Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Orientation for all new graduate students:
10:30 AM - Check-in and pick up materials in front of St. Paul’s Chapel.
11:00 AM - Convocation in Chapel.
Afternoon - micro-sessions on Library and Computing Services, Health Services, and Career Education.
WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2009 – ROOM 705 PUPIN
9:30 AM - Professor William Zajc, Department Chair Welcome to the group.
9:45 AM - Professors Jeremy Dodd and Robert Mawhinney
Introductions and overview of the department and program, including information about the curriculum, placement exams, graduate student teaching responsibilities, Qualifying Exam, and research choices.
11:00 AM - Coffee break
11:30 AM - Rasma Mednis, Administrative Coordinator; Lydia Argote, Director of Budget Operations - Administrative procedures and forms, appointments, visa issues, stipend and salary payments.
12:00 PM - Photography Session
12:30 PM– Lunch in 705 Pupin with members of the faculty and current graduate students.
1:30 PM - Kathleen Kehoe, Science Librarian: Presentation on library reserves.
2:00 PM - Professor Emlyn Hughes, Deputy Chair - Presentation on research being done in the department.
3:30 PM - Coffee break in 705 Pupin.
3:45 - 5:30 PM - Individually scheduled meetings of students with assigned faculty
advisor in preparation for registering for courses for Fall 2009.
THURSDAY, September 3, 2009
8:30 AM - 1:30 PM - GSAS Orientation for New Teaching Fellows - 301 Philosophy Hall.
You are encouraged to attend any portions of this program that do not conflict with the Physics Department Orientation.
9:30 AM - 12:00 Noon - Individually scheduled meetings of students with assigned faculty advisor in preparation for registering for courses for Fall 2009.
12:00 Noon - Lunch in 705 Pupin with members of the faculty and current graduate students.
1:00 - 3:00 PM - Individually scheduled meetings of students with assigned faculty
advisor in preparation for registering for courses for Fall 2009.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - 705 Pupin, Placement examination in quantum mechanics for students who have had a graduate level course in the subject and wish to place out of one or the other of two semesters Physics G6037 – G6038, Quantum Mechanics I and II.
** The Department does not offer a placement exam for electromagnetism. The Department's required course, PHY 6092, emphasizes radiation theory, at a level at or slightly above the second half of J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics. Our experience has been that almost all students need to take this course, so a placement exam is not offered. Students who have already mastered the material may discuss the issue of a placement exam directly with the instructor (for Fall 2009, Professor Boris Altshuler).
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009
Labor Day, U.S. national holiday - University will be closed
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
CLASSES BEGIN FOR FALL SEMESTER 2009
(Some International Physics students may be required to return for a second screening of the American Language Program exam.)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM GSAS Dean’s BBQ: Kent Plaza and Philosophy Lawn
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
12:00 Noon - First meeting of all Teaching Fellows, 831 Pupin: Discussion of general and specific graduate student teaching for Fall 2009.
