How the Universe works
On this page
|
|
|
|
|
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
How the Universe works is one of a series of short, flexible 10-point courses introducing fascinating topics in science. It develops your understanding of cosmology and particle physics in a lively, approachable style – taking you well beyond the level of popular coffee table books. The course also enables you to try out an area of study before you commit yourself to a longer course, or top up your knowledge and skills between longer courses. It has a choice of start dates, and you decide how long to take over your studies: eight to ten weeks, or up to five months.
Course content
Have you ever wondered about the fundamental interactions that make the Universe work; or how the Universe came to be as it is; or how it may evolve in the future? This course presents answers to questions like these, including results from cutting-edge research to illustrate the science behind the media headlines. Specific topics covered include: measuring the speed and distance to galaxies; the expansion of space; the cosmic microwave background radiation; atoms, nuclei, quarks and neutrinos; the electromagnetic, strong, weak and gravitational forces; unified theories; dark matter and 11-dimensional space–time!
This course is based on a revised and updated version of Universal Processes, one of the books from our longer science course, S103 Discovering science which was last presented in 2007. Much of the material here also appears in one of the books of Exploring science (S104). If you successfully complete S197 and go on to study Exploring science (S104), you will get a discount of £30 off your registration fee for the courses.
Entry
You need little more than an interest in the Universe and the motivation to discover more about it. However, the nature of the subject means that some parts of the course are conceptually fairly demanding. If you are a beginner in science this course is not recommended as your first Open University course; Introducing astronomy (S194) would be a better starting point.
Mathematically, you need only to be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide simple numbers. The structured teaching will take you to a level at which you are happy to use simple maths as a tool in a range of scientific contexts. A maths skills ebook is provided to help you with, for example, fractions, percentages, reading graphs and tables, and scientific units as required by the course.
To cope with the printed material, you should be able to understand in outline the sort of articles printed in the ‘quality’ newspapers. You should also be able to write your thoughts down comprehensibly.
If you would like more information about the range of science short courses available you can visit the science short courses website. This site includes a frequently asked questions section and throughout the year details of special regional events are posted here.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
This is an optional course in our:
- BSc (Honours) Physical Science (B27)
- BSc (Honours) Secondary Education in Physics (B56)
- Certificate in Contemporary Science (C70)
- Certificate in Introductory Astronomy (C91)
It can also count as 10 points towards an Open University bachelors degree, and would be particularly suitable for inclusion in one of the BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences degrees alongside other 10-point science courses. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Some of the printed course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. If you have severely impaired sight you may find the course challenging, as it relies heavily on coloured images. You will need to made considerable use of a personal computer and the internet. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Book, glossary, study guide, bookmark, DVD-ROM containing interactive activities and video material, maths skills ebook, assessment, website.
Some of the course materials are not available electronically via the course website so if you are studying this course outside the EU and register close to the start date, you may have to plan to study the course over the longer (5-month) time period
You will need
A basic scientific calculator.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
You can contact a study adviser who will be able to help you with academic questions to do with the course and the assessment. There will also be an online discussion forum that you can use to get in touch with study advisers and other students.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online system to submit your assessment at the end of the course. This comprises some multiple-choice computer-marked questions and some questions that require written answers.
For each course presentation there is a choice of two alternative dates by which you have to submit the single piece of assessment: February course start completes end of April or end of July; May start completes end of July or end of October; September start completes end of October or end of January; November start completes end of January or end of April.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February, May, September and November each year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Science.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
An excellent course. Quality printed materials and interesting interactive programmes and features for the PC. Very impressed! Along with S194 ...
Read more
This was my third science short course and was, without doubt, the most difficult. By chapter three I was struggling ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
Browse the prospectus
Request a print prospectus
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.