Wednesdays, 11am - noon
CP 220
This weekly seminar course will introduce you to a variety of research fields in physics, especially those pursued here in our Physics Department. You will meet and talk with several physics faculty, as well as your fellow physics students and graduate students. There will be informal presentations by faculty and graduate students, and several senior undergraduate physics majors. You will learn how to make the most of your physics education at FIU, physics career options, and how physics research is done.
This is a new course being offered for the first time. The goal is to help you make the most of your physics degree. We will ask for feedback throughout the course, but feel free to let us know anytime how to improve the course.
Attendance: This is a seminar course and need your input to be successful. Attendance is therefore required and counts towards your grade. You may have one excused absence during the term.
Contributing to the Discussions: This is an informal discussion-based course, so you must not only come to the class, but you must also contribute to the discussions. Contributing includes posing questions, answering questions, and offering opinions.
Presentation: You will be responsible for one 15-minute presentation on a physics-related topic of your choice. The topic must be approved by one of the instructors. Ideas for topics can come from magazines, newspapers, the web, or your imagination. The goal is to pick a topic that you find interesting and think your fellow classmates will enjoy.
Email List: An email list will be created to distribute information on the course and encourage group discussion. Your FIU email will be added to the list. You may also request that your favorite addresses be added.
Grading: The grade breakdown is:
Attendance |
30% |
Discussion |
20% |
Presentation |
50% |
09/06 |
Introduction
to the Course and Department |
09/13 |
Faculty presentation - Astronomy |
09/20 |
Faculty presentation - Nuclear/Particle |
09/27 |
Informal group discussion |
10/04 |
Faculty presentation - Biophysics |
10/11 |
What can you do with your degree? |
10/18 |
Faculty presentation - Math physics |
10/25 |
Undergraduate research presentation |
11/01 |
15 minute presentations |
11/08 |
Undergraduate research presentation |
11/15 |
15 minute presentations |
11/22 |
Public style lecture - Faculty |
11/29 |
15 minute presentations |
12/06 |
What did you get out of this course? |
| 12/13 | Final Exam (TBD) |
*Schedule subject to change