Developing a Research-Rich Undergraduate Degree Program in Computational Physics

计算科学是一个发展中的跨学科领域，它结合了科学，数学和计算机科学来解决现实和复杂的问题。计算物理学是计算科学和物理学的一个子领域，其计算技术和解决问题的方向使其具有比物理学更广泛的观点。该项目建立在计算物理实验室和网络增强课程的基础上，开发了一个四年制的计算物理本科课程。计算课程，文本和研讨会是研究和网络丰富的，并最终在高级计算实验室来自物理和工程研究生论文工作，并从计算基础设施的国家伙伴关系的应用优先领域。由于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，因此让本科生在这个“实验室”中开始工作并参与研究比在“湿”实验室中更容易和更快。这个新的学位反映了该计划的综合性质，有助于激励学生进行跨学科研究所需的认真承诺，并推动高性能计算和通信融入本科教育。通过更好地了解物理系的优势，这个学位可以吸引最适合这个项目的学生，并获得专业学校和雇主对他们非凡成就的认可。此外，这个本科课程可以作为研究生和本科水平的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.