Bachelor of Science in Physics
The aim of the four-year Bachelor of Science in Physics is to prepare students thoroughly for any one of the many careers based on a concentration in physics. For some students, this means preparation for graduate school and further study leading to the master’s or doctoral degree. For many others, it means professional work in industry, government or in high school teaching. Some students use their major in physics to prepare for work in mathematics, chemistry, biology, medicine, engineering, law, history of science, writing or business. The program’s emphasis on fundamental knowledge, thorough analytic training and the universal logic of science enables physics students to take these different career paths.
The core of the program is 34 credits of required physics courses. Students begin with a general, calculus-based introductory sequence, followed by an introduction to Modern Physics, then intermediate courses in the fundamentals, i.e., Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Physics. Students are provided with a solid grounding in mathematics and in the humanities and social sciences, and the choice to round out their education with two free electives. Students select the balance of their major courses from available elective physics offerings. Technical electives from other disciplines may be substituted with adviser approval, especially if a student is pursuing a concentration or minor.
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