Contact Prof Hirst for more information about a specific course. You can find further information on the requirements for your major at physics.ucmerced.edu
Soft Matter Physics
This is an introductory course to the field of soft matter for undergraduates and graduate students. The course covers all kinds of interesting topics including liquid crystals, surfactants, polymers, colloids and biomaterials.
Honors Introductory physics
This is an introductory calculus-based physics class for undergraduate students. The class consists of Lectures and Discussion/Lab sections. Assessment is carried out by completion of on-line homework assignments, three mid-term papers and a final exam. For more detailed information on the content and grading of this course please see the official syllabus.
We are Using the textbook “Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A strategic Approach” By Randall D. Knight. The book is available from the campus bookstore and students should ensure to purchase a copy with “Mastering Physics” included. This is required for the on-line homework part of the course.
Thermal Physics Core
This course introduces undergraduate students to the field of thermodynamics. Students should have some proficiency in basic physics and have already taken physics 08, 09 and 10. The course is required for physics majors and is also suitable for physics minors and other students in the physical sciences and Engineering. This class is a pre-requisite to statistical mechanics (phys 212/112) and physics majors should take the two classes as a series.
“An Introduction to Thermal Physics” by Daniel V. Schroeder
Condensed Matter Physics
This is an upper level undergraduate/graduate course and serves as an introduction to condensed matter physics. Condensed Matter physics is the study of materials and their properties. It is a branch of physics highly relevant to everyday life and we will discuss many applications and condensed matter in modern technology, from traditional solid state physics to soft materials and biophysics.
“Solid State Physics: an Introduction” by Philip Hofmann