Overview

Calvin's optics program offers career-oriented, hands-on training for students in physics and engineering. The six-course minor features classes in electromagnetism, mechanics and gravity, electricity and magnetism, and laboratory work.

Careers in Optics

• Optical engineer
• Optical information processor
• Imaging technician
• Teacher
• More career opportunities

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Lead chapel with other engineering students; assist a professor with summer research or apply for our international internship program; study abroad at the Vrie University in Amsterdam for a semester; join ASCE (The American Society of Civil Engineers), EWB (Engineers without Borders), REO (The Renewable Energy Organization) or another of our many student orgs.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Optics

(At least 21 semester hours)

• PHYS-133 Introductory Physics: Mechanics and Gravity
• PHYS-235 Introductory Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
• PHYS-246 Waves, Optics, and Optical Technology
• One course from:
  • PHYS-345 Electromagnetism
  • ENGR-302 Engineering Electromagnetics
• PHYS-346 Advanced Optics
• PHYS-386 Advanced Optics Laboratory

Students pursuing a physics major and optics minor must follow college guidelines for overlap between a major and a minor; this is facilitated by the option in the physics major of substituting upper-level courses for introductory ones.

Scholarships

New students are automatically considered for general academic scholarships ranging from $1,000-15,000 based on a careful review of their application materials.

For a complete listing of departmental scholarships available to first-year students, use the Scholarship Search ».

Faculty