PHY - 430 - Statistical and Thermal Physics

ZZZ - New Course (Effective 2020-21 Catalog)

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General Catalog Information
Next

  • * READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN *

    To assist you in completing this form correctly, turn on the help text by clicking on the blue circle icon in the top right corner of this pane.

    STEP 1.  Complete all required fields (denoted by an asterisk), as well as other informational fields, as needed.  Be sure to upload files as needed.  Failure to complete all required fields will delay your proposal.

  • Department*
    Click on Add Item. A dialogue box will open; scroll to select your department. Once you select your department, you will see in the right pane appropriate individuals/committees will appear based on your department/school.
  • Subject Prefix*
    PHY
    PHY
    Enter your course prefix all in CAPS
    Course Number*
    430
    430
    Enter your course number AFTER you have contacted the Registrar's office.

  • Be sure to contact the Registrar's Office to confirm your course number is not already in use or has not been previously used in academic history.

  • Select One*
    Your selection will populate the appropriate curriculum committee (CCRC/GFEC or BOTH) in the right pane. If you select shared resource, you must complete a new course proposal for each course.
  • Course Title*
    Statistical and Thermal Physics
    Statistical and Thermal Physics
    Enter the title of your course.
  • * Abbreviated Course Title
    Enter an abbreviated course title, if needed. (Max 30 characters/spaces)
  • Catalog course description (see help text).*

    Statistical mechanics of microscopic systems leading to classical thermodynamics.

    Please DO NOT include the frequency code or Pre/Corequisites in the course description; you will make these choices below. The catalog course description should be concise. One to three brief sentences or phrases are usually enough. A complete sentence is not always necessary. The catalog course description should not use abbreviations unless there is a standard acceptable abbreviation. The catalog course description should not include phrases such as: The students will or This course focuses on
  • Expected Student Learning Outcomes*

    Upon successful completion of this course (i.e. passing with a grade of A), it is expected that the student will be able to:

    • represent thermal systems in terms of distribution functions.
    • demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between entropy and the number of accessible microstates.
    • demonstrate an understanding of the connection between the microscopic properties of a gas and the measurable macroscopic properties such as pressure, volume, and density.
    • calculate equilibrium conditions from the principle of maximization of entropy in quantum and classical systems.
  • Do you plan to submit this course for any of the following attributes? Check all that apply.*
    Check the appropriate box to add an attribute(s). If there are no attributes, you must check None. For each attribute selected, please complete the respective section(s) below. You no longer have to submit separate forms for these attributes.
  • Attach a course outline/ syllabus*
    Course outline must include: title, prefix, number, catalog description, student learning outcomes, and topical outline of course content. To attach a file, scroll up and navigate to the top of the right pane; hover over the icons and select FILES. The right pane will now allow you to browse your computer and upload your file(s).

  • Note:  If this is a shared resources course, a cross-listed course, or submitting for approval of an attribute, refer to the respective fields below for additional information to be included in your course outline/syllabus.

  • * Frequency Code*
  • Credit Hours*
    (3 cr. hr.)
    (3 cr. hr.)
    When entering credit hours, be sure to use the proper catalog format (e.g. (3 cr. hr.))....please include the parenthesis.
  • Can the course be repeated for additional credit?*
  • If yes, specify maximum number of credits total; OR
  • If yes, what is the maximum number of times the course can be repeated
  • Select grade mode*
    Click on Add Item and select your grade mode.
  • Justification for new course*

    The last external review of the Physics Department recommended that a course in statistical mechanics be added to the program, possibly as a requirement for the B.S. in Physics. Such a course is common in undergraduate physics programs and is widely considered a key element of a student’s preparation for a graduate program in physics. The primary audience of this course are those students in the PHY major who are looking to go on to graduate school where a foundation in statistical mechanics is important.

    what College or departmental needs are being met by this course
  • Justification of course level*

    A dedicated senior-level course in statistical and thermal is something of a capstone course as it draws on aspects of almost all other 400-level courses. This course has PHY 410 listed as a prerequisite.

  • Lecture/Lab Hours
    Enter any lecture/lab hours information in this field. This information should not be included in any other fields.
  • Are there Prerequisite(s) and/or Corequisite(s)?*
  • If yes, please specify prerequisite and/or corequisite course(s).

    Prerequisites: PHY 410 and MAT 336.

    List course prefix and number only. Do not provide name of the course.
  • Provide justification for each prerequisite listed above.

    PHY 410:

    Statistical mechanics necessary involves a discussion of quantum mechanics and therefore requires familiarity with these concepts. PHY 410 provides students with an introdction to quantum systems and should be taken prior to this course.

    MAT 336:

    PHY 430 will provide students with challenging problems that are intimately connected to the mathematics of differential equations. Therefore, MAT 336 should be taken prior to this course.

  • Provide justification for each corequisite listed above.
  • Can the prerequisite(s) be taken concurrently with the proposed course?*
  • Are there any course restrictions? *
    e.g. by major, by class level, by GPA, by degree
  • If yes, please describe the restriction(s)
  • Will this course require additional fees which will be billed to students (materials, travel, lodging etc...)?*

  • To request a new course fee you must complete the Student Fee Request Form.  This form can be found by using the search tool on SUNY Cortland's homepage.

  • Will this course be a part of a shared resources offering?*
    To attach a file, scroll up and navigate to the top of the right pane; hover over the icons and select FILES. The right pane will now allow you to browse your computer and upload your file(s).

    If yes, attach the course outline for both undergraduate and graduate courses, clearly defining the requirements and expectations for earning undergraduate and graduate credit.

  • Catalog notes
    The catalog notes field can be used to include additional administrative information that will appear in the catalog with the course description (e.g., indicating a Raquette Lake trip is required).
  • Is this course a requirement of a new or exisiting program? *
    If yes, please specify and submit program proposal.
  • Provide program name
    For an existing program, enter the program name as it appears in the College Catalog (e.g. Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-6) [EDD] )
  • Do the contents of this course overlap with offerings of other departments?*
  • If yes, include comments from those departments regarding the addition of this course.
    You may copy and paste your comments in this text box. Alternatively, comments can be attached by uploading a word or PDF file. To attach a file, scroll up to the top of the right pane and hover over the icons and select file. The right pane will now allow you to browse your computer and upload your file.
  • List other courses now offered in the same general area, including by other departments.

    PHY 530 - Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (being renamed to Engineering Thermodynamics)

    CHE 434 - Engineering Thermodynamics

    NOTE: We have consulted with the Chemistry Department Curriculum Committee about this course, in particular whether there would be a conflict with or desire to cross-list with CHE 434. That committee replied in the negative. A copy of the communications regarding this discussion can be found in one of the attached documents.

  • Will this course be part of a cross-listing (equivalent) offering? (Does not include shared resource)*
    Please note cross-listed courses are considered equivalent in the Banner system.
    If yes, please specify cross-listed course(s)
    Provide the course prefix and number ONLY. i.e. AAS 334. If adding more than one cross-listing, format should be AAS 334 and HIS 334. If the cross-listing is also a new course, a new course proposal must be submitted.

  • If yes, attach the course outline for both courses, which clearly defines course title, course content, and catalog description that includes the statement "also listed as....".   The department associated with the cross-listed course must submit a course alteration form requesting the cross-listing.

  • Will new expenditures be required for this new course?*
    e.g. equipment, library holdings or other support. To attach a file, scroll up and navigate to the top of the right pane; hover over the icons and select FILES. The right pane will now allow you to browse your computer and upload your file(s).
    If yes, attach a detailed listing and indicate that the consultation with appropriate personnel has occurred.

  • STEP 2:  Complete the course scheduling information section below.

    STEP 3:  Complete the respective course attribute section(s) below, if applicable.

    STEP 4:  When this proposal is complete, you must launch the proposal.  Once launched, your proposal will now be located in the My Proposals tab.

    To launch the proposal:  scroll up to the top portion of this pane and click on the blue right arrow icon to Launch.

    STEP 5:  Approve your proposal.  When you have completed the proposal, as the originator you must Approve your proposal.  By approving your proposal, this will move it to the next step in the approval process.  To approve, scroll to the top of the right pane and click on the Decisions icon (5th icon).  Click Approve then click Make My Decision.

  •  

  • COURSE SCHEDULING INFORMATION
  • Schedule Type - How will this course be typically offered? Select One from the dropdown menu.*
  • Is this a mutually exclusive course? (Turn on help text for clarification)*
    Mutually exclusive indicates significant overlap in two or more courses. Only one of the courses may be completed for credit. Students are not permitted to enroll in a mutually exclusive course when another is taken. This differs from cross-listed which are courses that are equivalent ("also listed as" in the College Catalog).
  • If yes, list course(s) [course prefix and number only]
  • Is this a Capstone Course (UG)?*
  • Is this a Graduate Culminating Activity Course (GR)?*
  • Is this course a required part of a fully online degree program?*
  • Will this course be offered exclusively as an online course?*
  • Does this course qualify as full-time work on a thesis or independent study (GR Only)?*
General Education
Next

  • Complete this section ONLY if this course is being submitted for approval for a General Education attribute.

    You may go to the GE webpage to access the General Education Course Proposal Guidelines.

  • Select General Education category for this course
  • First Semester/Year Course to be Offered
  • How does this course meet the goal of this GE Category?
  • How will each of the learning outcomes for the identified GE Category be fulfilled?
  • How will faculty teaching the course be informed of the course inclusion in SUNY Cortland GE Assessment process?
    e.g. syllabi review, outcome assessment

  • Attach a course outline which includes the following:

    1. The catalog course description.

    2. GE category, goals, and learning outcomes.

    3. Subject topics and readings

    4. How the writing requirement of a minimum of 5 pages will be completed.

Liberal Arts
Next

  • Complete this section ONLY if this course is being submitted for approval for LASR designation.

  •  

  • Please indicate how this course will fulfill the following criteria      (you must choose a minimum of 5):

  • Historical Perspective

    This course will trace some of the major historical developments in statistical mechanics that bridged the late 1800's and early 1900's, leading to quantum mechanics and modern statistical mechanics.

  • Theoretical Considerations

    This course is inherently theoretical. It will focus on how the theories were derived from experimental observations, and how the laws of thermodynamics can be used to interpret a wide range of phenomena.

  • Relational-Complexity

    This course is rich in relations between concepts, including such things as the connection between experiment and theory and the connection between classical thermodynamics and quantum statistical mechanics.

  • Breadth of Knowledge

    A dedicated course in statistical mechanics will provide a different perspective on experiment, brining together a wide range of mathematical and physics concepts including probability and statistics, classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and modern physics.

  • Inquiry-Analysis

    Students will be given problems where they are asked to apply the theoretical models of statistical mechanics to analysis of problems where testable predictions can be made and assessed.

  • Critical Examination
  • Ethical Perspective
  • Independent Learning
Writing Intensive
Next

  • Complete this section ONLY if this course is being submitted for approval for Writing Intensive designation.

  •  

  • Instructor's name if different than the originator of this course proposal.

  • Attach a course syllabus that includes all writing assignments (including drafts) and that indicates how writing will be taught in the course. Then, write a detailed answer to how each WI requirement will be met. Please do not refer us to your syllabus.

  • 1.  All WI courses must ask students to write an equivalent of at least 15 typed pages, with two or more pieces of writing submitted in multiple drafts. Upper division WI courses may use a single project towards this 15-page minimum. 

  • 1A. Please describe the writing assignments for this course, noting page length and number of drafts for each assignment.

  • 2.  In WI courses, instructors are required to respond to students writing through written comments, conferences, or both. Students must revise their work and use their instructor's feedback as they write their revisions.

  • 2A. How will you respond to student writing in this course, and how will the course be organized to encourage students to use that feedback to revise their writing?

  • 3.  Instructors of WI courses must dedicate class time to teach students how to write in a particular discipline, which may include discipline-specific writing techniques, strategies, and genres. (For example, this course may teach students how to write in genres important to your discipline, such as lesson/unit plans, lab reports, field notes, or argumentative essays. You may teach these writing techniques and strategies through a sequence of assignments, in-class workshops, or by giving and explaining models of your disciplines writing.)

  • 3A. What discipline-specific writing techniques, strategies, and genres will you teach students through this WI course, and how will you teach these techniques, strategies, and genres?

  • 4. How the writing component forms a significant percentage of the course grade.

  • 4A. Please explain how the writing assignments in this course factor into the final course grade.
Presentation Skills
Next

  • Complete this section ONLY if this course is being submitted for approval for Presentation Skills designation.

  • Please respond to each criteria illustrating how it is met through this course.

  • Students will make at least one presentation in the course and respond to questions and comments following the presentation.
  • Students must submit at least one outline with attached source list related to the presentation.
  • Students must evaluate their own presentation and those of other students, according to criteria provided by the instructor.
  • Faculty provide instruction in effective presentation skills specific disciplines including requirements and methods of preparation for oral assignments (i.e. structure, research, outlining, visual components, creativity and delivery). Highlight these on course syllabus.

  • User Tracking

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