Apr 19, 2024

2019-2020 Catalog

2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Lower Division Courses numbered 1–99 are designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores but are open to all students for lower division credit. (Graduate students requesting to enroll in lower-division undergraduate courses will not receive unit credit nor will the course fulfill degree requirements.) Upper Division Courses courses numbered 100–199 are open to all students who have met the necessary prerequisites as indicated in the catalog course description. Preparation should generally include completion of one lower division course in the given subject or completion of two years of college work.

GRADUATE COURSES

Courses numbered 200–299 are open to graduate students. (Undergraduate students must obtain the signature of the instructor, School Dean, and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Graduate level units will count towards the required 120 units for graduation; however students are urged to meet with their academic advisor in order to determine if graduate course units may be used to fulfill a graduation requirement.)

CROSS-LISTED/CONJOINED COURSES

Cross-listed Courses are the same course offered under different course subjects at the same level (either undergraduate or graduate) that share the same meeting time, requirements, units, etc. Conjoined Courses are the same course but one is undergraduate and one is graduate.

COREQUISITE COURSE

A corequisite course is a course that must be taken at the same time as another course.

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisites for courses should be followed carefully; the responsibility for meeting these requirements rests on the student. If you can demonstrate that your preparation is equivalent to that specified by the prerequisites, the instructor may waive these requirements for you. The instructor also may request that a student who has not completed the prerequisites be dropped from the course. If the prerequisite for a course is not satisfied, students must obtain the approval of the instructor (or school designee) of the course they wish to take.

For all undergraduate courses a “C-” or better grade is required for a course to be used as a prerequisite for another course. If a course was taken for a “P/NP” grade then a “P” grade is required.

For all graduate courses a “B” or better grade is required for a course to be used as a prerequisite for another course. If a course was taken for a “S/U” grade then a “S” grade is required.

WORLD LANGUAGES

No credit is allowed for completing a less advanced course after successful completion (C-or better) of a more advanced course in the world languages. This applies only to lower division world language courses, not upper division courses.

GRADING OPTIONS

Unless otherwise stated in the course description, each course is letter graded with a P/NP or S/U option (unless required for your major or graduate program). The policy regarding Grading Options , can be found in an alternate section of the catalog.

More information about Course Substitutions and Course Materials and Services Fees can be found in alternate areas of the catalog.

Course Filter
Filter this list of courses using course prefix, course code, keywords or any combination.
Prefix:	Code or Number:	Keyword or Phrase:
Choose Course Prefix	Choose Course Number	Choose Keyword
Find whole word or phrase only.


Physics
	PHYS 006: The Cosmos, Science and You Units: 4 Introduction to physics and astronomy for non science and engineering majors. Topics include: Scientific method as illustrated by astronomical discoveries about the Cosmos; and the concepts of matter and energy; and the formation of the Universe, galaxies, stars and the Solar System. Throughout the course our physical connection and dependence the Cosmos are illustrated using new discoveries in astrophysics, astrochemistry and astrobiology. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Badge: Scientific Method Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences Units: 4 Introduction to classical and contemporary physics. Intended for students with preparation in calculus and algebra. Topics include introduction to forces, kinetics, equilibria, fluids, waves, and heat. Experiments and computer exercises are integrated into the course content. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion and Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 021 or equivalent exam Cannot also be taken due to similarity of content: PHYS 008H, PHYS 018 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 008H: Honors Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences Units: 4 A mathematically intense introduction to classical mechanics designed for majors and other highly motivated students. Utilizing differential and integral calculus, topics include forces, kinetics, energy, momentum, gravity, rotations, waves, and fluids. Advanced coursework in all areas (i.e. homework, etc.) prepares students for success in upper-division physics courses. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion and Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 021 or equivalent exam Cannot also be taken due to similarity of content: PHYS 008, PHYS 018 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 009: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences Units: 4 Continuation of introduction to classical and contemporary physics. Topics include introduction to electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, and modern physics. Experiments and computer exercises are integrated into the course content. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion and Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 or equivalent exam and MATH 021 or equivalent exam) or (MATH 011 with B or better or equivalent exam and PHYS 018 or equivalent exam) Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 022 or equivalent exam Cannot also be taken due to similarity of content: PHYS 009H, PHYS 019 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 009H: Honors Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences Units: 4 A mathematically intense introduction to classical electromagnetism for students who are motivated to learn physics at an advanced level. Utilizing calculus, topics include electrostatics, magnetism, AC and DC circuits, electromagnetism, and optics. Advanced coursework prepares students for advanced study in physical science and engineering courses. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion and Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (MATH 021 with B or better or equivalent exam) and (PHYS 008 with A- or better or PHYS 008H with B or better or equivalent exam) Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 022 or equivalent exam Cannot also be taken due to similarity of content: PHYS 009, PHYS 019 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 010: Introductory Physics III Units: 4 An introduction to developments in modern physics over the last 100 years that have radically altered our view of nature. Particular emphasis is placed on the quantum theory, with applications to atoms, molecules, solids, and light. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 or equivalent exam Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 024 and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H or PHYS 019) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 012: Light, Color, and Vision Units: 4 Introduction to the physics, chemistry, and biology of light and vision for nonscientists. Covers basic optics, optical instruments, photography, light and color in nature, human and animal vision, visual perception and optical illusions, and aspects of modern technology including fiber optics and lasers. Includes classroom demonstrations and out-of-class observational exercises. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences Units: 4 First introductory physics course for biological science majors. Topics include vectors, kinematics, Newton’s Laws, Work, Energy and Conservation, Torque and rotation, Fluids and Elasticity, Oscillations and Waves all with an emphasis on biological applications. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion and Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 011 or MATH 021 or equivalent exam Cannot also be taken due to similarity of content: PHYS 008, PHYS 008H Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences Units: 4 The physical principles of electromagnetism and thermodynamics are introduced, examined, and discussed in the context of biological applications. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion and Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (MATH 011 or MATH 021 or equivalent exam) and (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 or equivalent exam) Concurrent Prerequisites: MATH 012 or MATH 022 or equivalent exam Cannot also be taken due to similarity of content: PHYS 009, PHYS 009H Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 090X: Freshman Seminar Units: 1 Examination of a topic in physics. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 5 Supervised research Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 5 Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Pass/No Pass only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 099: Lower Division Individual Study Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 5 Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Pass/No Pass only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 104: Biophysics Units: 4 Provides students an understanding of relevant physical principles for biological systems, introduce them to experimental and theoretical techniques of biophysics and to communicate the excitement of cutting-edge biophysics research. Topics include diffusion, fluids, entropic forces, motor proteins, enzymes, nerve impulses, networks and evolution. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: BIO 104 Conjoined with: PHYS 204 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Scientific Method Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 or equivalent exam) and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H or PHYS 019) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 105: Analytic Mechanics Core Units: 4 Rigorous, mathematical foundation in classical mechanics. Topics include Newtonian mechanics; motion of particles in one, two and three dimensions; central force motion; moving coordinate systems; mechanics of continuous media; oscillations; normal modes; Lagrange’s equations; and Hamiltonian methods. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 or equivalent exam) and (MATH 022 or equivalent exam) Concurrent Prerequisites: (MATH 023 or MATH 023H) and MATH 024 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 108: Thermal Physics Core Units: 4 Aims to give students a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of thermal physics. Topics include probability, ensembles, equilibrium, entropy, laws of thermodynamics, heat engines, magnetism, chemical equilibria and quantum statistics. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H or PHYS 019 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 109: Soft Matter Physics Units: 3 An introduction to the physics of soft materials designed for upper level undergraduate students in physics. In this course we will use a physics based approach to study the structure and assembly of a variety materials including liquid crystals, polymers, colloidal systems and surfactants including biological examples. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 209 Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 108 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 110: Electrodynamics Core Units: 4 Intermediate Electrodynamics. Topics covered include vector calculus including divergence, curl and vector field theorems; Electrostatics including field, potential, work and energy; Laplace’s equation including solutions in different geometries, separating variables, method of images and multipole expansions; Electrostatics in media including polarization and dielectrics (linear/nonlinear); Magnetostatics including the Biot-Savart Law, Ampere’s Law and vector potentials; Magnetic fields in matter including magnetization, linear and non-linear media; and Electrodynamics including EMF, induction and Maxwell’s equations as well as conservation of charge, energy, and momentum in EM fields. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H) and (MATH 023 or MATH 023H) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 112: Statistical Mechanics Units: 4 Covers the fundamental concepts of statistical mechanics, which form the microscopic basis for thermodynamics. Topics include applications to macroscopic systems, condensed states, phase transformations, quantum distributions, elementary kinetic theory of transport processes, and fluctuation phenomena. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 108 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 115: Electrodynamics Core II Waves and Dynamic Electromagnetic Fields Units: 4 Waves and advanced electromagnetic fields, including radiation and special relativity. General discussion of waves and vibrations. Review of Maxwell’s equations and discussion on conserved quantities in electromagnetic fields. Electromagnetic waves, potential formulations, radiation from moving charges, and special relativity. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 110 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 116: Mathematical Methods Units: 4 Essential mathematical methods for physicists, with an emphasis on Linear Algebra, Partial Differential Equation, and Fourier Transform. The subjects covered in this course are the standard tools for quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, and electrodynamics. This Course Satisfies the Physics Programmatic Learning Outcomes #2: Mathematical Expertise. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (MATH 023 or MATH 023H) and MATH 024 and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 120: Physics of Materials Units: 4 Electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of solids. Free electron model, introduction to band theory. Crystal structures and lattice vibrations. Mechanisms and characterization of electrical conductivity, optical absorption, magnetic behavior, dielectric properties, and p-n junctions. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H ) and CHEM 112 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 126: Special Relativity Minicourse Units: 2 Introduces the exciting and thought-provoking physics of special relativity through a half-semester minicourse. Topics include hallmark experiments; Lorentz transformations; time dilation and length contraction; relativistic optics; tensor techniques; mass, energy, and momentum; relativistic mechanics; and relativistic electricity and magnetism. Course Details Anticipated term(s) course will be offered: Spring Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H or PHYS 019 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 137: Quantum Mechanics Core Units: 4 Fundamentals of quantum mechanics, which forms the foundation of our modern understanding of matter at the atomic and molecular level. Topics include the Schroedinger equation, Hilbert spaces, the operator formalism, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, tunneling, perturbation and WKB theory, fermions, and bosons. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 010 and (MATH 023 or MATH 023H) and MATH 024 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 138: Quantum Mechanics II Core Units: 2 Applies quantum mechanics to solve problems in atomic physics. Includes two parts: (1) the study of perturbative techniques, variational principle and adiabatic approximation, all of which are widely used in modern physics; (2) the study of the quantum theory of angular momentum. Course Details Anticipated term(s) course will be offered: Spring Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 137 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 141: Condensed Matter Physics Units: 4 An introduction to the physics of materials designed for upper-level undergraduate students in physics, chemistry, or materials science and engineering. The course will cover traditional solid-state physics and examine the relationship between microscopic structure and bulk properties in different materials. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 241 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 010 or CHEM 112 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 144: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Units: 4 Discusses modern topics in the so-called Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics. The interaction of atoms with radiation, laser cooling and trapping, Bose-Einstein condensation, atomic interferometry, ion traps, and quantum computing. An advanced physics course that is closely connected to ongoing research. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 244 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 137 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 148: Modern Optics Units: 4 Discusses light from the electromagnetic and geometrical perspectives. Students will learn about reflection and refraction, revisit and then expand upon geometrical optics, gain a deeper understanding of interference, and learn about polarization. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H) and (MATH 023 or MATH 023H) and MATH 024 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 150: Energy Sources Units: 3 Fossil energy resources, nuclear energy, solar energy, and other renewable energy sources (wind, hydro, geothermal.) Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or MATH 022 or equivalent exam) and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 151: Topics in Solar Energy Physics Units: 3 The physics of solar energy production and utilization. Specific topics may be emphasized according to instructor, including: the solar energy resource, modeling and simulation, thermal and photovoltaic collectors, solar energy systems, nonimaging optics, and special applications (solar lasers, material processing, etc.). Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: ME 260 Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (MATH 022 or equivalent exam) and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 159: Particle Physics Units: 4 Tools of particle and nuclear physics. Properties, classification, and interactions of particles including the quark-gluon constituents of hadrons. High-energy phenomena analyzed by quantum mechanical methods. Quantum number determination of resonances, hadron structure functions, introductory electroweak theory with dirac matrices, Standard Model (overview), grand unified theories. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 137 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 160: Modern Physics Lab Units: 4 Provides a rigorous foundation in physics laboratory techniques, with an emphasis on hands-on laboratory training. The nature of the experiments available to students cover a range of modern topics, from nonlinear dynamics and chaos through nonlinear optics and spectroscopy. Emphasis is placed on error estimation, data analysis, and interpretation. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 010 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 161: Astrophysics and Cosmology Units: 3 Elements of general relativity. Physics of pulsars, cosmic rays, black holes. The cosmological distance scale, elementary cosmological models, properties of galaxies and quasars. The mass density and age of the universe. Evidence for dark matter and concepts of the early universe and of galaxy formation. Reflections on astrophysics as a probe of the extrema of physics. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (MATH 022 or equivalent exam) and (PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H) Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 172: Quantum Information Science Units: 4 The course covers: 1) basic concepts in quantum information and quantum computation, (2) physical systems for implementation of quantum bits and logic gates, in particular, solid-state and AMO systems, and (3) quantum information and its connections to many-body physics including quantum simulation. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 137 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 180: Nonlinear Dynamics Units: 4 Most processes encountered in nature are inherently nonlinear. This course introduces the main topics of low-dimensional nonlinear systems, with applications to a wide variety of disciplines, including physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Specific topics include maps and flows in one and two dimensions, phase portraits, bifurcations, chaos, and fractals. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 280 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H or PHYS 018 or equivalent exam) and (MATH 023 or MATH 023H) and MATH 024 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 192: Special Topics in Physics Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 4 Treatment of a special topic or theme in Physics. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: 6 Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 009 or PHYS 009H or PHYS 019 Instructor Permission Required: No Course may be repeated for credit in different subject area View course scheduling information
	PHYS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 5 Supervised research. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option GE Requirements Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Badge: Ethics Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 196: Undergraduate Thesis Units: 2 Gives upper-division undergraduate Physics majors further opportunity to engage in laboratory, field, theoretical, and/or computational research under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. The seminar portion of this course supports students in writing and orally presenting their senior thesis. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade only GE Requirements Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline Upper Division: Culminating Experience Approaches to Knowledge: Natural Science Badge: Scientific Method Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge Badge: Ethics Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 195 Open only to following major/minor(s): Physics (Undergraduate) - PHYS Open only to the following class level(s): Junior Senior Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 5 Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Pass/No Pass only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 199: Upper Division Individual Study Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 5 Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Pass/No Pass only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 201: Teaching and Learning in the Sciences Units: 1 An introduction to ‘scientific teaching’ - an approach to teaching science that uses many of the same skills applied in research. Topics will include how people learn, active learning, designing, organizing and facilitating teachable units, classroom management, diversity in the classroom and assessment design. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: MATH 201 Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 204: Biophysics Units: 4 Provides an understanding of relevant physical principles for biological systems, introduce them to experimental and theoretical techniques of biophysics and to communicate the excitement of cutting-edge biophysics research. Topics include diffusion, fluids, entropic force, motor proteins, enzymes, nerve impulses, networks and evolution. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: BIO 104, PHYS 104 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 205: Classical Mechanics Units: 4 Topics in classical mechanics, including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, Conservation Laws and Symmetry and the relationship, Calculus of variations and variational principle, Euler angles and rigid body dynamics, Oscillations and normal modes. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 209: Soft Matter Physics Units: 3 Introduction to the physics of soft materials designed for graduate students in physics. Uses a physics based approach to study the structure and assembly of a variety of materials including liquid crystals, polymers, colloidal systems and surfactants including biological examples. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 109 Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 210: Electrodynamics and Optics I Units: 4 Introduction to electrodynamics. Electrostatics including Poisson and Laplace Equations, Green’s Theorem and different Boundary Value Problems, Polarizibility, Susceptibility and dielectric media. Magnetostatics, Maxwell’s equations, Plane Electromagnetic Waves, Polarization of light, Electromagnetic radiation in different media. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 211: Electrodynamics and Optics II Units: 4 Continuation of electrodynamics. Wave guides and resonant cavities, Multipole radiation, Relativistic charged particles in electromagnetic fields, Collisions between charged particles and radiation from moving charges with relativistic corrections, introductory magnetohydrodynamics. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 210 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 212: Statistical Mechanics Units: 4 Topics include: General principles of statistical mechanics including microcanonical, macrocanonical and grand canonical ensembles, fluctuations and equilibrium. Thermodynamics including Legendre transforms and Maxwell relations, fluctuations and stability and Landau theory. Quantum statistical mechanics including Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 230: Computation and Modeling for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology Units: 3 Covers cutting-edge applications of computation and modeling tools to problems in biophysical sciences, biomaterials and biotechnology. Team of students will undertake open research projects utilizing tools and languages such as R, Python and C/C++ to address questions ranging from epidemic spreading to protein design. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: BEST 230 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No Completion of the NSF-CREST CCBM IB3 Summer Training Module in Computation and Modeling is strongly recommended. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 231: Imaging and Spectroscopy for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology Units: 3 Covers cutting-edge applications of imaging and spectroscopy tools to problems in biophysical sciences, biomaterials and biotechnology. Teams of students will undertake open research projects utilizing tools such as protein expression and purification, single molecule, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy to understand the structure and dynamics of biomolecules. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: BEST 231, BIOE 231 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No Completion of the NSF-CREST CCBM IB3 Summer Training Module in Computation and Modeling is strongly recommended. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 232: Bio and Nano Fabrication for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology Units: 3 Covers cutting-edge applications of fabrication tools to problems in biophysical sciences, biomaterials and biotechnology. Teams of students will undertake open research projects utilizing tools such as lithography, electrospinning, cell culture and confocal microscopy to explore cellular and multicellular systems. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: BEST 232, BIOE 232 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No Completion of the NSF-CREST CCBM IB3 Summer Training Module in Nano Biofabrication is strongly recommended. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 237: Quantum Mechanics I Units: 4 Introductory Quantum Mechanics starting with simple Quantum two-state systems and one-dimensional problems, Uncertainty relations, Solution of Schrodinger’s equation for important two and three dimensional physical situations, Angular momentum, identical particles and spin statistics. Hydrogen and multi-electron atoms. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 238: Quantum Mechanics II Units: 4 Perturbation methods, both stationary and time-dependent, Scattering, interaction with electromagnetic fields, Stark effect, Measurement theory and decoherence, Quantum Hall effect. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 237 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 241: Condensed Matter Physics Units: 4 This course is an introduction to the physics of materials designed for graduate students in physics or chemistry. The course will cover traditional solid-state physics and examine the relationship between microscopic structure and bulk properties in different materials. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 141 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No Students should have taken classes in electrodynamics, thermal physics and introductory quantum mechanics. Intended for students who have not taken a course in solid-state physics. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 242: Advanced Condensed Matter Physics Units: 4 Topics include elementary excitations and quasiparticles, bandstructure of electrons and photons, optical and dielectric properties, symmetry and group theory for solids, simulation techniques for electronic structure, and electrical and thermal transport. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 241 with B or better Instructor Permission Required: No Students should have taken classes in electrodynamics, thermal physics, quantum mechanics, and introductory solid-state physics. View course scheduling information
	PHYS 243: Interdisciplinary Computational Graduate Education Units: 1 Focuses on teaching first-year graduate students from a variety of graduate programs skills in computational methods, programming languages, team science, project development, problem solving, social networking, and career preparation. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: CHEM 243, COGS 243, EECS 243, MATH 243, ME 243, PSY 243, QSB 243 Laboratory included Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 244: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Units: 4 Covers modern topics in the atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics. The interaction of atoms with radiation, laser cooling and trapping, Bose-Einstein condensation, atom interferometry, and ion trap quantum computing. Quantitative understanding of the physics effects is required for graduate students. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 144 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 248: Quantum Optics Units: 3 Covers the quantum nature of light, atom-light interaction and experimental quantum optics. It will provide a basis for research in the field of quantum optics. Fundamental concepts and techniques will be linked to modern experimental research. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 249: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory Units: 4 An introduction to quantum field theory with a special emphasis on quantum electrodynamics (QED). Topics include canonical quantization of scalar fields, electromagnetic fields, perturbation theory and renormalization methods among others. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: PHYS 238 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 251: Introduction to Graduate Research Units: 1 A survey of research in the physics graduate group, designed for first-year graduate students to broaden perspectives on physics research and help in choosing an advisor. Faculty will present seminars on basic ideas and challenges in their subfield, research in their group, and opportunities for new students. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Open only to following major/minor(s): Physics (Graduate)-PHYI Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 270: Academic Writing in Graduate Studies Units: 3 Designed to increase the writing proficiency of graduate students, with a focus on strategies for reading critically, organizing and developing thoughts, choosing appropriate vocabulary, and generating and revising writing in a given scientific field. Topics address scientific disciplines. Projects may include writing abstracts, research reports, literature reviews, posters, and grant proposals. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: CHEM 270, MATH 270, QSB 270 Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option Requisites and Restrictions Open only to following major/minor(s): Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Graduate) - CCB Physics (Graduate) - PHYI Quantitative & Systems Biology (Graduate) - QSB Applied Mathematics (Graduate) - AMAT Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 280: Nonlinear Dynamics Units: 4 Most processes encountered in nature are inherently nonlinear. This course introduces the main topics of low-dimensional nonlinear systems, with applications to a wide variety of disciplines, including physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Specific topics include maps and flows in one and two dimensions, phase portraits, bifurcations, chaos, and fractals. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Conjoined with: PHYS 180 Discussion included Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H) and MATH 023 and MATH 024 Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 285: Seminar: Nanomaterials for Space Exploration Units: 1 Designed for students in materials engineering, physics, and chemistry. Intended to expose students to various nanomaterial-based devices, foster students’ critical thinking in postulating feasible approaches, and develop students’ communication and presentation skills. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Crosslisted with: BEST 285, CHEM 285, ME 285 Normal Letter Grade only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 290: Current Topics in Physics and Chemistry Units: 3 Exploration of current research directions, problems, and techniques in molecular and materials chemistry, physics and engineering. Course format emphasizes student-led presentation, analysis, and discussion of reading assignments from the current and recent scientific literature. Topics determined by the instructor and changes each semester. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 291: Physics and Chemistry Seminar Units: 1 Graduate seminar on current research in molecular and materials chemistry, physics, and engineering. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Crosslisted with: CHEM 291 Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 292: Special Topics in Physics Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 4 Treatment of a special topic or theme in Physics at the graduate level. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Discussion included Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No Course may be repeated for credit in different subject area View course scheduling information
	Syllabus PHYS 293: Physics Colloquium Units: 1 This is a colloquium series with talks on a wide range of research topics in Physics. Speakers for the colloquia are primarily invited researchers from other Institutions. Some of the seminars additionally showcase the research performed by UC Merced Physics faculty, post doctoral researchers and graduate students. This is a forum to introduce the undergraduate and graduate students to cutting edge research in Physics conducted on-site and elsewhere, and to give them an opportunity to meet researchers and faculty from other Universities/Research Institutions. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: 6 Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information
	PHYS 295: Graduate Research Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 15 Supervised research. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 298: Directed Group Study Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 12 Group project under faculty supervision. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 299: Directed Independent Study Lower Unit Limit: 1 Upper Unit Limit: 12 Independent project under faculty supervision. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: Yes Repeat Limit: Unlimited Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: Yes View course scheduling information
	PHYS 399: University Teaching Units: 1 PHYS 399 is the counterpart to PHYS 201 , which focuses on the theory of teaching and learning. The goals of PHYS 399 are to implement and practice select elements of the Scientific Teaching approach to instruction and to identify teaching challenges and use the foundation from PHYS 201 to seek solutions. Course Details Repeatable for Credit: No Laboratory included Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only Requisites and Restrictions Instructor Permission Required: No View course scheduling information

Contract All Courses | Print this page.

Print this Page

Additional Links

Academics

Administration

University of California, Merced

Course Descriptions

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

GRADUATE COURSES

CROSS-LISTED/CONJOINED COURSES

COREQUISITE COURSE

PREREQUISITES

WORLD LANGUAGES

GRADING OPTIONS

PHYS 006: The Cosmos, Science and You

PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences

PHYS 008H: Honors Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences

PHYS 009: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences

PHYS 009H: Honors Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences

PHYS 010: Introductory Physics III

PHYS 012: Light, Color, and Vision

PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences

PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences

PHYS 090X: Freshman Seminar

PHYS 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research

PHYS 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study

PHYS 099: Lower Division Individual Study

PHYS 104: Biophysics

PHYS 105: Analytic Mechanics Core

PHYS 108: Thermal Physics Core

PHYS 109: Soft Matter Physics

PHYS 110: Electrodynamics Core

PHYS 112: Statistical Mechanics

PHYS 115: Electrodynamics Core II Waves and Dynamic Electromagnetic Fields

PHYS 116: Mathematical Methods

PHYS 120: Physics of Materials

PHYS 126: Special Relativity Minicourse

PHYS 137: Quantum Mechanics Core

PHYS 138: Quantum Mechanics II Core

PHYS 141: Condensed Matter Physics

PHYS 144: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

PHYS 148: Modern Optics

PHYS 150: Energy Sources

PHYS 151: Topics in Solar Energy Physics

PHYS 159: Particle Physics

PHYS 160: Modern Physics Lab

PHYS 161: Astrophysics and Cosmology

PHYS 172: Quantum Information Science

PHYS 180: Nonlinear Dynamics

PHYS 192: Special Topics in Physics

PHYS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research

PHYS 196: Undergraduate Thesis

PHYS 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study

PHYS 199: Upper Division Individual Study

PHYS 201: Teaching and Learning in the Sciences

PHYS 204: Biophysics

PHYS 205: Classical Mechanics

PHYS 209: Soft Matter Physics

PHYS 210: Electrodynamics and Optics I

PHYS 211: Electrodynamics and Optics II

PHYS 212: Statistical Mechanics

PHYS 230: Computation and Modeling for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology

PHYS 231: Imaging and Spectroscopy for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology

PHYS 232: Bio and Nano Fabrication for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology

PHYS 237: Quantum Mechanics I

PHYS 238: Quantum Mechanics II

PHYS 241: Condensed Matter Physics

PHYS 242: Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

PHYS 243: Interdisciplinary Computational Graduate Education

PHYS 244: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

PHYS 248: Quantum Optics

PHYS 249: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory

PHYS 251: Introduction to Graduate Research

PHYS 270: Academic Writing in Graduate Studies

PHYS 280: Nonlinear Dynamics

PHYS 285: Seminar: Nanomaterials for Space Exploration

PHYS 290: Current Topics in Physics and Chemistry

PHYS 291: Physics and Chemistry Seminar

PHYS 292: Special Topics in Physics

PHYS 293: Physics Colloquium

PHYS 295: Graduate Research

PHYS 298: Directed Group Study