Faculty: Poynor (Chair), Lombardi, Petasis, Willey

The Physics major is a program in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Area of Study.

Physics Major Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete a major in Physics are expected to

•  (PLO1) Have a broad understanding of the basic principles of physics such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, Maxwell’s Equations, Conservation Laws, the Laws of Thermodynamics, the fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics, and the principles of Relativity.
• (PLO2) Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• (PLO3) Use experimental and computational skills and interpret the significance of the results.
• (PLO4) Be able to design and carry out an independent research project and communicate the results.

The Physics Major

A major in in Physics leads to the Bachelor of Science degree and usually requires a maximum of 64 credit hours, including at least 44 credits of Physics as well as additional credits in mathematics and other sciences. Physics majors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in the Physics at the time of graduation. All Physics courses taken at Allegheny on a letter-grade basis are included in the calculation, with the following exception: 1) courses below the 100-level (e.g. PHYS 021 ) 2) repeated courses for which only the most recent grade counts. Only the first Physics course taken at Allegheny (usually PHYS 101  or PHYS 110 ) may be taken on a Credit/No Credit basis. A maximum of 24 transfer credits may be counted toward the major; exceptions must be approved by the department chair.

Physics has become rather broad, ranging from interdisciplinary subdisciplines in astrophysics, biophysics and chemical physics, to traditional subdisciplines in condensed matter physics and optical physics. In order to provide some focus for the student, each student who declares physics as a major must work with an advisor in the physics department to plan a course of study which may be either a standard physics emphasis or a major with an interdisciplinary emphasis. With the aid of his or her advisor, the student must prepare, for departmental approval, a written description and rationale for the course of study. This description must be submitted by the end of the fourth week of the junior year (typically fall semester). It must include a plan of courses to be taken and how those courses satisfy the student’s goals. 

Not all courses are offered each year, and the College reserves the right to cancel or reschedule courses for enrollment, staffing, or other reasons.