This Stanford Continuing Studies course is a collection of classes and lectures that is the minimalist approach to Theoretical Physics. A student following this curriculum would achieve a solid understanding of Modern Physics in an optimized manner. It is the minimum that is required to begin to understanding theoretical physics.
In Professor Susskind's words ... "A number of years ago I became aware of the large number of physics enthusiasts out there who have no venue to learn modern physics and cosmology. Fat advanced textbooks are not suitable to people who have no teacher to ask questions of, and the popular literature does not go deeply enough to satisfy these curious people. So I started a series of courses on modern physics at Stanford University where I am a professor of physics. The courses are specifically aimed at people who know, or once knew, a bit of algebra and calculus, but are more or less beginners."
While these courses build upon one another, each course also stands on its own, and both individually and collectively they let students attain the "theoretical minimum" for thinking intelligently about modern physics.
Leonard Susskind, Felix Bloch Professor of Physics
Leonard Susskind received a PhD from Cornell University and has taught at Stanford since 1979. He has won both the Pregel Award from the New York Academy of Science and the J.J. Sakurai Prize in theoretical particle physics. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.