Course Outcomes
Physics Department Goals
1. The goal of the physics department is to provide quality required courses for programs.
2. After taking a course in the physics department, students should be able to…
Demonstrate their knowledge of the basic scientific principles and fundamental concepts and skills of the field
Solve problems utilizing scientific reasoning, quantitative methods, and acquired knowledge and skills
Communicate scientific ideas clearly and effectively
Physics Course Goals
Astronomy 1000 – Highlights of Astronomy
Students will be able to…
Explain astronomical phenomena
Explain how astronomers arrive at their understanding of astronomical phenomena
Explain how astronomers confirm their theories of astronomical phenomena
Astronomy 1010 – The Solar System
Students will be able to…
Explain astronomical phenomena
Explain the contributions made to astronomy by important historical figures
Explain how astronomers arrive at their understanding of astronomical phenomena
Explain how astronomers confirm their theories of astronomical phenomena
Explain basic principles of planetary science as applied to selected solar system objects
Astronomy 1020 – The Stellar System
Students will be able to…
Explain astronomical phenomena
Explain how astronomers arrive at their understanding of astronomical phenomena
Explain how astronomers confirm their theories of astronomical phenomena
Explain how astronomers utilize the electromagnetic spectrum to ascertain properties of objects outside the solar system
Describe basic properties and features of our sun, including nuclear energy generation, the sun’s structure, and the solar cycle
Describe the life-cycle of a star
Describe the nature and evolution of galaxies
Describe the history of the universe
Geology 1010– Physical Geology
Students will be able to…
Think critically about fundamental concepts in geology
Predict the geology of an area based on the plate tectonic setting
Explain people’s influence on Earth and Earth’s influence on people
Communicate geologic concepts effectively
Geology 1020– The Earth Through Time
Students will be able to…
Think critically about fundamental concepts in the geologic history of Earth
Evaluate how Earth and life on Earth have changed over time
Communicate geologic concepts effectively
Geology 1030– Natural Disasters
Students will be able to…
Think critically about fundamental concepts of natural hazards and disasters
Evaluate the causes of natural disasters
Apply knowledge about Earth to what is seen in everyday lives
Oceanography 1010– Intro to Oceanography
Students will be able to…
Think critically about fundamental concepts in oceanography
Assess people’s influence on the oceans
Predict and explain what types of life are present in different ocean habitats
Oceanography 1030–Oceanography Lab
Students will be able to…
Explain oceanographic concepts through data collection, analysis, and interpretation
Interpret and create graphs and maps
Interpret and manipulate numeric data
Physics 1000 – Physical Science
Students will be able to…
Construct an understanding of the topics taught
Analyze and qualitatively describe the concepts and principles learned in class
Physics 1030 – General Physics
Students will be able to…
reason in an organized manner and apply their reasoning to systematically solve physics problems
make measurements using laboratory equipment and perform calculations that verify physical principles
explain how physical principles apply in given situations
Physics 1040 – General Physics II
Students will be able to…
reason in an organized manner and apply their reasoning to systematically solve physics problems
make measurements using laboratory equipment and perform calculations that verify physical principles
explain how physical principles apply in given situations
Physics 1100 – Engineering Physics
Students will be able to…
reason in an organized manner and apply their reasoning to systematically solve physics problems
make measurements using laboratory equipment and perform calculations that verify physical principles
explain how physical principles apply in given situations
Physics 1110 – Radiographic Physics
Students will be able to…
Explain elementary physical principles of force, energy, electricity, magnetism, and electronics used as a foundation for circuit theory
Analyze a simplified circuit of an xray machine by explaining what each component is, what it does, its principle of operation, and its role in the xray circuit
Explain the atomic processes involved in the production of xrays within an xray tube
Physics 2110 – Topics in Acoustics, Optics and Thermodynamics
Students will be able to…
Analyze the behavior of idealized systems by applying the basic physical concepts and principles
Describe concepts in the acoustic, optic, and thermodynamic branches of physics
Make calculations of simple systems using concepts learned in class
Physics 2111 – Introduction to Acoustics and Optics Laboratory
Students will be able to…
Analyze the behavior of idealized systems by applying the basic physical concepts and principles
Describe concepts in the acoustic, optic, and thermodynamic branches of physics
Make calculations of simple systems using concepts learned in class
Physics 2820 – Modern Physics I
Students will be able to…
Apply principles of modern physics to the practical world
Connect physical concepts, principals, and laws to engineering problems
Connect abstract laws with concrete objects and phenomena
