Physics
If you're fascinated by the hows, whys and what-ifs of the physical world, a major in physics might just be for you. Physicists study the laws and patterns that govern God's world.
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Astronomy students receive NASA-funded fellowships
By the numbers
- 203
- Publications co-authored by students and faculty in the science division between 1999 and 2008
- Over 95%
- Science students who are accepted into graduate school with their first application
- Top 5%
- Where Calvin ranks among private colleges graduates go on to earn PhDs in the sciences
Whether you study physics as your primary major or combine it with a program in engineering or computer science, you will be well-prepared for graduate school and your career. A number of academic options allow you to tailor your program to your specific goals. These options include:
- A 32-credit-hour program that can be easily be combined with other academic programs
- An in-depth 58-credit-hour program that leads to a bachelor of science in physics and prepares you for graduate school
- a physics and computer science group major
- optics and astronomy minors that are easily combined with a physics major
Careers in Physics
As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:
- Researcher at a national lab
- Radiologist
- Geophysicist
- Software engineer
- Teacher
- Patent lawyer
- More career opportunities
See job placement rates for Calvin grads.
Student involvement
Gain valuable experience working as a lab assistant, observatory assistant or grader; join the Society of Physics Students; attend department-wide events.
Course Requirements 2011-12
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Physics major
(at least 32 semester hours)
- PHYS-133 Introductory Physics: Mechanics and Gravity
- PHYS-134 Matter, Space, and Energy
- PHYS-235 Introductory Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS-246 Waves, Optics, and Optical Technology
- PHYS-306 Introduction to Quantum Physics (or higher level substitutes)
- Two or more advanced theory courses from:
- Two or more advanced laboratory courses from:
- Departmentally approved electives to bring the total to at least 32 hours
- Two semesters of PHYS-195 Physics and Astronomy Student Seminar
- Two semesters of:
Cognates (at least 13 semester hours)
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One course from:
- One course from:
- MATH-172 Calculus II
- One course from:
- MATH-231 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (recommended)
The 32-hour major is intended primarily for students seeking a flexible program, e.g., who are also majoring in another discipline or earning an engineering degree but have an active interest in physics. The major satisfies the college's concentration requirement for graduation with a BA degree.
Students wanting a BS degree must complete a total of at least 58 semester hours of science and mathematics. Students interested in a physics-related career who want to earn a BS degree based upon a physics major should complete the above minimum requirements plus:
- at least one more advanced theory course
- PHYS-395 Physics Research, Writing, and Presentation
- MATH-231 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
- One integrative studies course from:
Students planning to pursue graduate study in physics should take the above, plus :
- all the advanced theory and laboratory courses
- MATH-333 Partial Differential Equations
- as many as possible of:
- Students are also strongly encouraged to participate in summer research.
Students interested in a career in astronomy or astrophysics should major in physics, minor in astronomy, and plan their programs with D. Haarsma or L. Molnar.
Physics minor
(at least 20 semester hours)
Scholarships
Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2010-11 academic year.
- Boerman, Ivan E. and Rebecca J. Scholarship
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- award amount: $1,500
- first-year
- HS GPA of 3.3+
- financial need considered
- apply through the physics department
- Debra Deur Scholarship
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- award amount: $3,800
- sophomore, junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Gabrielse Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- first-year
- GPA of 3.5+ and an ACT of 32+ or an SAT of 1400+
- financial need not required
- complete the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship application
- Roger D. Griffioen Physics and Astronomy Scholarship
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- award amount: $1,850
- first-year
- GPA 2.5+
- financial need not required
- prospective students apply through the Physics Department; automatic consideration for returning students
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- first-year
- HS GPA of 3.5+; minimum ACT score of 28 or SAT of 1250
- financial need not required
- complete the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship application
- William J. and Glenda Masselink Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; pursuing pre-dentistry, pre-medicine or physics
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- NSF Scientific Computing Scholarship
-
- award amount: $5,000 to $8,000
- any class level
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; US citizen; full-time student; demonstrate an interest in scientific computation and modeling
- apply through the Integrated Science Research Institute
- Secondary Science Education Scholarship
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- award amount: $2,400
- sophomore, junior or senior
- financial need required; major in secondary science education
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Tetzloff Scholarship
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- award amount: $1,250
- sophomore, junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; preference given to those from Minnesota or the midwest
- apply through the physics department
- Howard and Betty Van Till Scholarship
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- award amount: $1,600
- sophomore, junior or senior
- GPA of 3.3+
- financial need not required
- apply through the physics department
- VanDerWoude Science Scholarship
-
- award amount: $4,000
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.3+
- financial need not required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- John and Lillian Van Oosten Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,700
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
Faculty
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Talk to us
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Deborah Haarsma |
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Loren Haarsma |
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Andrew Vanden Heuvel |
