Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Catalog - 2019-2020
MLSC 532 - THE GRAND DESIGN
Long Title: THE GRAND DESIGN
Department: School of Continuing Studies
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Course Type: Seminar
Credit Hours: 3
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Graduate
Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s):
Liberal Studies
Description: The book “The Grand Design” by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow asks the big questions: how did our universe begin and is it the only one or are there multiple parallel universes; why is there something rather than nothing; why are we here; why are the laws of nature so finely tuned that they allow a stable universe? Guided by the Hawking/Mlodinow book, this course will explore these questions. We will address the question: do the laws of physics provide for the possibility of a multiplicity of universes of which ours, by happenstance or probability, turned out to have the right set of physical constants to provide for a stable universe and hence the possibility of life or is a Devine Creator necessary? To address these questions we will take a layman’s tour of basic concepts of cosmology, quantum mechanics, relativity, string theory, and extra-dimensions. Department Permission Required.