23 courses with the subject PHYS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
PHYS 10520th Century Revolutions in Physics1
(Same as STS 105 ) Lord Kelvin, one of the most distinguished physicists of the 19th century, is famous for his 1900 proclamation: “There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now.” In the fall of that same year Max Planck provided the spark that would become the revolutionary fire from which a new physics was born. The multiple revolutions in physics that proceeded Kelvin’s proclamation are the subject of this class. We examine the developments of Quantum Theory, Special and General Theories of Relativity, and Modern Cosmology studying each in its proper historical context. From both primary and secondary sources we learn the basic concepts that became the fabric of today’s physics. Along the way, we are sure to unearth both the undeniable impacts these discoveries have had on society and the contingency surrounding the nature of these scientific revolutions. José Perillán. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
An introduction to the basic concepts of physics with emphasis on mechanics. Not calculus-based. Recommended for Pre-Health students, life science majors, and first-year students who have not previously taken calculus. Carlos Alvarado. Two 75-minute periods and one 3-hour laboratory. Course Format: CLS
Fundamentals of electricity, magnetism, and optics. Not calculus-based. Recommended for Pre-Health students, life science majors, and first-year students who have not previously taken calculus. The Department.
PHYS 111 or PHYS 113 or AP credit. Two 75-minute periods and one 3-hour laboratory. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
PHYS 113Fundamentals of Physics I/Lab1
An introduction to the basic concepts of physics with emphasis on mechanics. Calculus-based. Recommended for potential majors in physics and other physical sciences. The Department. Two 75-minute periods and one 3-hour laboratory. Course Format: CLS
Fundamentals of electricity, magnetism, and optics. Calculus-based. Recommended for potential majors in physics and other physical sciences. The Department.
PHYS 111 or PHYS 113 or AP Credit; MATH 121 or equivalent. Two 75-minute periods and one 3-hour laboratory. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
PHYS 168A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo0.5
This course is designed for nonphysics majors who want to know more about the constituents of matter including quarks, gluons, and neutrinos. The particle discoveries and the implications of the discoveries are discussed in an historical context. Additional topics discussed: matter vs. antimatter, the wave, and particle nature of light. Cindy Schwarz. May not count towards a physics concentration. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
An introduction to the two subjects at the core of contemporary physics: Einstein’s theory of special relativity and quantum mechanics. Topics include paradoxes in special relativity; the Lorentz transformation; relativistic dynamics; the wave-particle duality; the Heisenberg uncertainty principle; and simple cases of the Schrödinger wave equation. Emily Nardoni.
PHYS 114 , MATH 125 and MATH 127 , or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods and one 3-hour laboratory.
Offered
Fall
PHYS 210Classical Mechanics1
A study of the motion of objects using Newtonian theory. Topics include 2D and 3D motion in diferent coordinate systems, oscillator systems, central forces, and rigid bodies. An introduction to the methods of finding solutions to complex problems using Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations.
A study of electromagnetic forces and fields. Topics include electrostatics of conductors and dielectrics, electric currents, magnetic fields, and the classical theories and phenomena that led to Maxwell’s formulation of electromagnetism. Peter Weck.
PHYS 200 and MATH 220 . Recommended MATH 228 . Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
PHYS 261Intensive Topics in Physics1
A focused experience for individual or small groups of students. Topics may include ultrafast optics, nanoscale science, communicating physics to the general public, physics pedagogy, biophysics, nonlinear dynamics, advanced microscopy techniques, history of physics, and advanced laboratory development. Faculty are also interested in student-driven topics. The Department. One 2-hour period and individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: INT
A focused experience for individual or small groups of students. Topics may include ultrafast optics, nanoscale science, communicating physics to the general public, physics pedagogy, biophysics, nonlinear dynamics, advanced microscopy techniques, history of physics, and advanced laboratory development. Faculty are also interested in student-driven topics. The Department. One 2-hour period and individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: INT
PHYS 270Communicating Physics to the General Public1
Students give presentations and interact in one or more of the following areas, K-12 schools, senior centers, afterschool programs. A final presentation summarizing the various activities is required. Cindy Schwarz.
PHYS 113 or the equivalent. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: INT
PHYS 290Community-Engaged Learning
0.5 to 1 unit(s) Execution and analysis of an off-campus field study in physics. The course requirements are to be arranged with an individual instructor. The department.
0.5 to 1 unit(s) Intermediate-level execution of an independent observational, theoretical, or library study in Physics. The course requirements are to be arranged with an individual instructor. The Department. Two 2-hour periods. Course Format: OTH
Investigation and critical analysis of a topic in experimental or theoretical physics. Experimental research may include building or experimenting with a non-trivial hardware or software system. A written thesis and oral presentation of results to the department are required for the course. A student electing this course must first gain the support of at least one member of the Physics department faculty. The Senior Thesis is a 1-unit course with 1/2 unit graded provisionally in the Fall and 1/2 unit graded in the Spring. The final grade, awarded in the Spring, shall replace the provisional grade in the Fall. The department. One 2-hour period and individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: INT
A continuation of 300 . The Senior Thesis is a 1-unit course with 1/2 unit graded provisionally in the Fall and 1/2 unit graded in the Spring. The final grade, awarded in the Spring, shall replace the provisional grade in the Fall. The department.
Permission of the instructor. One 2-hour period and individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall or Spring
PHYS 320Quantum Mechanics I1
An introduction to the formalism of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and its physical interpretation, with emphasis on solutions of the Schrodinger wave equation. Topics covered include the operator formalism, uncertainty relations, one-dimensional potentials, bound states, tunneling, central field problems in three dimensions, the hydrogen atom, the harmonic oscillator, and quantum statistics. José Perillán.
PHYS 200 , PHYS 210 , MATH 220 , MATH 228 . Recommended MATH 221 . Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
PHYS 330Advanced Experimental Physics1
An upper-level laboratory course in experimental physics. Emphasis is placed on the use of computers for capturing and analyzing data, as well as on the effective oral and written presentation of experimental results. Topics may include modern physics, nuclear physics, optics, solid state physics, quantum mechanics, and acoustics. Brian Daly.
PHYS 240 and one unit of a 300-level regular physics course, such as: PHYS 341-Electromagnetism II or PHYS 375-Advanced Topics in Physics , or permission of the instructor. Two 3-hour periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
PHYS 341Electromagnetism II1
A study of the electromagnetic field. Starting with Maxwell’s equations, topics covered include the propagation of waves, waveguides, the radiation field, and the relativistic formulation of electromagnetic theory. Jenny Magnes.
0.5 to 1 unit(s) High-level execution of an experimental, theoretical, or library study in physics. An oral presentation of results to the department is required for the course. Additional course requirements are to be arranged with an individual instructor. The Department. One 2-hour period and individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: OTH
