Physics

Paul Pancella, Chair
Nora Berrah
Clement Burns
Sung Chung
Michael Famiano
Thomas Gorczyca
Dean Halderson
Gerald Hardie
Charles Henderson
Emanuel Kamber
Kirk Korista
Arthur McGurn
Lisa Paulius
Alvin Rosenthal
David Schuster
John Tanis
Alan Wuosmaa

The Department of Physics offers four programs of study leading to a major in physics. Three of these are in the Arts and Sciences Curriculum (Physics Major, Physics Major with Electrical Engineering Option, and Physics Major with Materials Physics Option) and are programs that prepare students for graduate study or professional employment in physics. The Secondary Education Physics major prepares students to teach physics at the high school level. A Geophysics Major, sponsored jointly by the departments of Geosciences and Physics, is also available, enabling students to prepare for a career in an important area of applied physics.

Any student contemplating majoring or minoring in physics should contact the Department of Physics as early as possible.

This is especially true for transfer students from community colleges in regard to transfer credit and course of study. Students will want to contact the department undergraduate advisor regarding courses, employment opportunities, and graduate study in physics.

Any physics major may qualify for departmental honors in physics by fulfilling the following requirements:

Complete the courses recommended for students planning to enter graduate school.
Attain by the end of the semester preceding graduation an accumulated grade point average of at least 3.5 in physics courses and an accumulated grade point average of 3.0 in other courses.

Minor programs are available in physics, in secondary education physics, and in astronomy.

All students majoring or minoring in Physics are required to complete the introductory courses PHYS 2050, PHYS 2060, PHYS 2070, PHYS 2080, PHYS 3090, and PHYS 3100 with a grade of “C” or better in each course.