Norwich University's Physics Department is committed to developing the maximum potential of every student majoring in physics.
Physics is a mathematical science and as such is rigorous and demanding. It presents a challenge found in few other disciplines. At Norwich University, the Bachelor of Science in Physics is offered to students desiring an excellent schooling in the fundamentals of physics. The program encompasses a complete curriculum comprised of classical and quantum physics ranging from the properties of particles to the dynamics of the universe. All disciplines in science and engineering turn to physics to address the foundation of their fields.
Hallmarks of a Norwich education include experiential learning and leadership development. The Department of Physics therefore not only accentuates laboratory work but also insists upon peer collaboration throughout the curriculum. Physics majors, having the advantage of a 3-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, develop close working relationships with their faculty mentors culminating in original research conducted in a faculty laboratory. Physics majors regularly present the results of their research at regional and national conferences. Currently, the research interests of the faculty include particle physics, material science, astrophysics and geophysical fluid dynamics.
Our department is committed to developing the maximum potential of every student majoring in physics. We are devoted to the proposition that when they graduate, physics majors will have a well-founded understanding of the physics that underlies all aspects of the physical universe. An education that ensures our graduates will succeed in a full range of satisfying career opportunities.
Because of its importance to so many fields, physics serves as an ideal springboard for a rich diversity of careers in the sciences, mathematics and engineering. The training necessary to become a physicist develops analytical skills that allow graduates to branch out into a wide variety of technological professions that value the interdisciplinary talent that physicists have in understanding fundamental physical processes through experimentation.
Because it is one of the most challenging programs at any school, including Norwich, the personal reward of a degree in physics is great. The intellectual growth that is realized opens many doors including: pursuit of the Masters and Doctorate degrees leading to an academic position; a career as a research scientist in a laboratory of industry or government; the profession of education in high school; employment as a scientific consultant to lawyers and politicians; or service in technical branches of the military.
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Program Details
At Norwich, the Physics program offers a bachelor’s degree as well as courses that support fields such as engineering, architecture and the biological and earth sciences.
Physics majors follow a curriculum containing a full complement of coursework from classical topics such as mechanics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics, to modern subjects that include atomic, nuclear and quantum physics. There is a course in instrumentation and general interest courses in stellar and galactic astronomy and, occasionally, weather and climate.
Laboratory instruction is an important component of a physics education. Norwich emphasizes lab work with its courses utilizing modern, computer interfaced equipment.
One capstone of a major’s education is a research project, conducted senior year, when a student works under the guidance of a faculty member. Projects have included the aerodynamics of wings and propellers, construction of a radio telescope, acoustic resonance in heated tubes, stellar imaging with digital photography, holography, and construction of a magnetometer.
In recent years, most Norwich physics majors have received military commissions, for which physics is a perfect background.
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View Catalog
To view Physics course offerings and a curriculum map for majors and minors, see the Norwich University academic course catalog:
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