Bachelor of Science in Physics

The basic Physics major is designed for students who are interested in a career in industry, government laboratories and applied science, or in further study toward a graduate degree.

This degree is suitable for students who want to pursue graduate studies leading to research and academic careers in physics, biophysics or related fields. It can also be used as the basis for other careers such as engineering, actuarial science, medicine, law, computer programming and finances. It can be accompanied by the Biophysics concentration for those students interested in applications of physics to biological systems. The Physics B.S. program is very rigorous in mathematics.

For students planning to teach junior or senior high school physics, a cooperative program with the School of Education leads to Iowa secondary certification. Students complete a program of physics and education courses and a professional semester, which includes student teaching experience.

Students planning to enter medical or dental school may complete their undergraduate major in Physics. This program includes the appropriate courses in biology and chemistry needed to satisfy medical or dental school entrance requirements.

For students who have an interest outside the present fields of concentration but whose educational goals can be realized through a combination of existing courses, an individualized major may be developed. Faculty members counsel students whose interests lie in this direction. Such individualized majors could include computational physics, geophysics, environmental physics, biophysics, chemical physics or astrophysics.

Additional courses are offered in physics and physical science to familiarize the general student with the current scientific interpretations of the fundamental physical laws that govern the universe.

Catalog Requirements for a B.S. Degree in Physics