Graduate distance-learning programs in physics?

[NoName]

Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
Masters Level, that are distance programs? (For example, view courses
over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) Programs of interest
would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
universities that also have standard, on-campus programs.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide info on such programs.

[jmfbahciv]

NoName wrote:
> Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
> Masters Level, that are distance programs? (For example, view courses
> over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) Programs of interest
> would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
> universities that also have standard, on-campus programs.
>
> Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide info on such programs.

Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
lab work?

/BAH

[Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply]

In article <gm6neb2ulq@news6.newsguy.com>, jmfbahciv
<jmfbahciv@aol.ucar.edu> writes:

> Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
> lab work?

Many "normal" physics students do so with little or no lab work, namely
those specialising in theoretical physics. Whether that is good or bad
is a separate question, but it shouldn't be counted per se as a reason
to avoid a correspondence course.

[Oh No]

Thus spake NoName <null@null.com>
>Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
>Masters Level, that are distance programs? (For example, view courses
>over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) Programs of interest
>would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
>universities that also have standard, on-campus programs.
>
>Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide info on such programs.


http://www.liv.ac.uk/

[[Mod. note -- Another possibility might be
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/science/index.htm
-- jt]]

Regards

--
Charles Francis
moderator sci.physics.foundations.
charles (dot) e (dot) h (dot) francis (at) googlemail.com (remove spaces and
braces)

[jmfbahciv]

Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote:
> In article <gm6neb2ulq@news6.newsguy.com>, jmfbahciv
> <jmfbahciv@aol.ucar.edu> writes:
>
>> Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
>> lab work?
>
> Many "normal" physics students do so with little or no lab work, namely
> those specialising in theoretical physics. Whether that is good or bad
> is a separate question, but it shouldn't be counted per se as a reason
> to avoid a correspondence course.

Read the OP's post again. I don't think he's done any of the undergrad
physics which requires labs. There is a reason for those labs early
on for the theorists. It's to inform them that reality exists and
demonstrate how validations are done. Are you saying that the
theoretical physicists don't ever think about how their hypotheses
can be explored in a lab?

/BAH

[jmfbahciv]

NoName wrote:
> Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
> Masters Level, that are distance programs? (For example, view courses
> over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) Programs of interest
> would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
> universities that also have standard, on-campus programs.
>
> Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide info on such programs.

Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
lab work?

/BAH

[NoName]

>Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
>lab work?

A partial list of reasons:

1. Adult student, well into my career years with a busy, full-time
job, so no time for lab work or on-campus work.

2. A career not in science or engineering, but supporting science
and/or engineering, so I don't need exactly the kind of education a
working scientist/engineer gets.

3. But, I can benefit from further, *substantive* depth in the
sciences (so, no "physics for poet courses", but rather real courses
done long-distance) by way of both professional development and
intellectual growth, and also can benefit from the additional
recognition conferred by an advanced degree.

The apparent lack of distance learning programs in science is
short-sighted, because I'm not the only one with these needs.

As for "hiding" behind "NoName," a criticism posted not below, but
elsewhere in this thread -- yes, on the Internet, where people who
lack curiosity about other people's motives are ready to flame you
based on narrow, unimaginative preconceptions, it's wise to be a dog.

On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 20:50:25 +0000 (UTC), jmfbahciv
<jmfbahciv@aol.ucar.edu> wrote:

>NoName wrote:
>> Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
>> Masters Level, that are distance programs? (For example, view courses
>> over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) Programs of interest
>> would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
>> universities that also have standard, on-campus programs.
>>
>> Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide info on such programs.
>
>Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
>lab work?
>
>/BAH

[PD]

On Feb 5, 12:55*pm, NoName <n...@null.com> wrote:
> >Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
> >lab work?
>
> A partial list of reasons:
>
> 1. *Adult student, well into my career years with a busy, full-time
> job, so no time for lab work or on-campus work.
>
> 2. *A career not in science or engineering, but supporting science
> and/or engineering, so I don't need exactly the kind of education a
> working scientist/engineer gets. *
>
> 3. *But, I can benefit from further, *substantive* depth in the
> sciences (so, no "physics for poet courses", but rather real courses
> done long-distance) by way of both professional development and
> intellectual growth, and also can benefit from the additional
> recognition conferred by an advanced degree.
>
> The apparent lack of distance learning programs in science is
> short-sighted, because I'm not the only one with these needs.
>
> As for "hiding" behind "NoName," a criticism posted not below, but
> elsewhere in this thread -- yes, on the Internet, where people who
> lack curiosity about other people's motives are ready to flame you
> based on narrow, unimaginative preconceptions, it's wise to be a dog.
>
> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 20:50:25 +0000 (UTC), jmfbahciv
>
> <jmfbah...@aol.ucar.edu> wrote:
> >NoName wrote:
> >> Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
> >> Masters Level, that are distance programs? *(For example, view courses
> >> over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) *Programs of interest
> >> would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
> >> universities that also have standard, on-campus programs. *
>
> >> Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide info on such programs.
>
> >Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
> >lab work?
>
> >/BAH

Many companies recognize that an advanced degree is hard to get while
working full-time and so they'll have programs to facilitate that,
everything from tuition assistance to reduced hours. This is
*especially* true if the degree makes the employee more valuable to
the company. You'll find such things especially with professional
degrees like business administration, architecture, engineering, etc.

The reason they have these programs is because advanced degree work
cannot be handled in the same way "night school" or online classes for
undergraduate credits are handled. Also, as you note, the payoff for
acquiring the degree is greater, and so more investment is required.

One cheap option is to look for graduate classes at the nearest
university and asking to audit the classes. Most profs won't mind. But
you won't get credit either.

[JohnF]

In sci.physics.research NoName <null@null.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009, jmfbahciv <jmfbahciv@aol.ucar.edu> wrote:
>> NoName wrote:
>>> Are there any graduate level programs in physics, at least to the
>>> Masters Level, that are distance programs? (For example, view courses
>>> over the Web, take tests over the Web, etc.) Programs of interest
>>> would be from reasonably respected, accredited colleges or
>>> universities that also have standard, on-campus programs.
>>
>>Why in the world would you want to study physics without any
>>lab work?
>
> A partial list of reasons:
> 1. Adult student, well into my career years with a busy, full-time
> job, so no time for lab work or on-campus work.
> 2. A career not in science or engineering, but supporting science
> and/or engineering, so I don't need exactly the kind of education a
> working scientist/engineer gets.
> 3. But, I can benefit from further, *substantive* depth in the
> sciences (so, no "physics for poet courses", but rather real courses
> done long-distance) by way of both professional development and
> intellectual growth, and also can benefit from the additional
> recognition conferred by an advanced degree.

Sounds like maybe you don't need a degree granting institution.
Is that right? In that case, you might try MIT's open courseware
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/index.htm
although last time I looked its content seemed somewhat spotty.
Also, a book like A Unified Grand Tour of Theoretical Physics,
Ian D. Lawrie, IOP Publishing 1990, ISBN 0-85274-015-8(pbk),
is terrific for self study, and got a great review in Physics Today,
Jan 1992, page 72. A similar undergraduate book is Theoretical
Concepts in Physics, M.S.Longair, Cambridge U.P. 1984,
ISBN 0-521-27553-9(pbk) (also favorably reviewed by Emilio Segre,
but I've lost the second page of that containing the cite info).
If you indicated your background and areas of interest in more
detail, then more specific suggestions might be possible.
--
John Forkosh ( mailto: j@f.com where j=john and f=forkosh )