St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 3
Natural & Physical Sciences
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1.
Proposal Number:
Prepared by: Bill Dalton
Phone: 308-2774
Email: bdalton@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Science
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: PHYS 103, Concepts of Physics
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Existing Course X
X No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
X No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
A thematic presentation of ideas,thought, and experimentation in
physics.Topics from classical mechanics, sound, light, electricity,
magnetism, thermodynamics, relativity, structure of matter. Not open to
those who have taken PHYS courses other than general education at the 200level or above. Lab. 3 Cr. F,S.
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
General Education and program needs for the Aviation department.
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
None
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
n/a
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
12/11/2009
for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
X The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
13.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 3: Natural & Physical Sciences
Explore scientific knowledge of the natural world. Understand the central concepts and principles of
science; experience the process of scientific inquiry; comprehend science as a human endeavor and
understand the impact of science on individuals and on society.
Concepts and knowledge of physics are studied via lecture, homework
and laboratory experiments. Scientific inquiry is enhanced in the
physics laboratory where experiments are designed to test models.
Human endeavor and impact on society is explored via historical
development incorporated into the course.
14. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 3, it must address at least 5 of the 6 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
X
1. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts, principles, and theories in the physical or natural sciences.
X
2. Make observations and collect data, design and carry out experiments or other types of scientific investigations.
X
3. Formulate research questions and testable hypotheses, analyze and interpret data, draw inferences and
conclusions, and identify further questions for investigation.
X
4. Demonstrate awareness of the interdependent relationships of basic science, applied science, mathematics, and
technology.
X
5. Recognize the human nature of the scientific enterprise, including the importance of curiosity, creativity, and
imagination; the dual nature of scientific knowledge as changeable and durable; and the impact of a scientist's
personal identity on the scientific process.
6. Evaluate societal issues from a science perspective, question the evidence presented, and make informed
judgments about these issues.
15.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
1. Students investigate various physical laws and how they describe the
behavior of the observed physical world.
2. Students collect and analyze data in weekly lab experiments.
3. Students test hypotheses about the physical world in comparison with
the data they collect and analyze. For instance, they often test whether or
not momentum or energy is conserved in the actual laboratory experiment.
4.Students demonstrate how physical concepts apply to different
scientific disiplines, such as mathematics, chemistry and biology.
5. In class discussions and the laboratory students explore the
historical development of science and how scientific views have evolved over
the years, and how different researchers today have theories that clash with
each other and with observations.
12/11/2009
16.
Courses satisfying Goal Area 3: Natural & Physical Sciences must have either a “traditional lab course or a lab-like
experience”. Check which of these apply and supply a brief explanation of how the course is either a laboratory
course or incorporates a “lab-like experience”. (The following quote from a National Research Council
subcommittee report may help to identify a course with a laboratory. ”Laboratory experiences provide opportunities
for students to interact directly with the material world (or with data drawn from the material world), using the tools,
data collection techniques, models, and theories of science.” America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School
Science (Free Executive Summary) http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11311.html
Course includes:
X Laboratory
Lab-like experience
Description:
This course has a laboratory component and laboratory work will be required approximately weekly that involves
collecting data, measurement, analysis and using this to constrain models of the natural world.
17.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
This course is thematic, so that a specific course may emphasize a
different selection of topics from a broad range of physics areas. Each
theme acts as an avenue into a broad range of physical concepts and
applications. A typical general topic outline would be as follows.
1) The concept of inertia or mass.5% SLO 1
2) Conservation of energy. 10% SLO 2,4,5
3) Conservation of momentum. 10%SLO 2,4
4) Conservation of angular momentum. 10% SLO 2,4
5) General Wave properties. 5% SLO 4
6) Sound waves in music and human hearing. 10% SLO 4,5
7) Light waves in communication and human eyes. 10% SLO 4,5
8) Air and fluid pressure and applications. 10% SLO 5
9) Atomic physics. 10% SLO 5
10) Nuclear physics, and radiation. 10% SLO 5
11) Applications of fission and fusion. 10% SLO 5
12) A weekly lab correlated with the lecture topics. SLO 2,3
12/11/2009
St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department: Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Science
Course or Course(s): PHYS 103
Kevin L. Haglin
Department or Unit Chair Signature
2/24/2010
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date