Physics
From sub-atomic particles to the origin and structure of the universe, physics uses the language of mathematics to discover, describe, and apply the fundamental laws of nature.
Overview
The Physics Program enhances students’ capacity for analysis, synthesis, and inductive and deductive reasoning. Physics students learn to plan and conduct scientific experiments and to communicate the concepts of physics in oral, written, and mathematical form. A majority of physics majors participate in collaborative research with a faculty member. Our physics degree has also been particularly popular among students interested in engineering. Our students have gone on to study mechanical engineering, operations research, and systems engineering
Your Major Took You Where?
Physics majors have gone on to a variety of graduate programs and careers.
Employers
- Alchemy Renewable Energy
- General Electric
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Lockheed Martin
- Northern Kentucky Water District
- Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
- Teledyne Scientific & Imaging
- V3 Companies
Postgraduate Study
- Columbia University (M.S., Operations Systems)
- Duke University (M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering)
- University of California - Berkeley (Ph.D., Industrial Engineering)
- University of Michigan (Ph.D., Climate and Space Science and Engineering)
- University of Rochester (Ph.D., Physics & Astronomy)
- Vanderbilt University (M.S., Mechanical Engineering)
98%
EMPLOYED OR IN GRAD-SCHOOL ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATION
Curriculum
Introductory courses include classroom demos, lab exercises, and out-of-class discussions between students and faculty. The first two years will include intro physics plus courses in calculus and differential equations. The upper-level courses include advanced mechanics, electronics, magnetism and electricity, optics, quantum mechanics, thermal physics, and modern physics (a two-term course that includes relativity, quantum theory, nuclear physics, and solid-state physics).
