Developing an Entry Point Quantum Information Science Course for the Motivated Undergraduate

Quantum Information Science (QIS) is rapidly evolving, catching the attention of a growing swath of students from many backgrounds. The interest in a quantum workforce needs to be addressed. In this presentation we display our current approach at Brigham Young University: Developing an introductory, yet technical course in QIS intended for all motivated majors. We cover topics ranging from the simple introduction to qubits to quantum algorithms and advanced quantum technology applications. As our course is open to students with different levels of math preparation, we also introduce complex numbers and selected linear algebra topics. The course will have a progressive and staggered format, allowing students to grow incrementally in a well defined structure, while allowing individual freedom through projects, such as using qiskit to create quantum circuits. We compare our course to similarly introductory QIS courses. Specific materials we have developed are presented in an accompanying poster at this meeting (Goodrich, et al.).