ASTRON/PHYSICS 910
Seminar in Astrophysics
0–1 creditsSeminar in astrophysics covering current topics in the field.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 Explore prerequisite map →
The department at a glance
All recorded grades average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
How grades break down
Grades over time
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
About these statistics
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Spring 2027
Recorded this termcourses with offerings
instructors recorded
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
Across course levels
Recorded this termNo released grades for this term.
Recorded offerings over time
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59 courses
Covers basic plasma physics including collective phenomena, fluid models, waves, and kinetic theory, with examples from fusion, astrophysics, and materials processing.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Oliver Schmitz
The reviewer rated the course difficulty as 4 out of 5, noting that the instructor spent at least double the usual time preparing lectures for the online format.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleCovers principles of magnetic confinement and heating of plasmas for controlled thermonuclear fusion, including field structures, orbits, stability, transport, and concepts like tokamaks and stellarators.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited samplePlasma kinetic theory and radiation processes covering Coulomb collisions, Boltzmann equation, Fokker-Planck methods, dynamical friction, neoclassical diffusion, and experimental applications.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleECE/NE/PHYSICS 922
Seminar in Plasma Physics
0–1 creditsSeminar in Plasma Physics covering current topics in the field.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleAn introduction to the physical principles underlying solid-state electronic and photonic devices, including elements of quantum mechanics, crystal structure, semiconductor band theory, carrier statistics, and band diagrams. Offers examples of modern semiconductor structures. Prior experience with MATLAB [such asE C E 203] is strongly encouraged but not required.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Irena Knezevic
The grade was determined entirely by three exams, which were curved such that an 85 percent resulted in an A.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026A general interest survey introducing the principles and applications of medical physics, covering biomechanics, ultrasound, optics, ionizing radiation, radiobiology, and nuclear medicine.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited sampleCovers physics of ionizing radiation production/detection in medical science: detectors, charged/neutral particles for radiotherapy, accelerator-activated radionuclides, radiochemistry, and X-ray tube physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited samplePHYSICS 103
General Physics
4 creditsGeneral Physics is an introductory non-calculus course covering mechanics, heat, and waves, with applications to various fields including the life sciences.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Benjamin Spike
Exams were described as tough because no points were awarded for showing work. Students indicated that if they could complete quizzes and homework on their own, they would likely do well in the class.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 104
General Physics
4 creditsContinuation of PHYSICS 103 covering electricity, magnetism, light, optics, and modern physics with cross-field applications; not recommended for physical science or engineering majors.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Daniel Thurs
Students reported spending a couple of hours each week on pre-lectures, homework, and quizzes, and found Thurs’s exams difficult.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 106
Physics of Sports
3 creditsPhysics of Sports applies physical principles to competitive sports like track and field, cycling, archery, golf, football, and basketball to enhance performance understanding.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jim Reardon
Homework packets were long and due on Wednesdays, while lectures involved writing on the board with limited explanation, requiring attendance for both homework and Fridays.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026The Ideas of Modern Physics explores the twentieth-century physical world picture, covering classical physics, relativity, and quantum theory with an emphasis on conceptual meaning over practical applications.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Gerry Bauer
The course included five exams, four quizzes, and frequent weekly homework assignments, which one student felt was excessive for a three-credit class.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 109
Physics in the Arts
3 creditsPhysics in the Arts covers sound perception, harmony, musical scales, instruments, and studies of light including lenses, photography, color perception, and mixing.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Pupa Gilbert
The material was described as manageable, with one student advising to read the textbook rather than doing prelecture work for solid prep.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 115
Energy and Climate
3 creditsIntroduction to energy sources and environmental impacts, applying mechanics, heat, electricity, and nuclear physics to fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear energy.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · John Sarff
The class was described as very math-heavy, but students noted it was not hard if they completed the homework and attended discussion sessions.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 198
Directed Study
1–3 creditsDirected Study is an introductory-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
PHYSICS 199
Directed Study
1–3 creditsDirected Study is an introductory-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
PHYSICS 201
General Physics
5 creditsGeneral Physics is a calculus-based intro for engineering students covering mechanics, including kinematics, statics, dynamics, energy, and momentum.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Josh Weber
The material is inherently difficult, and students described the class as very hard. Final and midterm questions were similar to those seen in discussion sections, though the overall workload remained challenging.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 202
General Physics
5 creditsCalculus-based General Physics for engineering students covering electricity, magnetism, light, and sound.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Josh Weber
The course content was inherently difficult, though one student found the workload manageable. Another noted that Weber often rushed at the end of lectures and did not finish his notes, which affected the pace of instruction.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 207
General Physics
5 creditsCalculus-based General Physics for biology majors covering mechanics (kinematics, statics, dynamics, energy, momentum), heat, and sound.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Abdollah Mohammadi
Exams were described as difficult and sometimes covered material not in homework, requiring extensive practice with past tests to succeed.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 208
General Physics
5 creditsCalculus-based intro physics for biology majors covering electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics as a continuation of PHYSICS 207.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Abdollah Mohammadi
Lectures often moved quickly, requiring independent study to grasp concepts. Students reported that the course elements and practice materials were difficult and did not align with each other.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to modern physics covering kinetic theory, relativity, quantum theory origins, atomic structure, spectral lines, and solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith
Homework was tougher than exams, and lectures sometimes went beyond the course scope, though the textbook provided helpful support.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026A Modern Introduction to Physics is a calculus-based course covering mechanics, waves, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and modern physics with computation, aimed at Physics, AMEP, and Astronomy-Physics majors.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith
Students reported heavy homework loads and time-consuming lab reports, with programming components described as difficult and unconnected to lecture material.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026A Modern Introduction to Physics covering electromagnetism, circuits, optics, and modern physics topics with computation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Yibin Pan
The lecture pace was described as challenging, requiring students to stay engaged. One student noted that using resources like the textbook and Unstuck study made all the difference in succeeding.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Modern physics continuation covering quantum mechanics, nuclear/particle physics, condensed matter, and atomic physics with weekly lectures and discussions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jeffrey Schmidt
The instructor derived everything from memory and moved through the material at a very fast pace.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 298
Directed Study
1–3 creditsDirected Study is an intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
PHYSICS 299
Directed Study
1–3 creditsDirected Study is an intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
PHYSICS 301
Physics Today
1 creditsPhysics Today features weekly presentations and discussions on current physics research topics led by scientists directly involved in the studies.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Intermediate laboratory course covering modern physics experiments, including gamma-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, blackbody radiation, and Cavendish G measurement, with emphasis on statistical uncertainties and error propagation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 311
Mechanics
3 creditsAdvanced classical mechanics covering vector analysis, conservation laws, symmetry, rigid-body dynamics, and Lagrangian/Hamiltonian formalisms.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Roman Kuzmin
Homework assignments were characterized as hard and long, contributing to the overall challenging nature of the class.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026PHYSICS 322
Electromagnetic Fields
3 creditsCovers electrostatics, magnetostatics, induction, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, and relativity in the context of electromagnetism.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ke Fang
Problem sets and discussion problems helped students understand the material, with exams reflecting similar content to the problem sets and textbook examples.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026