Physics 428 (G)   Applied Optics              Fall Semester 2005       Syllabus

Instructor:  Dr. Brian M. Davies
Instructor's office:  Currens 532 (top floor, NW corner)
Phone:  309-298-1307             Office Hours:  MWF 11:00 a.m. – noon and MW 3:00 –4:00 p.m. 

Instructor's e-mail address:  BM-Davies at wiu.edu

Instructor’s web site:  http://frontpage.wiu.edu/~bmd111/

Required textbook:  "Optics", by Eugene Hecht, 4th edition.  (See my list of errata for this text.)

Class Schedule:
Lecture:  M W F 2:00 – 2:50 p.m., Room:  Currens 202
Laboratory:  Tues. 1:00 – 2:50 p.m. and/or times TBA, Room:  Currens 402

Course Objective:  To introduce the student to basic principles in optics and introduce some of the contemporary applications of these principles in science and technology.  The laboratory will consist of experiments that demonstrate important aspects of optics and build lab skills for the student. 

ADA policy:  “In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation.  It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students.  Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency.  Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.”

Point Breakdown:
2 hourly exams 15 % each, for a total of 30%
Homework sets 25 %
Laboratory work 25%
Final exam 20%

Graduate credit:  Students taking this course for graduate credit will be required to do more homework problems (usually involving more mathematics or requiring more electrodynamics background).  In addition, graduate students will be graded using separate criteria from the undergraduates, so that a competitive situation will not develop. 

Special note about the laboratory:  This course was not offered last year, and hence there is a fairly large enrollment.  Unfortunately, the laboratory resources for this course are less than we would like, so as a consequence, we will schedule students for lab at times throughout the week and rotate among experiments, so some students may need to do experiments out of the usual order.  Please be patient and accept the need for flexibility.