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Yearly Course Schedule

Please find below our schedule of course offerings — and Special Topics courses

Course Offerings by Semester

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-105 General Physics I
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I 
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II 
PHYS-220 Astronomy 
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-310 Electronics
PHYS-331 Modern Physics
PHYS-396 Intro to Rapid Prototyping
PHYS/ATEC-405 Acoustics
PHYS-425/ISCI-625 Biophysics
PHYS-450 Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS-460 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS-480 Physics Capstone

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-105 General Physics I
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-310 Electronics
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-331 Modern Physics
PHYS-396 Special Topics: TBD
PHYS/ATEC-405 Acoustics
PHYS-425/ISCI-625 Biophysics
PHYS-470 Quantum Mechanics
PHYS-480 Physics Capstone

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-105 General Physics I
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-310 Electronics
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-331 Modern Physics
PHYS/ATEC-405 Acoustics
PHYS-425/ISCI-625 Biophysics
PHYS-430 Classical Mechanics
PHYS-460 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS-480 Physics Capstone

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-105 General Physics I
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-310 Electronics
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-331 Modern Physics
PHYS-396 Special Topics: TBD
PHYS/ATEC-405 Acoustics
PHYS-425/ISCI-625 Biophysics
PHYS-430 Classical Mechanics
PHYS-480 Physics Capstone

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-200 Light, Sound, Action
PHYS-205 General Physics II
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-220 Astronomy
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-351 Waves and Optics
PHYS-360 Astrophysics
PHYS-385 How Physicists Work
PHYS-430 Classical Mechanics
PHYS-440 Experimental Physics

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-200 Light, Sound, Action
PHYS-205 General Physics II
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-220 Astronomy
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-351 Waves and Optics
PHYS-385 How Physicists Work
PHYS-380 Math and Comp
PHYS-440 Experimental Physics
PHYS-450 Electricity and Magnetism

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-200 Light, Sound, Action
PHYS-205 General Physics II
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-351 Waves and Optics
PHYS-360 Astrophysics
PHYS-385 How Physicists Work
PHYS-440 Experimental Physics
PHYS-450 Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS-470 Quantum Mechanics

PHYS-100 Physics for the Modern World
PHYS-110 Principles of Physics I
PHYS-160 Astronomy w/Lab
PHYS-200 Light, Sound, Action
PHYS-205 General Physics II
PHYS-210 Principles of Physics II
PHYS-230 Changing Views of the Universe
PHYS-326 Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS-351 Waves and Optics
PHYS-385 How Physicists Work
PHYS-380 Math and Comp Physics
PHYS-440 Experimental Physics
PHYS-450 Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS-470 Quantum Mechanics

Course Descriptions

For sample syllabi, please contact physics@american.edu.

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Selected Special Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)

Topics for PHYS-396 vary by section and may be repeated for credit with different topic, for example:

Biophysics

This interdisciplinary course will focus on applying the principles of physics to biological systems to explain phenomena such as friction and diffusion in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics applied to biophysical systems, and a survey of biophysical techniques and applications.

Cosmology

Examines the current model of the universe, including Big Bang and early universe physics, inflation, darker matter, and dark energy, within the framework of Einstein's theory of General Relativity and the standard model of particle physics. The course also explores related topics, including black hole physics and the fate of the universe.

Physics and Public Policy

Examines intersection of public policy concerns like energy, electricity, or nuclear physics with Physics topics including magnetism, radioactive decay, fission, electromagnetic radiation, sound, gravitation, optics, and Newton's laws. These interaction impact issues of alternative energy sources, nuclear proliferation, quantum cryptography, and satellite observations of the Earth.