Elementary Cosmology

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

An elective course for students planning to major in the arts and letters or business. It is designed to acquaint the non-mathematically inclined student with the most important discoveries in physics of the last few decades and how they have altered our perceptions of the origin and structure of the universe. This course examines such questions as: "Where did the universe come from?" "Why do scientists feel sure that it was born in a cosmic fireball called the Big Bang?" and "Where did the Big Bang itself come from?" This is a reading-intensive course based on popularizations of science written for the curious and intelligent layperson. The emphasis will be on class discussion of the readings. One book report and a term paper are required in addition to examinations. Science or Engineering students who are interested in a more rigorous treatment of the topics covered in this course should consider PHYS 30240 Introduction to Cosmology.