Developing a Research-Rich Undergraduate Degree Program in Computational Physics

计算科学是一个发展中的交叉学科领域，它结合了科学、数学和计算机科学来解决现实和通常复杂的问题。计算物理学是计算科学和物理学的一个子领域，计算技术和解决问题的取向使其具有比通常在物理学中发现的更广泛的视角。这个项目建立在一个计算物理实验室和网络增强课程的基础上，以开发一个四年制的计算物理本科课程。计算课程、课本和研讨会是研究和网络丰富的，并最终形成一个高级计算实验室，源于物理学和工程学的研究生论文工作，以及国家计算基础设施伙伴关系的应用优先领域。因为计算物理研究实验室实际上是一个由计算机创建的虚拟世界，所以让本科生在这个“实验室”开始工作，参与研究比在“湿”的实验室更容易、更快。这一新学位反映了该项目的综合性，有助于激励学生认真致力于跨学科学习，并推动将高性能计算和通信整合到本科教育中。通过更好地认识到物理系的优势，这个学位可以吸引最适合这个项目的学生，并提供专业学校和雇主对他们非凡成就的认可。此外，这一本科课程可以作为研究生和本科生进一步跨学科课程的垫脚石。

Physics (13) Computational Science is a developing interdisciplinary field that combines science, mathematics, and computer science to solve realistic and often complex problems. Computational Physics is a sub-field of both Computational Science and Physics, with the computational techniques and problem-solving orientation giving it a broader viewpoint than normally found in physics. This project builds on a computational physics laboratory and web-enhanced course to develop a four-year undergraduate curriculum in Computational Physics. The computational courses, texts, and seminars are research- and Web-rich, and culminate in a Senior Computational Laboratory derived from graduate thesis work in physics and engineering, and from application priority areas of the National Partnership for Computational Infrastructure. Because the research laboratory for computational physics is actually a virtual world created by the computer, it is easier and quicker to have undergraduates start working in this "lab" and involved with research than if they were in "wet" labs. This new degree reflects the integrated nature of the program, helps motivate students for the serious commitment needed for interdisciplinary study, and advances the integration of high performance computation and communication into undergraduate education. By leading to a better awareness of the strengths within the Physics Department, this degree can attract students who are best suited to this program, and provide recognition by professional schools and employers of their extraordinary achievement. In addition, this undergraduate program can be used as a stepping stone for further interdisciplinary programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels.