CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM #4
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER

CHANGE IN OR DELETION OF EXISTING COURSE

Type of Action
 

  Course Deletion    Requisite Change
  Course Revision   Repeatability Change
X Description Change    Diversity Option
X Title Change   General Education Option
  Number Change    area:
  Contact Hour Change    Computer Requirement
  Credit Change    Writing Requirement
  Add Cross-listing    Other  
Effective Term: Spring 2002  
New/Current Course Number: 800 - 130  Crosslist Number: -
Old Course Number: 800 - 130   
New/Current Course Title:  Physics Foundations
Old Course Title: Physical Science Foundations
15 Character Abbreviation:  PHYSICSFNDATNS
25 Character Abbreviation:  PHYSICS FOUNDATIONS
Sponsor(s):  Kenneth L Menningen
Department(s):  Physics
College(s):  Letters and Sciences
Other Programs Affected:   

Check if course is required in: ____Major/Emphasis (specify):

____Minor/Emphasis (specify):
____Other (specify):
I. Explanation of Changes

Title

FROM:  Physical Science Foundations

TO:   Physics Foundations

Course Description

FROM:
A synthesis of physics, chemistry, and astronomy with emphasis on physics as the foundation for the physical sciences. Designed to satisfy the laboratory science requirement in General Studies, it is concerned with the philosophy, history, methods, and fundamental concepts of physical science without rigorous mathematical treatment. Four one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Coreq: 760-141 or consent of instructor. Unreq: 800-210.

TO:
This course will explore topics in classical physics (motion, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, and light) and modern physics (atomic structure, quantum mechanics, and relativity) with an emphasis on how the principles explain and predict phenomena we observe every day. Four one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Coreq: 760-141 or consent of instructor. Unreq: 800-210.

Justification for Action

This course is desired by students who are interested in physics and wish to fulfill the general education lab science requirements. The material is presented in a manner accessible to students of any major. It is a requirement for safety studies majors because it presents the physical principles behind many mechanical, thermal, optical, and electrical safety hazards. The changes proposed are mainly cosmetic; the old course title Physical Science Foundations and catalog description are misleading because they suggest the course contains more chemistry, geology, and astronomy content than it actually does. The new title and description emphasize that the course studies the fundamental principles of physics and connects them to everyday phenomena but overlaps only a little bit with the other sciences.