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The Physics Major at Wheaton College
The physics
curriculum is designed to provide students with the concepts
of classical and contemporary physics and to develop both theoretical
and experimental skills. Our objective is to give our students
a fuller awareness of the structure and principles of the created
universe.
Our objective is to give students a fuller awareness of the structure and principles
characteristic of the created universe. In addition, we introduce students
to the technical aspects of physics and the technical culture in this highly
specialized natural science.
The physics program offers courses for general education students who
are required to take eight credit hours of natural science where some
of the hours are provided in physical science like physics and some hours
are provided in the life sciences. General education students may take
courses for credit in courses in Planetary Astronomy, Stellar Astronomy,
Physics for Music, Origins of Science, Ideas of Science, Ideas in Quantum
Mechanics, Meteorology and Theories of Origins .
Majors in physics and engineering (3/2) are offered in the Department
of Physics. Our faculty is committed to training students who will become
respected members of the larger scientific community. Majors in engineering
and physics are entering industry and graduate schools and developing
excellent careers in their respective disciplines.
The
curriculum is organized to prepare a student for:
- Program A : professional schools such as engineering,
law, medicine, or further work in related fields;
- Program B : graduate work in physics toward research
or college teaching;
- Program C : secondary school teaching.
Majors can also gain recognition for a concentration in International
Development.
Physics
is an experimental science basic to other disciplines. The
curriculum is organized to prepare a student for:
- (A) professional
schools such as engineering, law, medicine, or further
work in related fields;
- (B) graduate
work in physics toward research or college teaching;
- (C) secondary
school teaching.
Majors
are also offered in
- (D) Chemical
Physics
- (E) Geophysics.
The Chemical
Physics curriculum offers a broad education in physical chemistry and
physics. The Geophysics curriculum is a good option for a student interested
in resource exploration, international development work, or preparing
for a career in civil engineering. Majors can also gain recognition
for a concentration in International Development.
Students
who complete a Physics major are granted a Bachelor of Science
degree unless they request a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Requirements for Majors
Requirements
for program (A) in Physics are:
- 34 hours
in physics, including PHYS 231, 232, 333, 335, 341, 342,
343, 344, 351, 353, and 494; and
- two additional
hours chosen from PHYS 352, 354, 359, 361, 365, and 366.
- Supporting
course requirements are MATH 231, 232, 331, and 2 hours
each of 245 and 333; and CHEM 236.
Requirements
for program (B) include:
- the requirements
for program (A) above,
- plus PHYS
495, and
- two additional
courses.
Requirements
for program (C) secondary teaching concentration
in Science with a Physics designation are:
- 28 semester
hours in physics including PHYS 231, 232, 333, 335, 341, 342; CHEM
221/222 or 236/237; ASTR 301 or 302; GEOL 211; BIOL 201; MATH 231,
232, 331, and
- 2 hours
each of 245 and 333; SCI 321;
Education
courses as required by the Education Department.
Students
opting for this program should spend at least one year as a laboratory
assistant in the Physics or Chemistry Department. Completion of these
requirements will lead to teacher certification for grades 6-12 in
Science with a designation in Physics.
Requirements
for program (D) in Chemical Physics are:
- 20 hours
of Physics, including PHYS 231, 232, 333, 361, 494, and 6 additional
hours;
- 16 hours
of Chemistry, including CHEM 236, 237, 355, 371, and 372; and
- 10 hours
of Mathematics, including MATH 231, 232, and 2 hours
of 333.
Requirements
for program (E) in Geophysics are:
- 20
in Physics, including PHYS 231, 232, 333, 494 and 8 additional
hours;
- 16 hours
in Geology, including GEOL 201 or 211 or 221, 321 or 437, 365, 443,
and 2 hours of GEOL 495; and
- 10 hours
of Mathematics, including MATH 231, 232, and 2 hours of 333.
Requirements
for a concentration in
International Development can be met by completing the HNGR Intern Program
with a science or technology related project approved by the Physics
Department.
Requirements for a Minor
The requirements for a minor
in Physics are:
- 20 hours
in physics, including 231, 232, 333, and
- 10 additional
hours chosen from other courses applicable to the department
major.
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