Particle Physics I: The SM and the MSSM

Abstract

After discussing alternative scenarios for the origins of the electroweak symmetry breaking, I briefly review the experimental status of the Standard Model. I explore further both the hints for, and constraints on, supposing that that a supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model exists, with supersymmetry broken at the weak scale. I end with a few comments on the theoretical implications of the recent evidence for neutrino oscillations.