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Program Overview

The Department of Physics resides in the College of Engineering and Mathematics Sciences (CEMS). The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offers a B.A. with a major in Physics. CEMS offers a B.S. with a major in Physics, as well as Astronomy and Physics minors.

An education in physics provides students with the foundation for a variety of careers. In addition to preparation for graduate study in physics and related fields, undergraduate study in physics is an excellent preparation for professional careers in engineering, management, teaching, law, and medicine.

The curriculum consists of core courses on the fundamentals of physics, such as mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum theory. Students can then choose from an array of electives to explore subfields in physics, such as astrophysics, biological physics, condensed matter physics, general relativity, nanotechnology, quantum optics, and nuclear and particle physics.

Under the guidance of faculty members, many physics majors become active in research in their second or third year of study. For eligible students, this experience can lead to college honors with the completion of a senior thesis project.

Curriculum

Popular Courses

• PHYS 1500: Physics for Engineers I
• PHYS 1510: Physics Problem Solving I
• PHYS 1600: Fundamentals of Physics I
• PHYS 2100: Experimental Physics I
• PHYS 2200: Classical Mechanics
• PHYS 2500: Waves and Quanta
• PHYS 3150: Computational Physics I
• PHYS 3300: Electricity & Magnetism
• PHYS 3500: Quantum Mechanics I

Outcomes

Upon completion of the BA degree in Physics, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in mathematics and the mathematical concepts needed for a proper understanding of physics.
• Demonstrate knowledge of classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermal physics, and be able to apply this knowledge to analyze a variety of physical phenomena.
• Perform experiments in a physics laboratory and analyze the measurements to draw valid conclusions.
• Communicate scientific results in both oral and written form.

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Beyond the Classroom

Each year the and Sigma Pi Sigma organize outreach events that includes hands-on activities, demonstrations and lectures for the general public. The nearby ECHO Science Center in Burlington often hosts the event. Part of learning science is learning how to communicate it. This helps that goal, as well as being one way ¶¶Òõ̽̽ students give back to the local community.

The spirit of experiential, hands-on learning beyond the traditional classroom boundaries is alive and well in the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ physics department. Students in our program can conduct research during the semester for class credit or during the summer with a stipend.  It’s not uncommon for undergraduate students publish their research in professional peer-reviewed scientific journals. Find examples of .