In sociological research, functional prerequisites are the basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, and money) that an individual requires to live above the poverty line. Functional prerequisites may also refer to the factors that allow a society to maintain social order.
On the other hand, Parsons argued any successful social system has four functional prerequisites:
Adaptation
Goal attainment
Integration
Pattern maintenanceAdaptation – To survive, any society needs the basics of food and shelter. Having these gives any society control over its environment. A society needs a functioning economy to provide this.
Goal attainment – all societies must provide collective goals of some sort for its members to aspire to. Governments set goals such as New Labour setting a target of 50% of school graduates to attend university. To facilitate meeting such goals, governments provide resources, laws, and other institutional mechanisms.
Integration – all societies need a legal system that mediates conflict and protects the social system from breaking down.
Pattern maintenance – Institutions like education and the family reaffirm the essential values needed for society to function. (For Parsons the key institution in passing on such basic values is religion.)
I am planning to take a course on Statistical Physics in my university. The main text to be followed is Statistical Physics by F. Reif. As of now, I have completed university level courses on Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra. What other knowledge would be required to help me get...
ok. so here is the plan. there is a class i want to take. but before i can take that class i need/want to learn bunch of stuff. The classes has bunch of pre-requisite classes that i want to learn. I want to learn them efficiently(dont confuse this with me rushing, if it takes time, so be it but...
Hello,
I am 20 years old and I currently hold a bachelor's degree in law because of various reasons and causes ; however, what I wanted to study was mathematics. And I currently wish to study it but I lack all the prerequisites to apply for a major, as I have not taken any calculus classes...
I am thinking of taking a course on General Theory of Relativity in the next semester of college. My major is in aerospace engineering. I have already completed courses on Calculus, Differential equations, Linear Algebra, and also have a fair bit of idea about tensor calculus.
What other prior...
I don't know if this is the correct section for this thread. Anyway, I'm taking a graduate course in General Relavity using Straumann's textbook. I skimmed through the pages to see his derivation of the Schwarzschild metric and it assumes knowledge of Lie groups. I've never had an abstract...
Hello, I just purchased Spivaks Calculus book ( 4 th edition) and as well as the answer book. Currently I am taking calculus 1 over the summer and I am curious exactly what are the pre req's for this sort of text? I also have the book "How to Prove it" that I can use to supplement proof...
Hi, I'm going to be going into 12th grade.
I have taken (out of applicable classes):
Calculus 1-3
Differential Equations
AP Physics
Statics
Physical Chemistry 1 (Classical Thermodynamics)
Currently Taking:
Linear Algebra
Number Theory
Thermodynamics
Statistical Mechanics...
I am physics undergrad and very keen to learn Biophysics. But the problem is I don't know anything about it, I don't know where to start it. Should I need to know much Biology concepts to start learn Biophysics? If yes tell me what are some topics i should know to learn Biophysics.
Hello, I have recently been doing a lot of research around designing quadcopters/hexcopters and so forth. I have come to the conclusion that it may be fun to learn bait of control theory on the side and it sounds useful for later on when I go to university. Do you know what the prerequisite are...
I was originally interested in doing a B.S in Physics then going to grad school for Physics. After a while of stressing over the job outlook I switched to a B.S in Computational Physics and was going to continue on to grad school for physics that way I have programming to fall back on.
I...
Hi. I'm currently in high school, and ever since my physics teacher brought up quantum mechanics, I've been highly intrigued by it. I understand (at least I think I do!) the general basics of it, like schrodinger's cat, wave function collapse and quantum entanglement, but I don't understand the...
Hello,
I am interested in self-teaching special and general relativity at an undergraduate level, but was wondering what the main mathematical prerequisites are. I currently have almost no idea of GR and a very mathematically basic idea of SR, and have studied maths and further maths to...
Could anyone let me know of a good resource that I could use to learn matrix mathematics? I'm not sure if that is the proper term for that segment of mathematics, but hopefully you get the gist of it. It can be a book or a website, does not matter to me. Also, any suggestions as to what I...
i need help -- what are prerequisites for studying QM?
i have always had an interest in different fields of science, but lately i have become extremely interested in quantum mechanics. i know that there may be different subdivisions of the field, but I'm more interested in like theoretical...
I've learned some complex analysis from the book written by James Brown and Ruel Churchill, but I forget almost everything about complex analysis.
Would there be any problem if I study adult rudin directly?
I'm a 3rd year major in physics. I have a very strong background in linear algebra and rigorous calculus, and I'm studying topology from Munkre's book and abstract algebra from Fraleigh. Next year, I'm taking a graduate course called "Field Theory" which covers General Relativity, using Wald's...
I am returning to school, and I want to take a course in real analysis and abstract algebra this fall. I have been out of school for a year due to health reasons. The only math class I have credit for is Calc III, which I took first semester of my freshman year. I was enrolled in linear algebra...
I was talking to a friend of a friend who is a physics professor, and I asked him what the best way to learn (the basics of) string theory and he said that this book (Superstring Theory Greene, Schwartz Witten) is the best and the one that everyone seems to use. So I went out and brought it...
Hi, I've had electrodynamics on my learning to do list for quite some time, but every time i start i get frustrated because it assumes prerequisite knowledge that i don't have.
Last time it was integrals, so i learned integral calc, and i have vector calculus to learn as well, but I am still...
What would be the prerequisites for an operating systems course or for a compiler course? I am well-versed in C programming and digital circuit design but have very little knowledge of computer architecture. Would I be recommended to go through a text on comp arch before starting a text on...
So, I'm a third year electrical engineer, with a heavy interest in more advanced / theoretical / particle physics.
I have a few questions actually.
What more should I learn before trying to tackle special / general relativity, quantum mechanics, etc?
Is there a particular order I should learn...
Ok Forum
I was interested in studying some advanced math but I was lost as to where to start from so here are the things I'd like to learn
1-Number theory
2-Set theory
3-Group theory
4-Linear Algebra
5-Abstract Algebra
6-Topology
atm I am learning Calculus II but I'd like to do more...
I'm interested in taking some astrophysics classes in Univeristy, and I am just wondering if I have to take Chemistry in high school to be able to take the classes? Or does it depend on the University you are going to?
Hey, I am looking to teaching myself a new subject along with statistical mechanics. I am very interested in some of the implications of game theory and the notion that we can approximately quantify and predict decisions made by large groups of people. Unfortunatly, as an engineering graduate my...
I've taken an interest in chaos theory of late, but only from a casual standpoint. What are the math requirements for truly understanding chaos theory? What about physics? Any other knowledge required?
I will earn my BS in computer science and minor in mathematics in spring 2013. I've...
Ok, this class is killing me. The only college physics classes I've taken are physics 1 and 2. Then I walked into this class and it seems like I'm missing some physics and math classes. I meet the prerequisites, which are only Calc 3 and Physics 2. But this book we're using (from 30 years ago...
I was curious if anyone here ever studied Geometric Algebra? It seems not so mainstream and fairly new and I feel intrigued by the subject but I don't want to get in over my head. Just browsing through the table of contents of some books has a lot of unfamiliar terms to me.
Here was a...
I'm an undergraduate student studying my 4th semester of pure mathematics and I already have passed two courses in analysis that covers chapters 1 to 8 of Rudin's mathematical analysis and I've taken a course in abstract algebra that covers basics of group theory (excluding Silow's theorem) and...
Hi, I'm really interesting of PDE, but I don't really know what I have to learn before start with PDE.
I have learn multivariable calculus and ODE, but are there something need to learn before PDE?
Thanks in advance.
I have already done quantum mechanics (and general relativity if it is relevant) and have all the associated math prerequisites but not much more than that. Is there anything I should add before attempting QFT and what text would be best for these? In addition, what text would you recommend for...
Hello all!
I'm just out of high school and have got a few months before college begins. I think I'm fairly good in high school math, and now I've just started self-learning Single Variable Calculus (Calc I) from MIT OCW Scholar.
I love Physics, and aim to be a physicist someday. I...
I currently have with me the book by philosopher W V O Quine - 'From a Logical point of view - 9 logico-philosophical essays'. It contains his famous essays such as 'On what there is' , 'Two Dogmas of Empiricism', etc. I am having trouble understanding the language of it which includes logical...
I'm really interested in this subject. Would one be capable of learning this subject with a great working knowledge of Multi-var/Vector Calculus, ODE, Linear Algebra, and complex variables? What are some good books?
Do I need a good grounding in thermodynamics, relativity and fluid mechanics before I study quantum mechanics? I will have a good grounding in sound, optics, electricity and chemistry but I've kind of just glossed over thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. I'm extremely attracted to quantum...
hello everyone. I'm planning to take a (beginning) graduate course in algebra. right now I'm taking a standard undergraduate course in algebra that covers rings, integral domains, fields, polynomial domains, unique factorization. The book we're using is hungerford Algebra, which I think the...
any prerequisites to cover the following Course content:
The courses examines the theory of games and its applications in economics: Game trees with perfect information, NIM, combinatorial games. Backward induction. Extensive and strategic (normal) form of a game. Nash equilibrium...
Next year I was looking to take relativity because it's only taught every 2-3 years, and my
favorite professor is teaching it. Problem is, the prerequisite for the class is graduate electrodynamics. I'm wondering, is grad electrodynamics completely necessary for general relativity? I figure it...
Hey guys,
I have designed and built digital circuits with relatively low knowledge on circuit analysis (resistor nets, Wheatstone bridges, etc.) or analog electronics. I do know how to utilize Kirchhoff's circuit laws and Ohm's law. Is it necessary to understand analog systems and circuit...
What do I need to know before I can study Cosmology. I think I'm going to read this text:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198526822/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Cosmology by Steven Weinberg. I'm going to read this College Physics text first by Serway...
Hello,
I'm thinking of starting to study some QFT. I know EM and QM on the level of the first part of Griffiths' books on the subject, and I know (classical) mechanics on the level of Marion & Thornton/Taylor, and I know GR on the level of Schutz/Hartle. Are there a few topics in these areas...
Can somebody please tell me what are the necessary math and physics prerequisites to having a solid foundation in quantum mechanics?
And what are the most important concepts as well?
Generally speaking, what physics and math should one be comfortable with before taking a course on General Relativity? If it helps, the course will be using Shultz's A First Course in General Relativity.
I'm a high school student and mostly I love maths as a hobby and try to learn advanced topics. I'm in 11th grade and have finished most of high school algebra and calculus and want to learn Linear and Abstract Algebra. So, what are the prerequisites? And which one should I do before -Linear or...
I'm wondering whether I could take graduate level complex analysis this spring. I planned on taking complex variables (undergraduate course), but unfortunately it conflicts with another course I want to take. I'm currently taking basic real analysis (not at the level of Rudin), point-set...
well, as always, I initially took a look at what wikipedia says. the idea of talking about general mathematical objects and arrows between them sounds pretty impressive and quite exciting to me, but just like any other math stuff, the idea looks quite simple and the examples that wikipedia gives...
Hey there,
I am a Physics major and currently in my freshmen year. I would love to study General Relativity in the senior year of college. One of the requirements of General Relativity is the knowledge of tensors. But, which math courses should I take? I read in some blogs that Group Theory...
1) If you have a BS in physics, what is the minimum amount of time to get a PhD in physics? Typically, is it best to get it done quickly or take your time with it, maybe getting your masters first? Also, if I don't want to become a professor, is it really worth me getting?
2) I want to get into...