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Essential (was Computer) Skills



As long as we are talking about essential skills for a modern physicist-

What other skills and/or course work do folks on the list think are
essential these days for an undergrad physics degree? How much has this
changed since I was in school (25 years ago)?

I ask this because I am looking into trying to convince the administration
here to fund an undergraduate physics degree program. They want it to be an
applied and/or practical program, which I am not opposed to per-say
although I think they do not understand the utility skills gained in
theoretical courses at the undergraduate level.

I agree with Ludwik that something like True or perhaps Visual Basic and
some interfacing of computers to equipment ought to be part of an undergrad
physics experience in these modern times. I would assume that a modern
electronics course would cover interfacing (and possibly omit working with
vacume tubes which was part of the course when I took it many years ago.)
The computer people here think Visual Basic is a great intro to computers
and programing and use it in their first round of courses for majors.

kyle

At 8:19 AM +0100 9/17/98, Ludwik Kowalski wrote:
I agree with Bob that knowing how to program in at least one language is
nearly as important as knowing calculus. Ideally students should learn it
in high schools, or in computer science departments. If I had to choose the
language it would be True Basic; we already discussed this last year. The
major argument would be simplicity, power, cost and the multiple platform
nature. (A program developed on one platform, even its graphics, colors,
etc. , works on any other platform. A very powerful student version costs
only $25 and comes with a learning manual.)

As for electronics I am no longer sure it is as important today as it was
when I learned it, also in the 50's. In those days electronics was really
applied physics. Today electronics means many things to many people.
To some it means what it used to be but most often it is defined
(implicitly) as a skill of connecting (or replacing) black boxes, such as
operational amplifiers, etc. The components, usually hidden, are too
small to investigate.
Ludwik Kowalski
Bob Sciamanda wrote:

Since I began teaching (in the 50's) I have argued for basic electronics
as a necessary ingredient of the physics curriculum, citing its ubiquity
in the implementation of almost any modern experimental procedure.
In the same vain I would now insist on a familiarity with computer
programming as an essential tool of our 20/21 century armamentarium.


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kyle forinash 812-941-2390
forinas@indiana.edu
Natural Science Division
Indiana University Southeast
New Albany, IN 47150
http://Physics.ius.indiana.edu/
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