About This Program
Physics is the basic science that underlies all the natural sciences. It is also a search for the basic rules of the behavior of matter and energy on every scale; from the interaction of subatomic particles, to the motion of every day objects, to the evolution of galaxies and the universe itself. Physics consists of many fields, including particle and nuclear physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, optics, solid-state physics, biological and medical physics, computational physics, acoustics, astrophysics and cosmology.
Physics B.S. is a traditional time-honored physics degree that takes you through the rigorous sequence of foundational core ideas, from Newton to Einstein, and the electives that branch off into the popular areas of theoretical and experimental physics.
Course requirements include a sequence of general Physics courses, advanced upper-level courses, and the requisite mathematical and computer-science courses that develop the needed analytical and numerical skills.
Physics is a gateway to a wide variety of careers in science and technology. With quantitative problem solving and instrumentation skills, graduates of this program are in demand across all sciences and economies.
Program Highlights
- Active learning environment
- Access to state-of-the–art instrumentation
- Focus on undergraduate teaching and research
- All of our professors are active in research, with multiple faculty members recognized by national and university awards for research
Research & Experiential Learning
- Faculty offer research experiences in multiple sub-fields of astronomy and physics and their intersections with other fields of science:
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Cosmology
- Particle physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Computational and theoretical physics
- Physical oceanography and limnology
- Interdisciplinary applications of physics in biology, chemistry, and environment
- Two-thirds of our physics undergraduates have a research or internship experience
- Undergraduate researchers work in our labs on real-world problems, become co-authors on papers, and attend conferences
Student Internships
- Caterpillar
- Cirrus Aircraft
- Northern Technologies
Potential Careers
- Data scientist
- Medical physicist
- Software engineer
- Nuclear power plant operator
- Quality engineer
- Researcher
Scholarships
In addition to SCSE scholarships, department scholarships include: Donald Olson Memorial Scholarship, Howard Hanson Scholarship, Frank & Ruth Friebe Physics Award Fund, and the Scholarship in Honor of Dedicated Physics Faculty.
Get Involved
- Astronomy Club
- Physics Club
- Women in Engineering and Science
- Women in Physics
Requirements
Refer to the link below for more detailed information about the program, admission requirements, sample plans, and contact information.
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