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-230 Changing Views of the Universe
  • PHYS-310 Electronics
  • PHYS-326 Science for Future Presidents
  • PHYS-331 Modern Physics
  • PHYS-336 Nuclear Ethics
  • PHYS-396 Special Topics: TBD
  • 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 Science for Future Presidents
  • PHYS-331 Modern Physics
  • PHYS-336 Nuclear Ethics
  • PHYS-396 Special Topics: TBD 
  • PHYS-430 Classical 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 Science for Future Presidents
  • PHYS-331 Modern Physics
  • PHYS-336 Nuclear Ethics
  • 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-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 Science for Future Presidents
  • PHYS-336 Nuclear Ethics
  • 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 Science for Future Presidents
  • PHYS-336 Nuclear Ethics
  • 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
  • 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 Science for Future Presidents
  • PHYS-336 Nuclear Ethics
  • 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

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.