A Study of the Development of the Paradigms in Physics Program

Over the prior two decades, many changes had occurred as new faculty began teaching the upper-division courses, new technologies emerged, and new physics specialties became prominent in the current faculty's research programs. Several long-standing issues as well as new challenges had become apparent. During winter and spring terms 2016, a small faculty committee surveyed current faculty and student perspectives, conducted a detailed review of the current junior and senior curriculum, developed a set of proposals for changes, and sought input from the faculty in individual consultations. Near the end of spring term, the current physics faculty voted unanimously to go forward with this proposed reform of the Paradigms in Physics program. Needing immediate attention during summer term was obtaining university approval for these changes by submitting the required forms and information to the registrar. Also of immediate concern was preparing for a faculty vote early in the fall on associated modifications to the requirements for the physics major and minor as well as for developing several new specialty courses. An on-going process, the upper-division curriculum committee meetings continued during fall term in engaging the faculty in discussing and developing plans collaboratively. A new process, shadowing, enhanced the preparation of new faculty to teach interactively in the paradigms in physics courses.

The four Paradigms 2.0 committee members reflected upon their experiences during interviews shortly after the faculty vote. Their insights are reported here as recommendations for others interested in undertaking similar curricular reforms.