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Table of Contents: 2012-2013 Warren Wilson College Catalog 0.1 Academic Calendar 0.2 Warren Wilson College Catalog 0.3 From the President 0.4 Accreditation and Memberships 0.5 Table of Contents 1.01 Mission, Values, Objectives, and Vision 1.02 College Profile 1.03 History 1.04 Undergraduate Admission 1.05 Financial Aid 1.06 Withdrawal and Refund Policy 1.07 Student Life 1.08 Special Facilities and Resources 1.09 Distinctive Educational Opportunities 1.10 PEW Learning Center and Ellison Library 2.1 Work Program 2.2 Service Program 2.3 Academic Policies and Regulations 2.4 Baccalaureate Degree Requirements 3 Programs of Study 3.2 Undergraduate Programs of Study 3.2.01 Art 3.2.02 Biology 3.2.03 Business 3.2.04 Chemistry 3.2.05 Creative Writing 3.2.06 Education 3.2.07 English 3.2.08 Environmental Studies 3.2.09 Gender and Women's Studies 3.2.10 Global Studies 3.2.11 History and Political Science 3.2.12 Integrative Studies 3.2.13 Mathematics 3.2.14 Modern Languages 3.2.15 Music 3.2.16 Outdoor Leadership 3.2.17 Peace and Justice Studies 3.2.18 Philosophy 3.2.19 Physics 3.2.20 Psychology 3.2.21 Religious Studies 3.2.22 Social Work 3.2.23 Sociology/Anthropology 3.2.24 Sustainable Business 3.2.25 Theatre 3.2.26 Women's Studies 3.2.27 Writing 3.3 Graduate Program 3.3.1 Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing 3.4 Specialized Advising Areas 3.4.1 Pre-Law Advising 3.4.2 Pre-Medical and Pre-Allied Health Advising 3.4.3 Pre-Peace Corps, International, and Non-Governmental Service Advising 3.4.4 Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advising 4.01 Courses of Instruction 4.02 Anthropology (ANT) 4.03 Art (ART) 4.04 Biology (BIO) 4.05 Business (BA) 4.06 Chemistry (CHM) 4.07 Economics (ECO) 4.08 Education (EDU) 4.09 English (ENG) 4.10 Environmental Studies (ENS) 4.11 Gender and Women's Studies (GDS) 4.12 Global Studies (GBL) 4.13 History (HIS) 4.14 Interdepartmental (INT) 4.15 Modern Language (LAN) 4.16 Mathematics (MAT) 4.17 Music (MUS) 4.18 Outdoor Leadership (ODL) 4.19 Peace and Justice Studies (PAX) 4.20 Philosophy (PHI) 4.21 Physical Education (PED) 4.22 Physics (PHY) 4.23 Political Science (PSC) 4.24 Psychology (PSY) 4.25 Religious Studies (REL) 4.26 Science (SCI) 4.27 Social Work (SWK) 4.28 Sociology (SOC) 4.29 Theatre (THR) 4.30 Writing (WRI) 5.1 Administration and Staff 5.2 Undergraduate Faculty 5.2.1 Library Faculty and Staff 5.2.2 Staff Teachers 5.3 Graduate Faculty and Staff 6.1 Board of Trustees 6.2 Alumni Board 6.3 Church and Interfaith Relations Council 6.4 Endowed Scholarships 7.1 Index of Sections
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David C. CoffeyPhysics
WWC CPO 6082
PO Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815-9000
Email: dcoffey@warren-wilson.edu
View Bio
3.2.19
Physics
3.2.19.1
Program Overview
The mission of the Physics Department is to provide students opportunities for interactive engagement with physics principles and concepts, scientific thinking, communication, and research in astronomy.
The goals of the Physics Program are the following:
- To provide physics background for Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies majors.
- To provide significant modern physics concepts (post Newtonian) in all the departmental courses.
- To provide courses in astronomy and physical science that fulfill the science general education requirement for non-science majors.
- To provide a minor in Physics for students majoring in the sciences or mathematics.
Extensive emphasis is placed on communication of physics principles through regular assignments and student reports, writing for the extended community, learning transferable skills such as model fitting of experimental data, and providing areas for independent study and research (both student and faculty) in physics and observational astronomy.
3.2.19.2
Minor in Physics
Grades: Students must pass courses at a grade of C- or better to count toward the minor.
Total Credit Hours: Students must earn a minimum of 20 credit hours in physics courses at the 200 level and above and selected courses from related disciplines to fulfill the minor requirements. Courses from related disciplines may include CHM 331 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (4 credits), CHM 332 Quantum Chemistry and Molecular Spectroscopy (4 credits), CHM 333 Thermodynamics Laboratory (1 credit), approved Special Topics in physics, Independent Studies in physics, and SCI 486-489 Natural Science Seminar Research.
Requirements:
- PHY 251 Physics I -- 4 credits
- PHY 252 Physics II -- 4 credits
- Independent Study in Physics -- 2 credits minimum
In addition to the courses listed above, a student completing a minor in Physics should complete the Natural Science Seminar sequence (SCI 390 Research Design, SCI 486-489 Natural Science Seminar Research, and SCI 493 Natural Science Seminar Communication) either supervised by the physics department or the department of the student's major. Natural Science Seminar Research and Communication courses supervised by the Physics Department contribute towards the 20-hour minor requirement. However, Natural Science Seminar Research and Communication courses supervised by another department do not contribute to the 20-hour minor requirement in physics. See section 4.26 for details.