Physics
Student Learning Outcomes
May 15, 2001
1) At
graduation, Physics majors should have a thorough knowledge and comprehension of the core
concepts of classical and modern physics.
2) At graduation, physics majors
should have a set of fundamental skills that can be applied to a variety of situations.
These skills should include the following:
a) Presentation skills.
Physics majors should be able to express (orally and in writing) their understanding of
core physical principles, the results of experiments, and their analysis of physical
problems.
b) Laboratory skills. Physics
majors should be competent experimentalists. They should be able to design and set up an
experiment, collect and analyze data, identify sources of error, and interpret their
result and connect it to related areas of physics.
c) Computer skills. Physics
majors should be competent users of basic software, such as word processing, spreadsheet,
and graphing programs. They should also have an understanding of the fundamental aspects
of a programming and/or computer algebra language (Fortran, C++, Mathematica, etc.).
d) Problem-solving skills.
Physics majors should be competent problem-solvers. They should be able to identify the
essential aspects of a problem and formulate a strategy for solving the problem. They
should be able to estimate the solution to a problem, apply appropriate techniques to
arrive at a solution, test the correctness of their solution, interpret their result and
connect it to related areas of physics.
3) Physics majors should be
adequately trained to apply their physics experience and knowledge to analyze new
situations.
4) All physics students (majors,
minors, support, and Gen Ed students) should understand the nature of science, as assessed
by questionnaires, interviews, and student focus groups.
5) General Education students should
understand several core concepts of physics.
6) Physics Teaching majors and
Elementary Teaching majors should have an appropriate knowledge of physics and a variety
of teaching strategies to accommodate the multiple learning styles of their students.
Mission Statement
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Results of Assessment
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