About the Physics & Astronomy Department

Our department offers a rigorous physics major which prepares students for top graduate schools, teaching, and the job market. Students may also choose minors in astronomy and optics. Distinguishing features of our department are our faculty, our laboratory equipment, and student research opportunities. The department presently has nine tenure-track faculty, two of whom are astronomers. The department typically has five to ten physics graduates per year. Many of our students go on to graduate school, mostly in physics or astronomy, but also in engineering and other fields. The small upper-level classes allow for considerable student-faculty interaction which challenges each student at his or her own level. All the faculty are committed Christians who take personal interest in their students.

About Science at Calvin:

"At Calvin College, we take seriously God's call to explore our universe. From viewing the outer reaches of space, to studying the atom, Calvin faculty and students together are engaged in expanding their horizons. Calvin--Minds in the Making."

Contact the department:

Beth Schoone-Jongen, department assistant (616)-526-7087
Prof. Steve Steenwyk, department chair (616)-526-8542 ssteen @ calvin.edu
Prof. Deborah Haarsma, webmaster (616)-526-6340 dhaarsma @ calvin.edu

Email List:

phys-astro is an email listserve for students, faculty, and staff in the Physics & Astronomy Department at Calvin College. It is used for announcements of interest to everyone in the department: weekly seminars, social events, special lectures, etc. Students need not be declared majors in the department to be on the list -- all students interested in physics & astronomy events are welcome.

The administrator of the list is Administrative Assistant Beth Schoone-Jongen (eas22@calvin.edu); contact her if you have questions about the list. Each fall she will add new students (those enrolled in Phys195, Phys133, and upper level theory courses) and staff to the list. Individuals may also subscribe themselves, by sending a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with subscribe phys-astro youremailaddress as the body of the message. If you wish to unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with unsubscribe phys-astro youremailaddress as the message. More information on managing your subscription can be found at the helpdesk.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Calvin Department of Physics & Astronomy is

• to display to our students the behavior of the material universe on all scales of space and time, using the tools of experiment, mathematical modeling, and theory,
• to involve our students, where possible, in the process of research and discovery,
• and to explore with them, and with our College constituency and professional community, scientific and Christian ways of knowing the physical creation,

• to experience with our students a scientists' wonder and reverent appreciation of God's creation,
• to prepare them for lives of serviceable and responsible application of what they have come to understand,
• and to model for them, our constituency, and the larger world, the outlook and the behavior of Christians faithfully seeking understanding.