OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS. I. Rationale EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

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1 EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS Use this outline to prepare proposals to revise existing programs, including undergraduate majors and minors and graduate degree programs and certificates. Proposals for revising programs should be submitted in narrative form, using the following outline. Guidelines are on the following page. PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE: PHYSICS (PHY) REVISED PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE (IF APPLICABLE): DEGREE: PHYSICS DEPARTMENT(S)/SCHOOL(S): PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY COLLEGE(S): ART AND SCIENCES CONTACT PERSON: ERNIE BEHRINGER CONTACT PHONE: (734) CONTACT REQUESTED START DATE: TERM FALL YEAR 2016 I. Rationale The practice of physics has evolved over the past few decades to make much greater use of computation, to the extent that one can now speak of experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to constructing physics knowledge. Additionally, the Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics reports that programming, together with simulation and modeling are skills that a significant fraction of physics Bachelor s recipients will use in their initial employment. Finally, the American Association of Physics Teachers recently issued a statement on computational physics that urges departments of physics and astronomy to provide majors with appropriate instruction in computational physics. Consequently, it is necessary to change our programs to provide appropriate computational instruction, in context, to enable students to build, analyze, and communicate computational models of physical systems. We therefore propose to replace the currently required course COSC 111 Introduction to Programming (3 credit hours) with PHY 380 Introduction to Computational Physics (3 credit hours) and add a new course, PHY 280 Foundations of Scientific Computing (1 credit hour). For Physics (PHY) majors, PHY 280 will be required for PHY380 so that they obtain necessary preparation in advance of PHY 380, which will be a prerequisite for PHY 420W Capstone Project. The computational skills learned in PHY 280 and PHY 380 will enable more effective learning and greater access to richer and more complex problems in upper level courses.

2 II. Description of Current Program The current physics program consists of the following courses: Required Courses (29 credit hours): 5 PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound 5 PHY 224 Electricity and Light 3 PHY 330 Intermediate Mechanics 1 PHY 332 Mechanics Lab 3 PHY 350 Electricity and Magnetism I 4 PHY 360 Heat and Thermodynamics 3 PHY 370 Modern Physics 1 PHY 372 Modern Physics Lab 1 PHY 406 Ethical Issues in Physics 3 PHY 420W Capstone Project (GEWI) Restricted Electives (2 4 credit hours): One laboratory course from the following: 4 PHY 436 Vibrations and Sound 4 PHY 442 Optics and Optics Laboratory 2 PHY 444 Applied Optics 4 PHY 456 Electronics for Scientists Elective Courses (0 2 credit hours): Only physics or astronomy undergraduate courses numbered greater than 299 can be used as electives on this major, excluding ASTR 311, PHY 311, PHY 312, and PHY 325 which cannot be used on this major. Additional Requirements (18 credit hours): 3 COSC 111 Introduction to Programming 4 MATH 120 Calculus I 4 MATH 121 Calculus II 3 MATH 122 Elementary Linear Algebra 4 MATH 223 Multivariable Calculus

3 III. Proposed Revision The proposed revision to the Physics (PHY) program is to replace the currently required course COSC 111 Introduction to Programming (3 credit hours) with PHY 380 Computational Physics (3 credit hours), and add a new course, PHY 280 Foundations of Scientific Computing (1 credit hour). PHY 280 will be co-requisite with PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound so that majors obtain necessary preparation in advance of PHY 380, which will be prerequisite for PHY 350 Electricity and Magnetism I and PHY 420W Capstone Project. The proposed revision is given in tabular form below, and changes are highlighted in green. Required Courses (34 credit hours): 5 PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound 5 PHY 224 Electricity and Light 1 PHY 280 Foundations of Scientific Computing 4 PHY 330 Intermediate Mechanics 1 PHY 332 Mechanics Lab 3 PHY 350 Electricity and Magnetism I 4 PHY 360 Heat and Thermodynamics 3 PHY 370 Modern Physics 1 PHY 372 Modern Physics Lab 3 PHY 380 Introduction to Computational Physics 1 PHY 406 Ethical Issues in Physics 3 PHY 420W Capstone Project (GEWI) Restricted Electives (2 4 credit hours): One laboratory course from the following: 4 PHY 436 Vibrations and Sound 4 PHY 442 Optics and Optics Laboratory 2 PHY 444 Applied Optics 4 PHY 456 Electronics for Scientists Elective Courses (0 2 credit hours): Only physics or astronomy undergraduate courses numbered greater than 299 can be used as electives on this major, excluding ASTR 311, PHY 311, PHY 312, and PHY 325 which cannot be used on this major.

4 Additional Requirements (15 credit hours): 4 MATH 120 Calculus I 4 MATH 121 Calculus II 3 MATH 122 Elementary Linear Algebra 4 MATH 223 Multivariable Calculus IV. Impact There may be a tiny impact on the Department of Computer Science because the number of credit hours in COSC 111 Introduction to Programming could decline because approximately ten physics majors (of any kind) each year would no longer take COSC 111. This is counterbalanced by a positive impact on Physics majors, who will learn computational physics thinking skills in context in PHY 280 and PHY 380. We do not need extra faculty to teach these courses because faculty members Pawlowski, Paradis, and Behringer are capable of teaching these courses. V. Budget No additional costs are anticipated. VI. Action of the Department/College 1. Department/School: Vote of faculty: For 9 Against 0 Abstentions 0 (Enter the number of votes cast in each category.) I support this proposal. The proposed revision can x cannot be implemented within the affected Department(s)/School(s) without additional College or University resources. 2. College/Graduate School: A. College Department Head/School Director Signature 3/10/16

5 I support this proposal. The proposed program can be implemented within the affected College without additional University resources. cannot College Dean Signature B. Graduate School (Graduate Program Revisions ONLY) Graduate Dean Signature VII. Approval Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature VIII. Appendices A. Market Analysis/Needs Assessment B. Mandates C. Request for New/Revised Course Forms D. Letters of Support from Impacted Departments E. Cost Analysis (Complete only if the revision cannot be implemented without additional University resources. Fill in Estimated Resources for the sponsoring department(s). Attach separate estimates for other affected departments.) Estimated Resources: Year One Year Two Year Three Faculty / Staff $ $ $ SS&M $ $ $ Equipment $ $ $ Total $ $ $