Learning Goals

Learning Goals

1. Demonstrate the ability to use basic mathematical tools (algebra, basic differential and/or integral calculus, trigonometry, geometry) to describe physical situations, whether experimental or theoretical (all sub-1100 courses focus on this).
2. Explore the relationship between physical theory and experiment through mathematical descriptions and instrument-based verification.
3. Improve understanding of physical law through the ability to solve increasingly complex problems in physics with more complex mathematical tools (multivariate calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and more complex math tools).
4. Use sophisticated instrumentation and computation to explore physical phenomena.
5. Improve understanding of uncertainty and its key role in defining how we know what we know.
6. Expand theoretical, computational, and experimental toolkit through 3000-level methods curriculum.

Options for Majoring and Minoring in the Department

Students may elect to major in physics and astronomy, the chemical physics interdisciplinary major, the physics and education interdisciplinary major, or to coordinate a major in physics and astronomy with digital and computational studies, education, or environmental studies. Students pursuing interdisciplinary or coordinate majors may not normally elect a second major. Non-majors may elect to minor in physics and astronomy.

Department Website