TO:
Beth Dobkin, Provost
FROM:
Valerie Burke, Chair
Academic Senate
DATE:
December 11, 2014
RE:
Senate Action S-14/15-11CA
Physics, Changes to the Major
BS and BA Tracks
At the December 10, 2014 meeting of the Academic Senate, the attached proposal for a new
structure for the physics major was approved on the Consent Agenda. The proposal was approved
by the Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee at their October 20, 2014 meeting by a vote
of 6-0 with 2 abstentions. All documents related to this proposal can be viewed at the UEPC
website (http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/faculty-governance/undergraduate-educational-policiescommittee-uepc/agendas.)
This action was assigned Senate Action #S-14/15-11CA.
Attachment
cc: President James A. Donahue
Vice Provost Richard Carp
Dean Roy Wensley
October 6, 2014
Robert Gorsch, Chair
Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee
Dear Dr. Gorsch,
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is proposing a new structure for the physics major.
This proposal is an outcome of the department’s last program review. It will divide the degree
into two tracks, a BA and a BS. The BS degree will increase the number of course requirements
while the BA will maintain the requirements of the current major. The BS will increase
preparation for our students who want to pursue graduate programs in physics, and is more in
line with programs at other schools like Saint Mary’s. The renaming of the current degree as a
BA is more in line with other institutions as well. The BA track will allow students to complete
a physics degree and easily add a second major or a minor.
The Council of Department Chairs and Program Directors in the School of Science discussed the
proposal on May 6. 2014 and agreed unanimously that the proposal should be forwarded to the
UEPC. I recommend that you approve the proposal.
Sincerely,
Roy Wensley, Dean
School of Science
Changes to the Physics major curriculum
The Department proposes to strengthen the current Bachelor of Science (B.S.) curriculum.
We also propose to create a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.
First, the proposed and present curricula are presented in the table below. Second, a
discussion of the rationale, impact and implementation are provided. Finally, we give
proposed catalog language.
Proposed Curriculum
lower division
upper division
lower division units
upper division units
total units
proposed B.S.
proposed B.A.
current B.S.
Phys
1
&
2(lab) Phys 3
& 4(lab) Phys
60
Math 27
Math 38
Math 39
Phys 102
Phys 105
Phys 110
Phys 115
Phys 125
Phys 181 (WID)
Phys
UD
elec
Phys
UD
elec
Phys
UD
6.5
elec
Math
134
10.0
16.5
Phys
1
&
2(lab) Phys 3
& 4(lab) Phys
60
Math 27
Math 38
Math 39
Phys 102
Phys 105
Phys 110
Phys 115
Phys 125
Phys 181 (WID)
Phys UD
elec Phys
UD elec
Phys
1
&
2(lab) Phys 3
& 4(lab) Phys
60
Math 27
Math 38
Math 39
Math/CS 21
Phys 105
Phys 110
Phys 125
Phys 181
Phys UD
elec Phys
UD elec
Math 134
6.5
8.0
14.5
7.5
7.0
14.5
Physics 102 and 115 are part of the department’s existing course offerings. Physics 102
replaces Math/CS 21. While both Physics 102 and Ma/CS 21 cover programming skills,
Physics 102 emphasizes applications to physical problems and has upper division level
outcomes.
Rationale
Our department recently completed a program review and reconsidered our curriculum.
We drew comparisons to four institutions, two of which can be considered peers, and two
larger universities. The University of Portland, our closest reference point, is a private
Catholic
institution that serves approximately 3000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students. Their
physics department consists currently of five ranked faculty members, one adjunct, and a lab
coordinator. They granted an average of 2.5 bachelor's degrees across school years 2007- 2011.
Like our department, they serve a large contingent of engineering, physical-science and
biological-science students through their introductory course offerings.
The remaining three schools are Pacific Lutheran University, a private Lutheran institution in
Tacoma, Washington, with approximately 3200 undergraduate and 300 graduate students,
Sonoma State University, a public, predominantly undergraduate institution with approximately
8000 undergraduate students, and the University of California, Davis, a Research-1 university
with approximately 25,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students.
Two-tiered B.A./B.S. structures appear to be common. The following table lists the total number of
physics courses required for the B.A. and B.S at Saint Mary's College and at the reference
institutions:
B.S.
B.A.
University of Portland
20.5
12
Pacific Lutheran
15
11.5
Sonoma State
18.5
15-16
UC Davis
18
12
Saint Mary’s
14.5
At 14.5 courses, Saint Mary's requirements fall between the tiers. We also considered the courses
included in the B.S. physics curricula. As seen in the table below, the requirements are almost
identical across the five institutions, indicating a consensus over what constitutes a bachelor's
degree in physics.
reference institutions
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
A year-long introductory physics with lab
Modern Physics or a third intro course
3 semesters of calculus, up to vector calc
An introduction to computer
programming or computational physics
> 2 additional courses in mathematics
or mathematical methods of physics
Classical mechanics
Electricity and magnetism
Quantum Mechanics
Statistical Mechanics
One or more advanced labs
The more robust programs include, variously, a year
of chemistry, additional study in electricity and
magnetism or quantum mechanics, electronics, and
further mathematical training.
current curriculum Saint Mary’s
●
●
●
●
A year-long introductory with lab
Modern Physics
3 semesters of calculus, up to
vector calc
An introduction to
computer programming
Differential equations
●
●
●
Classical mechanics
Electricity and magnetism
Quantum mechanics
●
Electronics, an advanced lab
●
Two upper-division electives
●
Our sense has been that, while 14.5 courses allows a solid exploration of physics within a liberal
arts program, some of our students interested in graduate study in physics or in industrial
research have left underprepared. This concern is born out by comparison with the B.S. standards
at the other schools, which run to 15, 18, even 20 courses. In particular, our students have
sometimes missed training in advanced mathematical methods common to working physicists,
statistical mechanics, or the chance to revisit core topics like electricity and magnetism or
quantum mechanics. We are, therefore, modifying our B.S. to consist of 16- courses (for 16.5
units).
We also propose to create a B.A. degree. The BA curriculum gives students the opportunity to do
substantive work in other academic areas, such as complete a minor, take courses
required for
medical school, or take coursework in preparation for law school. The B.A. would be appropriate
for students whose post-graduate plans include, for example, teaching K-12, professional school,
or science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM)-related careers in government or private
industry.
Impact and Implementation
We do not anticipate any change in the number of majors in physics due to the two degrees.
Rather, we believe that differing requirements for the B.S. and B.A. degrees would set, for our
students, clearer standards of what we and the larger physics community consider essential
preparation for scientific or technical work.
Our program can accommodate these changes without any new staffing demands, and using the
present number of annual course offerings. Changes can be phased in next year.
Example 4-year schedules for odd year and even year starts are shown below. With alternating
year course offerings, majors will have identical first year schedules, similar grounding in the
sophomore year, and a common senior level course. Common courses are in bold. Courses
required by the B.S., but not by the B.A, are starred (**).
Fall
Spring
Fall
Spring
Fall
Odd year start (Fall 15)
Even year start (Fall 16)
Physics 1&2
Math 27
Physics 3&4
Math 38
Physics 1&2
Math 27
Physics 3&4
Math 38
Physics 60
Math 39
Physics 181
Physics 105
Math 134**
Physics 102
UD elec
Spring
Phys 115
UD elec
Fall
Physics 125
Phys 110
UD
elec**
Spring
Physics 60
Math 39
UD elec
Phys 105
Math
134** UD
elec
Phys 110
Phys 181
Phys 102
UD elec**
Phys 125
Phys 115
It will be possible, though not ideal, for a student to start the B.S. physics major in the sophomore
year and graduate by their 4th year, as long as the student is on track with the calculus sequence.
Catalog Language
Proposed language is presented below. (It seemed clearer to present the text without explicitly
showing additions and deletions from the current language.)
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
Physics in this century has become a complex endeavor reflecting many centuries of
experimentation and theory. It is an enterprise conducted by men and women who are
stimulated by hopes and purposes that are universal: to understand and describe nature in
its most elementary form. Physics and astronomy courses train students to carefully observe
physical phenomena and to interpret the phenomena using synthesis, mathematical modeling
and analysis. These methods repre-sent a way of knowing that is central to the scientific
method. The department is dedicated to teaching students with majors in science as well as
general science education in the liberal arts tradition.
FACULTY
Jessica C. Kintner, Ph.D., Professor, Chair Ronald P.
Olowin, Ph.D., Professor
Chris M. Ray, Ph.D., Professor
Mari-Anne M. Rosario, Ph.D., Associate Professor John Waddell, M.S., Associate
Professor, Emeritus Roy J. Wensley, Ph.D., Professor
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students who graduate with a major in physics will be able to analyze complex and subtle
physical phenomena and systems. The successful student will be able to iden-tify the physical
and mathematical principles relevant to a system—even principles that are addressed in
separate courses and disciplines. Using the principles they identify, students will be able to
carry out the necessary analysis and synthesis to model the system accurately, and will be
able to effectively communicate their results.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE (B.S.)
The bachelor in science degree in physics is designed for students who wish to pursue careers or
graduate study in scientific and technically intensive fields. The department also offers a degree
concentration in astrophysics.
Lower division
Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab), and 60; Math 27, 38, and 39
Upper division
Physics 102, 105, 110, 115, 125, 181, three elective upper division physics courses, and Math 134.
The concentration in astrophysics requires the three elective courses to be Physics 170, 173, and
185.
BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.)
The bachelor of arts degree provides students the flexibility to pursue additional academic interests,
such as undertaking a minor, completing courses for medical school, or preparing for law school.
Lower division
Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab), and 60; Math 27, 38, and 39
Upper division
Physics 102, 105, 110, 115, 125, 181, and two elective upper division physics courses
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab), and 60; Mathematics 27, 38, and 39; three elective upper- division
physics courses.