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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHZ5154C
Tracking Number - 2924

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2013-01-29
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC 12/3/12. for PhD in Physics program. Replacing selected topics. GC approvd 12/6. Sys 12/12; to SCNS 12/20. Approved effective 2/1/13. Nmbr 5151c approved as 5154c

Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2012-09-06
  2. Department: Physics
  3. College: AS
  4. Budget Account Number: 125300000
  5. Contact Person: Casey Miller
  6. Phone: 8139747771
  7. Email: millercw@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: PHZ
  9. Number: 5154C
  10. Full Title: Introduction to Computational Physics
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum):
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: -
  22. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing
  23. Corequisites:
  24. Course Description: Introduction to the use of computers for solving problems in physics. No programming experience required.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This course has been taught for several years as a special topics course. The target audience is all physics PhD students: experimental students will use this to satisify the computational experience requirement, while theoretical students will use this as an introduction to computational methods and allow them to succeed in PHZ 5156C, which has a prerequisite of programming ability.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.)
  29. Objectives: Introduce students to the computing environment, including basic programming methods; Introduce students to algebraic stuctures, finite precision numerics, linear solvers, and eigenvalue problems; Application of computational methods to physics problems.
  30. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to program at an intermediate level in order to solve elementary physics problems. Students will be able to apply computational methods to solve problems involving ordinary and partial differential equations. Students will be able to perform elementary modeling of quantum mechanical and statistical mechanics phenomena.
  31. Major Topics: Programming techniques; computing environments; Groups and vector spaces; Finite precision numerics; representations; Linear solvers; Eigenvalue problems; applications of computational methods to advanced physics topics.
  32. Textbooks: Computational Physics, N. J. Giordano and H. Nakanishi
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases:
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy:
  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests:
  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work:
  38. Program This Course Supports: PhD in Applied Physics
  39. Course Concurrence Information:


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.