A Mathematically Sound Introduction to Relativity for Math, Physics and Astronomy Majors

1. Introduction

East Tennessee State University offers BS and MS degrees in mathematics and a BS degree in physics. I have developed a class which covers introductory differential geometry, special relativity, and general relativity which is accessible to those with good backgrounds in calculus and linear algebra. Despite the humble prerequisites, the course maintains a high level of mathematical rigor. The class has been offered (formally) as a graduate level math class in differential geometry and (informally) as an undergraduate class in relativity. The primary text for the class is Richard Faber's Differential Geometry and Relativity Theory. See Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1. Click here for the advertisement used in student recruitment.

Figure 2. Click here for a link to the Marcel Dekker's homepage for the text.


Go to Section 2.