Course	SHP 162 Cosmology
Professor	Peter Skiff
CRN	16436
Schedule	Tu Th 1:00 -2:20 pm HEG 102
Distribution	OLD: A/E	NEW: N/A

Cross-listed: Science, Technology & Society

The course will be a descriptive review of the astrophysical theories of the origin and development of the early universe. The “standard model”, the so-called “big bang theory” will be examined in detail, with attendant evidence and theories of particles, fields, energy and entropy, and space-time geometry. Current models of supernovae, quasars, black and white holes, dark matter, quantum foam, and recent alternative models of super symmetry and superstrings will be reviewed. Various historical notions of time, space, matter, and cause will frame the discussions. No prior experience in collegiate science is required. This course can be taken for distribution credit in science, but does not meet the requirement for computational or laboratory experience. On-line