Course Syllabus

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PHYS 3980
Undergrad Seminar II

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Overview

Course PHYS 3980
Department Physics & Astronomy
Pre-Requisites None; intended for students around their junior year
Credit Hours 1
Instructor

Anil Seth, aseth@astro.utah.edu
Semester

Fall 2024
Schedule

Thursdays, 12:55-1:45pm, CSC 25

Course Schedule (preliminary)
Description
A seminar that prepares Physics & Astronomy students for success after graduation, highlighting careers in industry and graduate school opportunities. The seminar features presentations from campus partners, departmental and college faculty, and industry partners. The seminar will also discuss research and internship opportunities.
Office Hours
Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm, INSCC 330 or by zoom on request.

Goals & Objectives

The goal for this course is to provide you opportunities to connect with department, college, and university resources that will enhance your undergraduate experience and prepare you for what comes next. We will cover how to search and apply for internships and research opportunities, how to better prepare for and apply to graduate school, and how to find jobs and careers after graduation that use your scientific and technical skills. This course will focus on these opportunities for professional development as you prepare to graduate.

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • use internship and career search resources available to you at the department, college, and university levels,
  • research graduate school opportunities and know how to prepare for that option,
  • search and connect with industry professionals through Handshake and other events.
  • critically assess their resume and how it could be adopted for different positions.

Required Materials

There are no textbooks.   But you should join the following if you haven't already:

Communication

Please review the communication methods and requirements for this course:

Preferred Contact Method

The easiest way to contact me directly is to email me at aseth@astro.utah.edu, also ok to use Canvas inbox, but responses are less likely to be prompt!

Office Hours

Thursdays in INSCC330 or by zoom by arrangement.  I'm happy to meet with you at other times if you contact me.

Course Policies

Grading and Assignments

  • Attendance in class is mandatory; many of the activities we will do are not things that can easily be made up. Attendance will be taken each session as part of your grade for the course. It is also important that you are on time and participate to be fair to our presenters, your classmates, me, and yourself. Opportunities to ask questions, receive feedback, and network in real time is an essential facet of this course.  Late arrivals will result in a deduction of your daily attendance grade.  
  • This class will be in person and will not be recorded or streamed virtually; some of our guests may join us remotely via zoom.   
  • You may have up to two excused absences for the semester.  ***You must notify me before the class you miss for the absence to be excused, and there may also be make up work from the class.***  This make up work will be specified in a response to your email from me.

 

 

  • Vision Board (10pts): On one page or slide, create a visual representation of you! Using PowerPoint, Publisher, Google Slides, Canva, Adobe or any of your preferred photo editing software, create a one page visual that showcases who you are and what your goals are. You can be as creative as you want, but we will share these in small groups in class.

 

  • Resume, Career and Internship Fair Attendance, and Reflection (5+20 pts):  Develop your resume before the Career and Internship Fair on Feb. 13.  Then attend the career fair (or an alternative).  You will be required to log into your free Handshake account, register for the career fair, and research 3 employers. You will complete a 2 page reflection on the experience.

 

  • Informational Interview (20 pts): You will conduct an informational interview with someone who works in a future field of interest about their current position and their career path (how did they get there?). You will complete a 1 page reflection.
  • Your grade will be based on total points earned. Standard rounding will be used if necessary. 
  • All assignments will be due at 11:59PM the day they are due. All assignments, unless otherwise announced, must be submitted to the designated area of Canvas. Do not submit assignments via email.
  • Assignments will typically be graded and posted within a week.
  • Late work policy: 5% off for one week; if more than one week late, 10% off and you should let me know by email/Canvas messages why you haven't finished and when you plan to turn it in.  
  • It is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of all grades. If you see any error in your grades on Canvas, reach out to me as soon as possible, or at the latest within two weeks from when the assignment was graded.
  • Written assignments should be written by yourself, not using AI.  

Grading

University of Utah grading scale

Letter Scoring
A 100% - 94%
A- 93.9% - 90%
B+ 89.9%–87%
B 86.9%–84%
B- 83.9% - 80%
C+ 79.9%–77%
C 76.9%–74%
C- 73.9% - 70%
D+ 69.9%–67%
D 66.9%–64%
D- 63.9% - 60%
E 59.9%–0%

Accommodations

Disclaimer

Accommodations will be considered on an individual basis and may require documentation.

Please contact your instructor and/or teaching assistant as soon as possible (preferably shortly before the semester begins) to request accommodations of any kind.

Extreme personal circumstances

Please contact your instructor as soon as possible if an extreme personal circumstance
(hospitalization, death of a close relative, natural disaster, etc.) is interfering with your ability to complete your work.

Religious Practice

To request an accommodation for religious practices, contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Active Duty Military

If you are a student on active duty with the military and experience issues that prevent you from participating in the course because of deployment or service responsibilities, contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Disability Access

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services (CDS). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

If you will need accommodations in this class, contact:

Center for Disability Services
801-581-5020
disability.utah.edu
162 Union Building
    200 S. Central Campus Dr.
     Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Changes to the Syllabus

This syllabus is not a contract. It is meant to serve as an outline and guide for your course. Please note that your instructor may modify it to accommodate the needs of your class.

You will be notified of any changes to the Syllabus.

University Policies

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities.

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability & Access (CDA). CDA will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

In compliance with ADA requirements, some students may need to record course content. Any recordings of course content are for personal use only, should not be shared, and should never be made publicly available. In addition, recordings must be destroyed at the conclusion of the course.

If you will need accommodations in this class, or for more information about what support they provide, contact:

Center for Disability & Access

  801-581-5020
  disability.utah.eduLinks to an external site.
  162 Union Building
  200 S. Central Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Safety at the U

The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more safety information and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, contact:

Campus Police & Department of Public Safety

  801-585-COPS (801-585-2677)
  dps.utah.edu
  1735 E. S. Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Addressing Sexual Misconduct

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information.

If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to university officials: 

Title IX Coordinator & Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

  801-581-8365
  oeo.utah.edu
  135 Park Building
  201 Presidents' Cir.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Office of the Dean of Students

  801-581-7066
  deanofstudents.utah.edu
  270 Union Building
  200 S. Central Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

To file a police report, contact:

Campus Police & Department of Public Safety

  801-585-COPS (801-585-2677)
  dps.utah.edu
  1735 E. S. Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

If you do not feel comfortable reporting to authorities, the U's Victim-Survivor Advocates provide free, confidential, and trauma-informed support services to students, faculty, and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence.

To privately explore options and resources available to you with an advocate, contact:

Center for Student Wellness

  801-581-7776
  wellness.utah.edu
  328 Student Services Building
  201 S. 1460 E.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Academic Misconduct

It is expected that students comply with University of Utah policies regarding academic honesty, including but not limited to refraining from cheating, plagiarizing, misrepresenting one’s work, and/or inappropriately collaborating. This includes the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools without citation, documentation, or authorization. Students are expected to adhere to the prescribed professional and ethical standards of the profession/discipline for which they are preparing. Any student who engages in academic dishonesty or who violates the professional and ethical standards for their profession/discipline may be subject to academic sanctions as per the University of Utah’s Student Code: Policy 6-410: Student Academic Performance, Academic Conduct, and Professional and Ethical Conduct.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an individual assignment, and/or failure in the course. Academic misconduct, according to the University of Utah Student Code:

“...Includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one’s work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information…It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic misconduct.”

For details on plagiarism and other important course conduct issues, see the U's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due