Perspectives on the Utah Physics Tuning Process

What does a bachelor's degree in physics actually mean? How is a physics degree obtained at University of ``X'' different from one obtained at ``Z'' State University? In March of 2009, a collaboration of scholars were gathered together to participate in the Tuning USA Process: an educational initiative funded by the Lumina Foundation with the goal of defining and clarifying undergraduate and graduate degree standards in various fields across the country. The Tuning USA is modeled after the Tuning Europe project, launched in 2000 by the European Commission to examine and unify degree standards across a number of countries and educational institutions. In collaboration with the Utah Board of Regents, physics faculty from state institutions of higher education worked on this pilot project, which concluded in November of 2009. As a member of the Utah Physics Working Group, I will give my perspectives on the Tuning USA Process, and how it might be beneficial on a national scale.