Syllabus: Phy 493: Special Problems
Semester: 2026: Spring / Summer / Fall
Instructor: David Jeffery

Items:

1. EOF

2. EOF

3. Catalog Description:
   1. Ast493: Special Problems (Departmental description): Laboratory or research work on a project that demonstrates the student's ability to apply his or her knowledge of physics. A 30-minute talk on the project required. Prerequisites: Nine credits of upper-division physics courses and consent of instructor. 1-3 credits. (Note: 3 credits required for graduation.)
   2. Phy493: Special Problems (UNLV Catalog description): Laboratory or research work on a project that demonstrates the student's ability to apply his or her knowledge of physics. A 30-minute talk on the project required. Credits: 3. Prerequisites: Nine credits of upper-division physics courses and consent of instructor. Notes: Fulfills the UNLV General Education Natural Science Lecture Only Requirement, Culminating Experience Requirement. Consult your advisor for details.
   3. Note, the catalog topics must be covered in the course by UNLV policy.
4. Library: See also Library Search. There are NO library and NO specific external information resources recommended for this course.
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI can be used as an extra resource. However, authored papers should be the main resources for presentations and written reports.
   NO AI generated text is allowed for presentation words and written reports, but AI can be used for spelling and grammar checking and to generate equations (e.g., in LaTeX). You must write your own written reports.
6. Course Website / Extended Syllabus: There is none for this course.
7. Textbook: None for this course.
8. Required readings: None for this course.
9. Assignment Due Dates:
   1. Usually weekly oral reports on progress with faculty advisor.
   2. Tuesday Dec01: written reports due. The written report is NOT in the catalog descriptions, but is required by course instructors over many years.
   3. Friday Dec04: oral presentation due.
10. Evaluation:
    1. A letter grade will be assigned by the advisor in consulation with the course instructor and other faculty attending the oral presentations on Friday Dec04. The evaluation will be based on the advisor's assessment of the student's overall work including the written and oral reports.
11. Exam Schedule Including Final Exam: No final exam other than the oral report.
12. Remote Instruction Qualifications: None for this course.
13. Summer Semester Qualifications: None for this course.
14. Student Learning Outcomes: Students will have:
    1. Gained some experience in carrying out a research project under the advisement of faculty advisor.
    2. Gained some experience in writing a report on their research project.
    3. Gained some experience givein an oral report on their research project.
15. EOF
16. EOF