PHYS 10901 - First Year Physics & Astronomy Seminar                            Spring 2018

Lectures: M 4:00 – 4:50 PM @ SWR 357

 

Instructor: Dr. Yuri M. Strzhemechny

Office: SWR 373

Phone: 817-257-5793

Email: Y.Strzhemechny@tcu.edu

Web: http://personal.tcu.edu/ystrzhemechn/

Office Hours: T 8:00-8:50 AM, F 4:00-6:00 PM & by appointment

 

Course Outcomes:

•         Introduction to modern physics and astrophysics ideas, experimental and theoretical research methods, areas of application of physics to pure and applied research.

•         Introduction to TCU physics and astrophysics faculty, lab facilities, opportunities for undergraduate research, and to provide a chance to meet other prospective physics and astrophysics majors.

•         Introduction to what physicists do with a physics and astrophysics degree, in academic, industrial, teaching, and other settings. Physics and astrophysics educational experiences at TCU outside of the academic classroom.

•         Various aspects of TCU undergraduate life, including general CORE and specific major requirements, etc.

 

Format:

•         Weekly lectures from TCU physics and astrophysics faculty (with possible lab visits, when appropriate or possible) and others, with attendance taken.

•         Other informal talks, roundtable discussions, student presentations, outside speakers, TCU staff members, etc.

•         3 Homework Assignments (HW1-3) due at various times during the semester,

•         4 Lecture Reviews (LR1-4), consisting of write-ups of weekly talks, after every 3-4 lectures.

•         2 Surveys (S-I, S-F) asking for information about yourself, and the class.

•         Assignments of various types, with something due every week or two.

•         Each homework, lecture review, or survey will be due on a Thursday afternoon by 4:00 PM, so I can return them (graded) the following Monday in class.

 

Grading: Because of the straightforward nature of all of the assignments, grades will be calculated on the following grade scale:

Grade Percentage

A         90–100%

A−       87–89%

B+       84–86%

B         80–83%

B−       77–79%

C+       74–76%

C         70–73%

D         60–69%

F          < 60.0%

 

Extra credit: There are optional assignments, exercises, or projects that you can turn in for extra credit points, as follows:

•         SPS Involvement - 5 pts: You can assist with any SPS-sponsored event (including any outreach or other educational activity) and hand in a piece of paper signed by an SPS officer indicating that you helped.

•         Spring Career and Intern Expo - 5 pts: You can go to the Spring Career Fair and if you bring back any artifact that proves you were there, attach it to a paper with your name written on it and turn in. This is to encourage you to attend that event early in your undergraduate career.

 

Final Exam: The final exam will consist of the final evaluative survey.

 

Assignments: Your grade will be determined from a total of 200 points distributed in the following manner.

•         Surveys - 30 pts total: S-I for Initial, and S-F for Final, worth 15 points each. There are no right/wrong answers, and full credit will be given for a completed survey.  – These are designed to ask you to reflect on your transition, both academic and otherwise to university life.

•         Attendance - 70 pts total: Five points for each of 14 class meetings.

–        At each class meeting, I will pass out a half-minute paper form where you will be asked to write down your name and the date, as well as a 2-sentence description of the most important topic/concept you heard that day. You will hand that in as you leave, and I will use those to check attendance each week.

–        Because of the MLK Day Holiday, there are only 14 official class meetings during the Spring semester.

•         Student Research Symposium Project - 10 pts total:

•         Lecture Reviews - 60 pts total: Four write-ups of a recent in-class presentation, worth 15 points each. After every third (or fourth) class presentation, you should select one talk from the most recent set of 3-4 and write up a brief (one-page, single-spaced) review of the main topics covered in the talk you have selected.

–        Your review should be at the level of an educated lay-person, as if you were writing for a newspaper or popular science magazine.

–        You should also come up with two questions about the material presented and add them at the end of your review.

–        You need not actually answer these questions, but it should be clear from them that you have thought about the implications of what was presented in lecture/presentation. The Lecture Reviews will be graded on the thoroughness of the note taking, your ability to assimilate what was said (as exemplified in your review), and by the thoughtfulness and quality of the two follow-up questions.

•         Homework assignments 30 pts total:

–        At each class meeting, I will pass out a half-minute paper form where you will be asked to write down your name and the date, as well as a 2-sentence description of the most important topic/concept you heard that day. You will hand that in as you leave, and I will use those to check attendance each week.

–        Three assignments (numbered HW 1-3) worth 10 pts each. Each of these projects will cover various aspects of academic life at TCU, scientific literacy or information gathering, career information, and related topics. Those projects should be word-processed to the extent possible, with any additional material attached.

 

Academic Misconduct: I would like to remind you about policies and procedures regarding your rights as well as responsibilities that are published in the TCU Code of Student Conduct. You may have a paper copy but it is also available on line at https://tcu.codes. Specifically I would like you to review sections dealing with academic misconduct, i.e. cheating, plagiarism, etc.

 

Disabilities statement: Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities.  Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Student Disabilities Services in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11.  Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.

 

Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the academic term for which they are seeking accommodations.  Each eligible student is responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable, professional documentation and/or assessment reports to the Coordinator.  Guidelines for documentation may be found at http://www.acs.tcu.edu/disability_documentation.asp.

 

Students with emergency medical information or needing special arrangements in case a building must be evacuated should discuss this information with their instructor/professor as soon as possible.