Undergraduate Course Handbook - University of Oxford Department ...

Short OptionsShort Options are intended to introduce either specialisttopics or subjects outside the mainstream courses. Theyallow students to experiment with new material withoutsignificant prejudice to their degree class, as they carrya low weighting.Format of the Short Option PaperPhysics Short Options will be examined by a singlecompendium paper divided into sections - one for eachoption - each containing 3 questions. Candidates offeringone Short Option should attempt two questions fromone section in 1½ hours. Candidates offering two ShortOptions should attempt four questions, two from eachsection, in 3 hours.PrelimsChoose from one of the Short Options S01, S02 or S03.The Short Option in Prelims is not subject to a resit,but is a required part of the examination and a goodperformance will help if you are on the borderline of aPass or Distinction.Parts A & BAt least one Short Option must be offered in Parts A & B(for both courses). Alternatives, including the LanguageOption, are available.For both Parts A and B, a second Short Option may beoffered in place of 6 days of practical work. Studentselecting to take this choice must inform the AssistantHead of Teaching (Academic) by e-mail at c.leonardmcintyre@physics.ox.ac.ukby the end of MichaelmasTerm.At the start of Michaelmas Term, meetings will be heldfor the 2 nd and 3 rd years to explain the options and choicesopen to them with regard to Short Options, PracticalWork and alternatives. Details about times and placeswill be announced in the Lecture List.Language OptionThe language option will involve 32 hours of classestogether with associated work in Trinity Term. It can beused to replace the Short Option paper in either Part Aor Part B.A course is offered in French every year. Courses in Germanor Spanish are offered in alternate years. In TrinityTerm 2013, the language courses will be French andGerman. The minimum entry requirement is normallyan A at GCSE in the relevant language or equivalent.There will be a presentation for those interested in takinga language option at the Language Centre, 12 WoodstockRoad on the Friday of 4 th week, Michaelmas Term, at3.00 pm. Formal application to the Head of the Physics28For the language options, final assessment is based onthe syllabus and learning outcomes published by theLanguage Centre.For further information, contact the Physics TeachingFaculty (see Appendix N) or Dr Robert Vanderplank atthe Language Centre (robert.vanderplank@lang.ox.ac.uk).Students may offer to do language option on more thanone occasion provided it is different language. For examplea student can do French in Part A and German inPart B, the subject to eligibility to take this option by thepreliminary test in the middle of Hilary Term.Alternative subjectsApplication must be made via the Assistant Head ofTeaching (Academic) by e-mail to c.leonard-mcintyre@physics.ox.ac.uk to replace the compulsory Short Optionpaper in Part A or Part B; the deadline is Friday of 4 th weekMichaelmas Term. The application will only be agreedif the proposed course and an examination paper alreadyexists within the University, and the alternative subject isconsidered appropriate. Students will be advised of thedecision by the end of 8 th week of Michaelmas Term.Pre-approved subjectsSeveral alternative subjects offered by other faculties ordepartments can be studied in place of one or two shortoptions have been pre-approved as follows:a) History and Philosophy of Science: this is a SupplementarySubject is a paper offered within the Universityby other departments. Physics students may substitutesuch a paper instead of two short options. Students mayalso take either the History of Science or Philosophy ofScience as a short option.b) Anyone wishing to do the S20: History of Sciencecourse should attend to the first lecture, to be given inthe Tanner Room, Linacre College, see the Physics Department’sLecture Database (www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures/). It is especially important to be present at thefirst lecture, immediately after which tutorial groups forthe term will be arranged. Please contact Prof. P. Corsi(pietro.corsi@history.ox.ac.uk). More details can befound at http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/teaching/sshistory.html. If you wish to offer this option, please inform theAssistant Head of Teaching (Academic) by e-mail atc.leonard-mcintyre@physics.ox.ac.uk by 2 nd week ofMichaelmas Term.c) S21: Philosophy of Physics, S27: Philosophy of Space-Time and S28: Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, canbe taken separately to replace one short option. Theseoptions are offered by the Philosophy Faculty. If you wishto offer these options, please inform the Assistant Head ofTeaching (Academic) by e-mail at c.leonard-mcintyre@