Leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics

The Physics program equips students with foundational knowledge and technical skills to study all aspects of the natural world. Students build a solid foundation in fundamental scientific principles and computational fluency through active classrooms and hands-on learning while developing experimental know-how in project-focused laboratories. Beyond the core Physics requirements, students explore their specific interests in elective courses, culminating in a two-semester Senior Thesis under the guidance of a faculty expert. The analytic approaches and integrated understanding of physical phenomena built by the curriculum prepares students for a dynamic job market by ensuring they have the flexibility and self-directed learning capability to pursue a variety of careers.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Physics program will be equipped, within a few years of graduation:

1. To be working in a variety of fields in industry, government, and academia, either in jobs directly related to STEM (such as research laboratories or data analytics) or indirectly (such as public policy or consulting).

2. To be developing an expertise within their chosen field by leveraging the self-directed learning skills developed during their undergraduate experience.

3. To be pursuing advanced degrees in fields such as science, medicine, law, or business.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the Physics program will attain, by time of graduation:

1. The ability to describe and model a variety of physical systems starting from basic principles, building to more specific and accurate models as the situation demands.

2. The ability to construct a research question, design and carry out an experiment to test that question, and analyze any outcomes with mathematical and computational techniques.

3. The ability to report their findings by written, verbal, and visual means to a range of audiences.

4. The ability to function effectively on a diverse team, plan projects, design tasks, develop metrics for success, and communicate within and without the team.

5. The ability to transfer all of the preceding skills into non-physics contexts.

Math Placement may alter the course schedule above. 

Exploratory Physics Electives