PHYS 103, DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY: This is an introductory course for non-science majors. The syllabus, questionnaire, lab manual, and exams reveal coverage of a range of topics in astronomy. According to the questionnaire, the course provides the student with the perspective of a developing science, and reveals the development of the scientific method over 2000 years. Thus, the course meets the requirement of examining the social and historical context of scientific development. The laboratory component, whose topics parallel those of the lectures, gives the student opportunities to complete basic experiments (generally involving various measurement techniques in astronomy). However, the scientific method does not appear to receive the emphasis that it does in the labs for the other courses in this category. Computational and critical thinking skills are reinforced in the course, and completing the lab component sharpens writing skills. From the material submitted, the committee believes this course meets the category requirements and should be recertified as a G.E. course.

PHYS 121, BASIC CONCEPTS OF PHYSICS I: This is the first course in a three course sequence for students majoring in life sciences, presented without an emphasis on calculus. The syllabus clearly outlines the topics within classical mechanics that are to be covered on a weekly basis. The laboratory is integrated with the lecture, and provides reinforcement of the ideas presented in lecture. Instruction is provided in the use of the scientific method, primarily through the laboratory component. Critical thinking skills are reinforced through homework problems that require the student to apply physics concepts to new situations, and through the labs, which require the student to analyze the results of their experiments. Mathematical skills are sharpened as they are applied to the majority of the problems assigned as homework and on the exams. Written communication skills are reinforced through the writing of lab reports. From the materials submitted, the committee believes that this course meets the category requirements and should be recertified as a G.E. course.

PHYS 221, GENERAL PHYSICS I: This is the first course in a three course sequence for science majors. This course differs from Physics 121 primarily in the mathematical presentation of the material. This course makes much more extensive use of calculus and is designed for the student with excellent mathematical preparation. The laboratory is integrated with the lecture, and provides reinforcement of the ideas presented in lecture. Instruction is provided in the use of the scientific method, primarily through the laboratory component. Critical thinking and mathematics skills are reinforced through the homework problems and the labs, which require the student to analyze the results of their experiments. Written communication skills are reinforced through the writing of the lab reports. From the materials submitted, the committee believes that this course meets the category requirements and should be recertified as a G.E. course.