Physics involves the study of energy and matter, and dives deep into the natural world like no other academic discipline. With a brilliant mix of theory and hands-on learning, you’ll develop highly transferable technical, problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
Within six months of graduation, nearly 99% of Wheaton’s Class of 2021 found work in their field or continued their education.
Fermilab is America’s particle physics and accelerator laboratory.
...including some that offer the possibility to cross disciplinary boundaries and specialize in another field beyond physics.
You can reach us anytime via admissions@wheaton.edu.
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To maximize student convenience and flexibility, the curriculum for all of our physics programs shares much in common for the first two years. This helps students who may be unsure of their desired major to more easily switch during the first few semesters. See more curriculum distinctives >
The Department of Engineering and Physics offers four ways to major in physics at Wheaton, giving you the flexibility to choose a path that fits your career goals:
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As part of the larger Department of Physics and Engineering, you’ll learn from faculty and laboratory staff members with a range of experience and expertise, including in plasma physics, astronomy, computer modeling, water infrastructure, comets, nanomaterials, medical physics, and physics and free will.
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To maximize student convenience and flexibility, the curriculum for all of our physics programs shares much in common for the first two years. This helps students who may be unsure of their desired major to more easily switch during the first few semesters.
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Physics majors put theory into action and gain practical experience in many ways from solving a real-world problem through research or a project-based class to building and experimenting through extracurricular activities like the Society of Physics Students.
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The Wheaton College Science Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota provides hands-on field learning experiences and includes trips to explore geological features of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains and National Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Students live and learn in community while seeing their classroom learning come alive in the field.
Interdisciplinary learning is a way of life at Wheaton. Aside from your work within your chosen major, you can enrich your educational experience and connect with peers and professors across campus (and beyond) in many ways.
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A Wheaton education is built on the foundation of our unique Christ at the Core general education curriculum. As a physics major, you’ll connect faith and science, opening your imagination to life’s biggest questions, and seeking a deeper understanding of the structures and principles that God has put in place to govern our world.
More About Christ at the CoreWith a practical, academically rigorous physics degree from Wheaton, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of in-demand careers or ready to pursue graduate, professional, or medical school.
The positions our graduates have landed exemplify the range of jobs you can get with a physics degree:
And they’re accepted into graduate programs like:
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– Joseph Milligan ’23"[During college visits] nobody showed that they wanted me or cared about me in the same way Wheaton’s people did. Every interaction I had during my visit reinforced that there is a good community here. I could find my place and be loved, both of which have been true ever since.
As a double major in physics and secondary education, Joseph Milligan ‘23 has taken on one of the highest credit loads possible in Wheaton’s curriculum. Yet the jam-packed schedule, including long hours in the lab or student teaching in front of a classroom, seems to fade in light of the contagious joy he brings to his studies.
If you’re a current student or want to dig deeper in this area of study, here are some additional resources for you to explore.
The physics program is housed in the Department of Physics and Engineering. Visit our department website.
Visit the Wheaton College catalog for specific degree requirements and course descriptions.
Interested in studying Physics at Wheaton? Request more information or start your application today.