Courses

This course is an integrated course and lab experience satisfying the Core Scientific Inquiry requirement. The course is designed and intended for non-science majors. The topics will be developed conceptually, with the required mathematics not exceeding high school algebra and trigonometry. The specific content will vary with instructor. The course title in Zagweb will identify the focus of the lecture course material. The integrated, open lab experience focuses on developing an understanding of the scientific method and the processes of science, including measurement, modeling, and analysis. The lab experience includes hands-on activities and experiments highlighting the covered processes and delivered in an open lab time format. The lab will be open and staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students to come in and complete that week's lab on their own schedule. Fall and Spring.

Introductory astronomy. An overview of the celestial objects found within the universe, such as stars, planets, and galaxies. For physics majors and PHYS 105 does NOT fulfill the Core Scientific Inquiry requirement. Annually, upon sufficient demand.

The basic principles of physics are covered in a descriptive (non-mathematical) manner. Designed for students not majoring in the natural sciences or those needing a very basic background in physics. Offered upon sufficient demand.

Taken concurrently with PHYS 106. Two hours of laboratory. Offered upon sufficient demand.

The basic principles of physics are covered in a descriptive (non-mathematical) manner. Designed for students not majoring in the natural sciences or those needing a very basic background in physics. Offered upon sufficient demand.

Taken concurrently with PHYS 107. Two hours of laboratory. Offered upon sufficient demand.

Algebra-based introductory physics. Mechanics, including Newton's laws, conservation laws, fluids, oscillations, and waves. Five hours of lecture with experimental demonstrations and problems. Not accepted as a pre-requisite for any advanced work. Fall.

Taken concurrently with or after the lecture course PHYS 111. Three hours of laboratory. Fall.

Algebra-based introductory physics. Thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and optics. Five hours of lecture with experimental demonstrations and problems. Not accepted as pre-requisite for any advanced work. Spring.

Taken concurrently with or after the lecture course PHYS 112. Three hours of laboratory. Spring.

Calculus-based introductory physics. Mechanics, including Newton's laws, conservation laws, fluids, oscillations, and waves. Five hours of lecture with experimental demonstrations and problems. Fall and Spring.

Taken concurrently with or after the lecture course PHYS 121. Three hours of laboratory. Fall and Spring.

Calculus-based introductory physics. Thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and optics. Five hours of lecture with experimental demonstrations and problems. MATH 258 Calculus & Analytic Geometry II, may be taken prior to or concurrently. Fall and Spring.

Taken concurrently with or after the lecture course PHYS 122. Three hours of laboratory. Fall and Spring.

Development of tools useful for success in the study of physics, as well as an understanding of the discipline and the resources available to students at Gonzaga. Fall, odd years.

Topics to be determined by instructor.

Directed study in approved topics. Requires completed form and departmental approval. Cannot be registered for via ZagWeb.

The First-Year Seminar (FYS) introduces new Gonzaga students to the University, the Core Curriculum, and Gonzaga’s Jesuit mission and heritage. While the seminars will be taught by faculty with expertise in particular disciplines, topics will be addressed in a way that illustrates approaches and methods of different academic disciplines. The seminar format of the course highlights the participatory character of university life, emphasizing that learning is an active, collegial process.

Survey of mathematical techniques used in upper-division physics courses. Fall.

This course is primarily a laboratory in which students learn basic concepts of linear electronics and laboratory techniques through passive components, DC and AC applications, use of test equipment, operational amplifiers, basic transistor circuits, and more. Two hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory exercise per week. Fall, even years.

Special relativity, development, and an introduction to quantum mechanics and other selected topics. Spring.

Development of tools useful for success in the practice of physics, as well as an understanding of the discipline and the opportunities available to students during and after their time at Gonzaga. Fall, even years.

Topics to be determined by instructor.

Directed study in approved topics. Requires completed form and departmental approval. Cannot be registered for via ZagWeb.

Particle and rigid body statics and dynamics in a rigorous vectorial calculus treatment. A fundamental introduction to theoretical physics. Spring, even years. Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 201 or (MATH 259 and MATH 260)) and PHYS 122

Electrical and magnetic phenomena leading to a development of Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic field theory. Fall, even years. Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 201 or (MATH 259 and MATH 260)) and PHYS 122

Study of thermal properties from microscopic and statistical viewpoints. Topics include: probability distributions, entropy, density of states, black body radiation. Spring, odd years.

Development of techniques to represent and solve the Schrödinger equation for various potential energy functions and measurements in quantum mechanical systems. Fall, odd years. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 and (PHYS 201 or (MATH 259 and MATH 260))

An introduction to computational physics. Students will be introduced to many of the basic ideas, algorithms, and tools used by physicists to solve problems. Techniques learned here will be used in most upper-level courses. Spring, odd years. Prerequisite(s): MATH 258 and PHYS 121

Topics to be determined by instructor.

Directed study in approved topics. Requires completed form and departmental approval. Cannot be registered for via ZagWeb.

Undergraduate research assistantships are opportunities for student to earn a stipend while performing independent research in the laboratory of a Physics faculty member.

Extension of techniques and concepts of Quantum Mechanics to systems with greater complexity, such as the inclusion of relativistic effects and the behavior of identical particles. Spring, even years.

The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) engages the Year Four Question: “Imagining the possible: What is our role in the world?” by offering students a culminating seminar experience in which students integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the Core, and their disciplinary expertise. Each section of the course will focus on a problem or issue raised by the contemporary world that encourages integration, collaboration, and problem solving. The topic for each section of the course will be proposed and developed by each faculty member in a way that clearly connects to the Jesuit Mission, to multiple disciplinary perspectives, and to our students’ future role in the world.

Development of experimental and analytical techniques. Introduction to scientific writing and communication. Fall, odd years.

Further development of experimental and analytical techniques. Refinement of scientific writing and communication. Spring, even years.

Study of advanced classical and relativistic systems, including orbital mechanics, coupled oscillations, electromagnetic waves, and relativistic transformations. Spring, odd years.

Treatment of optical phenomena using the three major models for light: rays, waves, and photons. Spring, even years. Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 201 or (MATH 259 and MATH 260)) and PHYS 122

Study of solid materials using both macroscopic and microscopic quantum models from physics. Topics may include early models of solids, mechanical and thermal properties of materials, elasticity, chemical bonding, metals, crystal structure, phonons and vibrational modes, electric conductivity, band gap theory and semiconductors, transistors, magnetic properties of materials, and other selected solid state topics. Fall, odd years. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 and (PHYS 201 or (MATH 259 and MATH 260))

Study of experimental and theoretical aspects of nuclear interactions as they apply to nuclear structures and elementary particle characteristics. Fall, odd years.

Study of the global evolution of the universe, including the expansion rate of the universe, big bang nucleosynthesis, the cosmic microwave background radiation, inflation, relativity, and other selected astrophysics topics. Spring, odd years. Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 201 or (MATH 259 and MATH 260)) and PHYS 122

Study of biological systems using first principles, tools, and models from physics. Topics may include diffusion, membrane potentials, models of neural dynamics, information processing in biological systems, and other selected biophysics topics. Fall, even years. Prerequisite(s): (CPSC 121 or ENSC201 ) and PHYS 122 and (PHYS 201 or MATH 260)

Topics to be determined by instructor.

Directed study in approved topics. Requires completed form and departmental approval. Cannot be registered for via ZAGWEB.

Credit recognition of an internship or research experience, arranged by the student, directly related to the student's Physics Major and/or career plans, where said experience helps the student increase and develop practical physics knowledge and skills. Prior to registration, the student must secure participation in an internship or research experience, identify a faculty supervisor, complete and submit the Physics Department Internship Application form, and receive permission from the Physics Department.

May be undertaken by B.S. Physics Majors in their senior year. Permission from Physics Department required.