Premature Specialization

Many concentrators plan to skip basic courses like Physics 111, and go directly into more advanced courses that assume these as pre-requisites. Department Chairman Kenneth T. Bainbridge says that this is in most cases unwise.

Bainbridge also cautions against premature specialization. "Some people think they can skip thermodynamics and load their programs with electronics, for instance. This just is not true. Sooner or later, the loss will hurt him, and he will be forced to make up his missed courses."

Physical Sciences

Present Number Concentrating: 51.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 1; magna, 0; summa, 0.

Physical Sciences, the hybrid field which lets its concentrators dabble in the fields of chemistry, physics, and mathematics is designed for two types of students. The first is the person who has a sincere interest in either physics or chemistry, but lacks the ability to puzzle out the complex mathematical formulas of physics, or the patience to spend his spring afternoons sweating over a steam bath in the chem lab. The second type is the student who wants to get a diversified scientific education in preparation for a career in industry or law.

For either student the field proves quite satisfactory. The requirements for concentration seem numerous, but actually for anyone even vaguely interested in physics or chemistry they are essential, and in the end, rather enjoyable courses, in mathematics, Physical Science concentrators are required to take Math 1a, 1b, and 2a. In the field of bunsen burners and test tubes, concentrators must take either Chem 1 or Chem 2. And in physics the equivalent of Physics 11 is necessary.

Physics a Problem

The physics requirement will pose a few problems for students entering the field next year. If they have taken Physics 11 during their freshman year, or have taken 11a during this spring term and plan to take 11b next fall they can relax as far as the physics requirement is concerned. But students who have not taken any Physics will have to take the now three term Physics 12 to be initiated next fall. Students planning to concentrate in Physical Sciences who have taken Physics 1 during their freshman year will have to take two terms of Physics 12 without the laboratory sessions or satisfy the requirement, since the old course Physics 10 which applied mathematics to the principles of Physics 1 has been discontinued.

After these basic requirements have been filled the concentrator can go on to take advanced courses in any department of the physical sciences--Applied Sciences, Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, Mineralogy, Mathematics, and Physics. Certain courses in Architectural Sciences, some upper group Natural Science Gen. Ed. courses, and Philosophy 140 may also be offered for concentration. Fourteen half courses are required in all.

ROTC Credit

The field is a choice plum for people in any one of the ROTC programs since the third and fourth year courses in either Military, Naval or Air Science may be offered toward fulfillment of the concentration requirements.

There is no tutorial in Physical Sciences; students are assigned tutors by C. Harold Berry Professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied Physics and chairman of the field. Honors higher than cum laude are not usually recommended. A degree with honors is given to concentrators who have maintained better than B average in the courses they offer for concentration.

Psychology