Session C6: Invited Session: Goals and Assessment of the Physics Graduate Program
1:30 PM–3:18 PM, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Room: Embassy C
Sponsoring Units:
FEd FGSA
Chair: Juan Burciaga, Mount Holyoke College
Abstract ID: BAPS.2012.APR.C6.3
Abstract: C6.00003 : A New Curriculum for Physics Graduate Students
2:42 PM–3:18 PM
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Abstract
Author:
Harald W. Griesshammer
(Institute for Nuclear Studies, Department of Physics, George Washington University)
Effective Fall 2008, GW Physics implemented a new graduate curriculum, addressing nation-wide problems: (1) wide gap between 50-year-old curricula and the proficiencies expected to start research; (2) high attrition rates and long times to degree; (3) limited resources in small departments to cover all topics deemed essential. The new curriculum: (1) extends each course to 4 hours weekly for better in-depth coverage and cautious additions; (2) decreases the number of core-courses per semester to 2, with less ``parallel-processing'' of only loosely correlated lectures; (3) increases synergies by stricter logical ordering and synchronisation of courses; (4) frees faculty to regularly offer advanced courses; (5) integrates examples tied to ongoing research in our department; (6) integrates computational methods into core-lectures; (7) encourages focusing on concepts and ``meta-cognitive skills'' in studio-like settings. The new curriculum and qualifying exam, its rationale and assessment criteria will be discussed. This concept is tailored to the needs of small departments with only a few research fields and a close student-teacher relationship.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.APR.C6.3