DESCRIPTION

Physics is the study and application of the fundamental laws of nature, including the laws of motion, gravity, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and microscopic interactions. These laws govern the behavior of objects at all scales, from the smallest subatomic particles to the entire observable universe. In between, physicists study nuclear reactions, the interactions of atoms with light, properties of solids, chaotic dynamics of fluids, and the evolution of stars and galaxies, among many other topics. Classical physics is based on Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation and Maxwell’s equations of electricity and magnetism; while modern physics is based on Einstein’s relativity and the theory of quantum mechanics.

“Science is the systematic enterprise of gathering knowledge about the world and organizing and condensing that knowledge into testable laws and theories” (from a statement by the American Association of Physics Teachers) and Physics is a fundamental science that underlies the other natural sciences.

Physics is one of the liberal arts and was called Natural Philosophy until a century or two ago. Physics is about asking questions and pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. Engineering, in contrast, is more about applications and making things work and could be called Applied Physics. Mathematics is the language of Physics and physicists generally really like it. Curiosity is the hallmark of physicists.

Outcomes

Students who complete the recommended Physics curriculum at Snow College will be expected to demonstrate that they

know how to approach a problem and solve it;
know how to apply physics to everyday situations;
know about the basic laws that govern the universe and the world around us;
Understand that physics is useful in many areas of life;
Understand that physics is a fundamental science that underlies the other natural sciences;
Understand the methods used to do science;
Can do elementary problems in mechanics, electricity & magnetism, gravitation, optics, waves, etc.;
Can set up an experiment to test an idea;
Can work with various kinds of physical and electrical equipment including computers comfortably;
Appreciate the pervasiveness of physics in the world;
Appreciate the role of physics in history as well as its role in modern life;
Appreciate technological innovations that result from applied physics;

feel confident in their abilities to deal with the world

Careers

Students who earn a degree in Physics should be able to work in the following areas:

Teaching

Physics majors who earn a bachelor's degree and certification in secondary education are usually eligible to be high-school Physics teachers. With a master's degree, Physics majors are eligible to teach in a two-year college. With a doctorate, Physics majors are eligible to teach in a four-year college or university. College professors may choose an area of specialization, which is usually related to their doctoral studies; they are also expected to do research. Examples of such areas of specialization include solid state physics, atomic and molecular physics, relativity, quantum mechanics, statistical physics and chaos, optics, particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, physics education, etc.

Research

Many industries and corporations hire research physicists to do basic or applied research. Defense industries and government research laboratories such as those at Livermore, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge also hire many physicists. Communication skills and the ability to work in teams are very important in this context.

Instrumentation

Physicists with bachelor’s degrees are often employed to invent, build, maintain, and use various kinds of scientific equipment in many contexts.

Cross-over science fields

Since Physics is the foundation of all other sciences there are many cross-disciplinary opportunities to work in astrophysics, geophysics, biophysics, or chemical physics, etc. People with physics degrees are also often employed as engineers.

Other professions

A physics education is a broad education that teaches thinking and problem-solving skills – the very skills needed in many areas of business, finance, and law. A bachelor’s degree in physics is wonderful preparation for further education in medical or law school or an MBA program.

Recommended Curriculum

Students who wish to transfer to a four-year institution in Physics should take the following courses while at Snow:

MATH 1210 Calculus I	5
MATH 1220 Calculus II	4
MATH 2210 Calculus III	3
MATH 2270 Linear Algebra	3
MATH 2280 Differential Equations	3

PHSX 210H Honors Physics *	2
PHSX 2210 University Physics I	4
PHSX 221L University Physics I Lab	1
PHSX 2220 University Physics II	4
PHSX 222L University Physics II Lab	1
PHSX 2710 Modern Physics	3

*(strongly recommended but not required)

One year-long major’s sequence in another science (some universities require Chemistry specifically):

CHEM 1210 Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 121L Principles of Chemistry I Lab	1
CHEM 1220 Principles of Chemistry II	4
CHEM 122L Principles of Chemistry II Lab	1
or
GEOL 1110 Physical Geology	3
GEOL 111L Physical Geology Lab	1
GEOL 1120 Historical Geology	3
GEOL 112L Historical Geology Lab	1
or
BIOL 1310 Biology I	4
BIOL 131L Biology I Lab	1
BIOL 1320 Biology II	4
BIOL 132L Biology II Lab	1

Students who are considering the Physics major, but who feel less than adequately prepared, should take one or more of the following exploratory courses while bringing their math skills up to calculus level:

PHSC 1000 Conceptual Physical Science	3
PHSX 1000 Conceptual Physics	2
PHSX 1010 Introductory Physics	3
PHSX 101L Introductory Physics Lab	1
ENGR 1010 Introduction to Engineering	1

Suggested Schedule for Two Years at Snow:

This schedule is for well-prepared students. This schedule does not complete the Snow GE requirements in two years, so previous credit (AP, concurrent enrollment, etc.) or summer terms would be necessary to graduate with an A.S. from Snow.

Fall -- Year 1 Spring -- Year 1

MATH 1210 5 MATH 1220 4

CHEM 1210 4 CHEM 1220 4

CHEM 121L 1 CHEM 122L 1

ENGL 1010 3 Life Science 3

PHSX 210H 2 GE requirement 3

------------------------ PHED 1770 1

15 ------------------------

Fall -- Year 2 Spring -- Year 2

MATH 2210 3 MATH 2270 3

ENGL 2010 3 MATH 2280 3

PHSX 2210 4 PHSX 2220 4

PHSX 221L 1 PHSX 222L 1

CPSC 1710 3 PHSX 2710 3

CPSC 171L 1 GE requirement 3

------------------------ ------------------------

15 17

Suggested Schedule for Three Years at Snow:

This schedule can accommodate students who need a bit more preparation or who want lighter loads due to other employment. This schedule does complete all Snow GE requirements for graduation with an A.S. after three years if the individual choice category is filled with some of the physics or chemistry listed.

Fall -- Year 1 Spring -- Year 1

MATH 1050 4 MATH 1210 5

MATH 1060 2 PHSX 1010 3

ENGL 1010 3 PHSX 101L 1

CHEM 1210 4 CHEM 1220 4

CHEM 121L 1 CHEM 122L 1

------------------------ ------------------------

14 14

Fall -- Year 2 Spring -- Year 2

MATH 1220 4 MATH 2210 3

CPSC 1710 3 CPSC 1720 3

CPSC 171L 1 CPSC 172L 1

ENGL 2010 3 MATH 1630 3

PHSX 201H 2 PHED 1770 1

GE requirement 3 GE requirement 3

------------------------ ------------------------

16 14

Fall -- Year 3 Spring -- Year 3

MATH 2270 3 MATH 2280 3

PHSX 2210 4 PHSX 2220 4

PHSX 221L 1 PHSX 222L 1

GE requirement 3 PHSX 2710 3

GE requirement 3 GE requirement 3

------------------------ ------------------------

14 14

A five-semester schedule could also work by combining ideas from the two suggested schedules above (for example, the second semester of CPSC and MATH 1630 could be eliminated, and PHSX 1010 could be skipped if physics was taken in high school), but pay attention to classes that are only offered once per year.

Additional Considerations

Students who have a transfer institution in mind should consult that institution's Physics Department for exact prerequisites as soon as possible. See http://www.snow.edu/physics/otherDepts.html.

Students who wish to be certified in secondary education should consult the education department for additional requirements.

In the state of Utah, two semesters of a foreign language are required for an A.A. degree (in addition to the A.S. requirements). Four semesters of a foreign language are required for a B.A.

Strong computer skills are essential to physics majors. Students should have programming experience or take CPSC 1710 and CPSC 171L. Students should also become familiar with standard applications such as a spreadsheet program and a math program like MATLAB, Maple, or Mathematica.

Students interested in astronomy or astrophysics should take PHSX 1080.

Students interested in meteorology should take PHSX 1150.

Physics majors should broaden themselves by taking GE courses in other divisions. PHIL 1010, COMM 1020, and MUSC 1010 are recommended. It is preferable to fill the Individual Choice category outside of the Natural Science Division. Foreign languages are also recommended.

Physics majors may wish to secure employment as a grader or lab assistant for one of the Physics professors.

As finances allow, Physics majors should acquire a graphing calculator and a computer.

A large proportion of Physics students do not end their formal education with a bachelor’s degree but go on to do graduate work in physics (or in other fields). The ratio of physicists with PhDs to those with bachelor’s or master’s degrees is much higher than in most other fields.

The MATH/SCIENCE Lab

Physics students are often hired as tutors in the Math/Science lab. This is a good way to get extra practice solving problems. One learns physics best by teaching it.