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| The "New Advanced Lab" An Apprenticeship in Experimental Physics Beginning with the Fall of 2007, PHYS 347 will undergo a change in format that requires students to achieve a defined set of objectives rather than complete a fixed set of laboratory exercises in a single term. The model for the course is based on the traditional idea of an apprenticeship, in this case an apprenticeship in experimental physics. In the middle ages, a master craftsman would take on an apprentice who would work (and usually live with him) for a period of time learning all the skills of the trade until they became fully qualified. In modern times, trades such as electricians, plumbers, and masons have used this as a part of the development of journeymen (or women) in their field. Typically an apprentice might complete some set of prescribed courses and then work under a supervisor “on the job” until they completed a fixed amount of time and a set list of competencies. Much like this, we expect that a bachelors physics graduate’s training in experimental physics will include some course work (PHYS 247) and the demonstration of completion of a set of competencies. We have broken these competencies into two lists: a required “A” list and an elective “B” list. In many cases this has been done not as a value judgment but for practical necessities. This list may change from year to year. After a student completes PHYS 247 or the equivalent, they may begin completing competencies. This may be done as part of undergraduate research, internships, or special projects or even in the completion of lab assignments for particular classes. When a student completes a competency, the faculty member who has supervised them will register a grade of P or H for that competency on the Blackboard group on the web with their initials. A P will represent a passing grade for that competency while an H represents high passing – work that is in roughly the top 20% of all students in terms of quality. In a student’s next to last semester at JMU, he/she should enroll in PHYS347 through ecampus. This course will be offered every semester but will have no meeting times or official course work during that semester. Instead, it will consist of receiving a grade for your completed list of competencies. You should only enroll in PHYS347 in the semester in which you plan to complete all the competencies. All the A-list competencies and half of the B-list competencies must be completed by the end of the semester before a student’s graduation. Because of this, students should plan in advance since it is likely that they will not be able to complete all of these competencies in the one semester. It is recommended that a student begin to complete competencies during sophomore year in order to make adequate progress. A listing of available projects will be kept on blackboard with the competencies that that project would meet. While the project may list more than 3 competencies that it could fulfill students will not be allowed to earn more than 3 competencies from any one project. This includes undergraduate research or internships. The specific ones that are fulfilled by a particular student at a particular time are at the discretion of the faculty member who supervises that project, so a student should discuss in advance with the professor what their needs are in doing a project. Furthermore, they can earn no more than 6 from any one faculty member. The intention is that a student work with several different faculty members and see elements of all the subfields of physics offered by our department.
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