• make the non-Honors sequence a viable pathway

Math 220• more flexibility

program electives

while retaining ability to complete major in 3 years (without heroics)

Program Electives offered in Physics (2003-2010)

Phys 223 Topics in Math. PhysicsPhys 226 ElectronicsPhys 236 Solid State Physics Phys 237 Nuclei & Particles Phys 238 Modern Atomic PhysicsPhys 250 Computational PhysicsPhys 251 Chaos and ComplexityPhys 253 Materials of TomorrowPhys 255 Biological PhysicsPhys 260 Fluid DynamicsPhys 261 Structured FluidsPhys 264 Spacetime and Black HolesPhys 271 Cosmology (new for 2010-2011)Phys 280 Current Research Topics

Undergrad Physics degrees

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1994-951995-961996-971997-981998-991999-002000-012001-022002-032003-042004-052005-062006-072007-082008-092009-10

133/143 split vs. year enteredfor Physics BA's

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

19921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

143133

successes

• number of majors– large (and increasing?)

• participation in research– most undergrad’s do research – 3 Apker Awards since 1992

(but process too unstructured?)

existing concerns

• space (Kersten built in 1985)

• women in major (~ 20%)– Society of Women in Physics formed this year

• other