Physics and 3-2 Engineering

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Chair David Lee, Dale Pleticha, Stan Reczek, Oleksiy Svitelskiy, Ying Tang.

MISSION: The Department of Physics seeks to introduce students to the discipline of physics. Through courses, labs and guided research, the department provides thorough grounding in laboratory and theoretical aspects of physics in order to prepare physics majors for graduate school, secondary school teaching, industrial employment or government service. The 3-2 engineering program, with its dedicated lab facilities and deep technical training, prepares students to apply to transfer to an engineering school and excel once they matriculate into the engineering program. Through its Core Curriculum courses, the department seeks to develop in all students an appreciation and basic understanding of the physical aspects of creation as well as the influence of physics upon the development of culture. Students are encouraged to grapple with ethical, epistemological and metaphysical questions which will inform and enrich their worldview as Christians.

All 4-year physics majors are required to undertake a year-long research project which may be experimental, computational or theoretical in aim.  This research is done under the mentorship of a faculty member, and the expectations and deliverables are defined together with the student.

Honors in Physics

Seniors who write, present and defend an honors thesis based on substantial research will be eligible to graduate with honors in physics. The minimum GPA for honors candidates is 3.5 in the major and 3.0 overall. See department faculty for details.

Programs

• Physics (B.S.)
• Physics (B.S.) 3-2 Engineering

• Physics Minor

Courses

• PHY 111 - General Physics I
• PHY 112 - General Physics II
• PHY 121 - Introductory Physics I
• PHY 122 - Introductory Physics II
• PHY 125 - Introduction to Engineering and the Applied Sciences
• PHY 130 - First-Year Physics Seminar
• PHY 200 - Astronomy
• PHY 211 - Statics
• PHY 221 - Mathematical Methods in Physics I
• PHY 225 - Electronics
• PHY 283 - Modern Physics
• PHY 293 - Mechanics
• PHY 313 - Mathematical Methods in Physics II
• PHY 328 - Strength of Materials
• PHY 339 - Electric and Magnetic Fields I
• PHY 340 - Electric and Magnetic Fields II
• PHY 341 - Optics
• PHY 355 - Quantum Mechanics
• PHY 371 - Selected Topics in Physics
• PHY 372 - Thermal Physics
• PHY 391 - Junior Seminar I
• PHY 392 - Junior Seminar II
• PHY 471 - Research I,
• PHY 472 - Research II
• PHY 491 - Senior Seminar I
• PHY 492 - Senior Seminar II

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