Physics 394
Career Paths in Physics
Spring 2026

1cr

Instructor: David Newman
Office: 701C Elvey Bldg
Office Phone: 474-7858
Home Phone: 458-8576 (if all else fails!! But please not after 11 PM)
Email: denewman@alaska.edu

Office Hours:

Monday 2:30-4:30pm in 701C Elvey Bldg

Wednesday 2:30-4:30pm in 701C Elvey Bldg

Semester schedule (calendar)

Homework

Link to Auroral Forecast at the GI

This syllabus is located at: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/394_spring2026.html

Course Syllabus

In approaching this (and all) classes, please note the following ancient Chinese proverb:

Course Description: What you can do with a physics degree, determining your skills and interests to find career paths that fit you. Writing a Resume/CV, Cover Letter and preparing for Interviews. Graduate schools in physics, what to expect, how to choose and writing a compelling application (best coursework for graduate school).

Course Content: The goal and outcomes for this class are: In the first part of the course you will learn the what you can do with a physics degree (It's much more than you think). We will then move on asking your skills and interests to find some career paths that fit you. We will then learn to do informational interviews to find out about various jobs. You will learn how to write a Resume/CV, and Cover Letter and how to prepare for an Interview. Finally we will discuss the other path, Graduate school in physics. In this part we will discuss what to expect, how to choose the correct school and how to write a compelling application (as well as the best coursework to prepare for graduate school). Most importantly, you will learn how cool and flexible a physics degree can be, so be prepared for being introduced to "The Power of Physics" (said with reverb!). At the end you will know possible career paths, have narrowed them down to find one or more that fits your interests abilities and goals, learned how to do informational interviews, written a CV and cover letter, and learned how to write a graduate school application.

Prerequisites: Physics 211 or Instructor permission and an interest in Physics.

Materials Needed:

Required Text (will be provided):	Careers Toolbox, 4th Edition AIP

Lectures: This is an in-person lecture style course from 1:00-2:00 T in 207 Reich. The lectures supplement but do not substitute for the reading. Lectures will cover the major topics, emphasizing and discussing the important points. Your personal participation is important, and it is critical that you read the assigned material before lecture. Time permitting, several external speakers will give presentations in class. These will be announced before hand..

Homework: There will be approximately one homework (or in-class) assignment per week. The assignment will be given out in class. We will often go over the assignments in class either the same day (for in class assignments) or the following class. You are encouraged to work with others on the assignments, but make sure the work you turn in is not simply copied from someone else. These assignments help me assess your understanding of the material, and will count toward your final grade.

Worksheets: There will be approximately 5 short worksheets that will be given out and completed in class during the semester. The worksheets will be announced in class and on the schedule page at least one week in advance.

Project: There will be a final project due worth approximately 25% of the course grade. The project will be in the form of a class presentation on a Physics career path. The topic must be agreed to by March 12th and must be competed by May1st. They will be graded both for presentation and content and will be accompanied by a Cover letter and Resume or Grad. School application depending on path. More details will be discussed in class. For those early in physics degree (freshman/sophomore), the project will focus on choosing a path, and for those closer to the end (junior/senior), the project will focus on preparing for that path. The goal of the project is both to learn about a career path and to learn how to communicate to a broad audience. An introduction in a class will be presented on how to giving presentations and methods for communicating at an appropriate level..

Participation: Your personal participation is important. It is therefore critical that you attend class, read the assigned material before lecture, and participate in the discussions and group work. Participation grade will be based on: Attends class regularly and always/sometimes/rarely/never (Excellent ~95/Good ~85/Fair ~75/Poor <65 ) contributes to the discussion with thoughtful questions, relevant issues, class preparation, and enhancing the class’ perspective.

Grading: The course is letter grade based and the grade will consist of the following components (though I reserve the right to make grade adjustments based on performance trends)::

	Homework		25 %
	Worksheets		25 %
	Project			25 %
	Participation	25 %

I grade on a curve however to satisfy university requirments, above 95% will be at least an A, above 85% will be at least a B above 75% will be at least a C, above 65% will be at least a D (in most cases the actual curve is significently lower!).

Contacting Me: I have office hours as listed above. You can drop by at other times if I'm not busy, or make an appointment. I am (almost) never available before class.

Your instructor follows the University of Alaska Fairbanks Incomplete Grade Policy: “The letter “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade used to indicate that the student has satisfactorily completed (C or better) the majority of work in a course but for personal reasons beyond the student’s control, such as sickness, has not been able to complete the course during the regular semester.
Negligence or indifference are not acceptable reasons for an “I” grade.”

Special Needs: The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. We will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.

Plagiarism etc: Plagiarism and cheating are matters of serious concern for students and academic institutions. This is true in this class as well. The UAF Honor Code (or Student Code of Conduct) defines academic standards expected at the University of Alaska Fairbanks which will be followed in this class. (Taken from the UAF plagiarism web site, which has many links with good information about this topic)

Title IX: University of Alaska Board of Regents have clearly stated in BOR Policy that discrimination, harassment and violence will not be tolerated on any campus of the University of Alaska. If you believe you are experiencing discrimination or any form of harassment including sexual harassment/misconduct/assault, you are encouraged to report that behavior. If you report to a faculty member or any university employee, they must notify the UAF Title IX Coordinator about the basic facts of the incident. Your choices for reporting include: 1) You may access confidential counseling by contacting the UAF Health & Counseling Center at 907-474-7043; 2) You may access support and file a Title IX report by contacting the UAF Title IX Coordinator at 907-474-6600; 3) You may file a criminal complaint by contacting the University Police Department at 907-474-7721.

Minors: Any UAF employee or volunteer who reasonably suspects or observes Minor abuse or maltreatment is required to report the incident. Reporting procedures are available on the UAF Protection of Minors. Violation of this policy by employees shall be reported as well.

Ethical Use of Generative AI Policy: In this class, the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (such as GPT-5) to assist with your papers is encouraged. AI can be a valuable tool to help develop ideas, constructively question sources, and integrate sources effectively into your paragraphs. However, the use of AI must be done responsibly and ethically. Here are the specific guidelines for using AI in your assignments:
Use Real Sources: Always ground your work in credible and authentic sources. AI can help you understand and work with these sources, but it should not replace them.
Cite AI Use: If you use Generative AI to help draft or edit any part of your paper, you must cite this in your paper. Treat the AI as you would another kind of source.
Document Your Interaction: If you use GPT-5 or a similar tool, maintain a copy of the thread used (the input you provided and the output you received). This must be available upon request to validate your work and process.
(Statement adapted from WCET AI Policies and Practices Toolkit, by Judith Sebesta - Principal, Sebesta Education Consulting LLC, Van L. Davis, Chief Strategy Officer WCET, pg. 27)

My Student protections and services statement: Every qualified student is welcome in my classroom. As needed, I am happy to work with you, disability services, veterans' services, rural student services, etc to find reasonable accommodations. Students at this university are protected against sexual harassment and discrimination (Title IX), and minors have additional protections. As required, if I notice or am informed of certain types of misconduct, then I am required to report it to the appropriate authorities. For more information on your rights as a student and the resources available to you to resolve problems, please go the following site: www.uaf.edu/handbook/. The university respects and upholds the principles of due process and a fair and equitable process as specified in the Board of Regents’ Policy 09.02 Student Rights and Responsibilities. For more information regarding the rights and responsibilities of students, refer to the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability website. You are encouraged to read the Board of Regents’ policy carefully to fully understand your responsibilities to our community.
We strive to create a safe and respectful environment for all members of our community. If you have questions about expectations of you as a student or believe your rights are being violated, we encourage you to reach out to the  Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability for help. UAF reserves the right to suspend, expel or take other necessary and appropriate action in cases where a student is unable or unwilling to uphold community standards and campus safety.
For more information on your rights as a student and the resources available to you to resolve problems, please go to the following site: https://catalog.uaf.edu/academics-regulations/students-rights-responsibilities/.

COVID-19 statement: Students should keep up-to-date on the university’s policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website:
https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/coronavirus/uaf/uaf-students?authuser=0
Further, students are expected to adhere to the university’s policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply.

ASUAF advocacy statement: The Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the student government of UAF, offers advocacy services to students who feel they are facing issues with staff, faculty, and/or other students specifically if these issues are hindering the ability of the student to succeed in their academics or go about their lives at the university. Students who wish to utilize these services can contact the Student Advocacy Director by visiting the ASUAF office or emailing asuaf.office@alaska.edu. 

Student Academic Support:
Communication Center (907-474-7007, uaf-commcenter@alaska.edu, Student Success Center, 6th Floor Room 677 Rasmuson Library)
Writing Center (907-474-5314, uaf-writing-center@alaska.edu, Student Success Center, 6th Floor Room 677 Rasmuson Library)
UAF Math Services (907-474-7332, uaf-traccloud@alaska.edu)
Drop-in tutoring, Student Success Center, 6th Floor Room 672 Rasmuson Library
1:1 tutoring (by appointment only), 6th Floor Room 677 Rasmuson Library
Online tutoring (by appointment only) available
https://www.uaf.edu/dms/mathlab/, available at the Student Success Center
Developmental Math Lab (Gruening 406, https://www.uaf.edu/deved/math/)
The Debbie Moses Learning Center at CTC (907-455-2860, 604 Barnette St, Room 102, https://www.ctc.uaf.edu/student-services/student-success-center/)
For more information and resources, please see the Academic Advising Resource List https://www.uaf.edu/advising/students/index.php
 
ASUAF advocacy statement: Student Resources:
Disability Services (907-474-5655, uaf-disability-services@alaska.edu, 110 Eielson Building)
Student Health & Counseling [free counseling sessions available] (907-474-7043, https://www.uaf.edu/chc/appointments.php, Whitaker Building, Room 206, Health, Safety & Security Bldg - same building as Fire and Police)
Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability (907-474-7300, uaf-orca@alaska.edu, 3rd Floor, Constitution Hall)
Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) or ASUAF Student Government (907-474-7355, asuaf.office@alaska.edu, Wood Center 119)
 
Nondiscrimination statement:  The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity/equal access employer, educational institution and provider. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University's commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA's statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.
For more information, contact: 
UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability
1692 Tok Lane
3rd floor, Constitution Hall, Fairbanks, AK 99775
907-474-7300
uaf-orca@alaska.edu

Complaints and Concerns: You are always welcome to talk to me about anything, however, if you have a non-subject matter question or concern that cannot be resolved by me, contact the department chair, Dr. Truffer, Physics Department Office, room 102 Reich.

General Advice: Physics is not something you read and memorize, rather it is something you learn how to do. Try the following study procedure:

1. Read the chapter prior to lecture, so that you will know what it's about.
2. Listen carefully to the lecture and take notes.

Tentative Weekly Semester Schedule

(keep checking back)