B.A./B.S. in Physics

Physics originated in antiquity as the study of natural philosophy. As such, it attempts to describe the universe within the context of both physical laws and the fundamental particles of nature. The broad scope of physics runs from the microscopic nuclear structure and that of the elementary particles themselves to the macroscopic, the galaxy and evolution of the universe as a whole. Today the subject is generally divided into broad areas such as solid-state, nuclear, elementary particles, astrophysics, etc. The department maintains competence in most major branches of physics and offers instruction in these areas at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, it has a strong interest and involvement in science education. Learning Outcomes The B.S. and B.A. in Physics, the B.A. and B.S. in Astronomy, the Physics Plus B.S., and the B.A. in Physics and Physics Education all have the broad objectives enumerated below. These objectives are designed to promote the success of our majors in their chosen career path, whether that takes them into academia, secondary teaching, industry or further education: Provide students with problem-solving and data-manipulation skills appropriate to the growing range of scientific and technological careers in academia or industry. Develop students’ oral, written, interpersonal and communication skills. Provide students with skills in experimental design, data collection, and data analysis through research experiences in a laboratory/computational/telescope setting. Educate students in the application of mathematical tools that will be useful for them to achieve success in a post-college career. Provide a conceptual and analytical understanding of the core areas of physics and their specialty area. Provide students with an understanding of scientific reasoning, i.e., the roles of theory, hypothesis, and experiment in the scientific method. The B.S. in Physics and the B.S. in Astronomy are primarily designed for students who wish to pursue post-graduate education or to have a more in-depth physics background. The Physics B.A. is primarily designed for students interested in pursuing a double major, or a professional career. The Physics B.S. is designed to accommodate students who have an interest in pursuing a hybrid career, for example, Physics + Atmospheric Science or Physics + Materials Science. The B.A. in Physics and Physics Education is structured for those interested in pursuing a secondary science teaching career.