annoucer
December 1989,Vol.19,No.4
1990 AAPT/APS Joint Winter Meeting
Atlanta,Georgia
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS

AC8 10:55 A Cooperative Education Program In Physics



                                        

John A. MacKnnon, Physics Department, Concordia

University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd West, Montreal,

QUE, Canada, H3G lM8


It is an exciting time to be a physicist.  The discovery
of high temperature superconductivity, the recent obser-
vation of a supernova, the development of super-
computers using  gallium arsenide  technology and dis-
coveries in practically every area have created a new
excitement in physics.  There is a new urgency to pro-
duce more and better physicists to drive the explosive
growth in science and technology.  In cooperative educa-
tion, students alternate periods of formal academic study
with paid on-the-job practical experience in the private
and public sectors.  The physics co-op program is a 90
credit program with a physics core of 63 credits and 27
credits for electives.  Students can take a minor in comp-
puter science in which computer languages such as
BASIC, FORTRAN, and PASCAL are studied.  Stu-
dents in physics marketing take courses in the faculty of
commerce.  Students wishing to pursue graduate studies
in physics take additional undergraduate physics courses.