Several students have requested the opportunity to study thermodynamics & statistical mechanics at the upper-division level next year. Several options exist.

• There is a Thermodynamics course available as partial credit option in Atoms, Molecules, and Reactions (AMR). This is currently planned as 8 credits: 4 in winter and 4 in spring. This will be a solid course in thermodynamics from a chemistry perspective, with minor coverage of statistical mechanics.
• I’ve discussed with several interested students the possibility of a group contract in Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics (an identical Individual Learning Contract that each student in the group would submit), which would likely be 6 – 8 credits, spread out over fall and winter (3 – 4 in fall, and 3 – 4 in winter). The contract would cover Chapters 1 – 7 in Introduction to Thermal Physics, by Schroeder.
• A new possibility that Dharshi and I have been recently discussing (but no commitments have been made) is for me to teach Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics within AMR. This would be the same coverage as the contract, but would be taught as a course instead of as an independent study and would in be in winter/spring instead of fall/winter.

I invite your responses to these possibilities: your ranked list of personal preferences; pros & cons of the options; your creative ideas. Please email me.