B.S. in Physics

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Program Distinctives

• Rigorous education from a Christ-centered perspective.
• Accessible faculty mentors – Highly accomplished Christian faculty who serve as guides and mentors in and out of the classroom and lab.
• Optional minors – Broaden your expertise with a minor in medical physics or astronomy (rarely offered as a minor at most schools).
• Research opportunities – Launch into research as early as freshman year to get hands-on experience from the ground up, strengthen your teamwork and communication skills, and find your passion.
  • Our students frequently present their research across the country at conferences and poster sessions, often pursuing publication in leading science and education journals.
  • As you conduct research, you will benefit from our extensive facilities (including two astronomical observatories) and cutting-edge equipment including a Tescan Vega II scanning electron microscope with X-ray spectrometer, Micromanipulator 4600 probe station, Glow Research Optiglow oxygen plasma cleaner, Instec computer-controlled heating/cooling plate, Denton Desk II sputtering system, RF sputter coater, EMS 3100 Critical point dryer, Nanoscience atomic force microscope, scanning tunneling microscope, quartz tube furnace, neutron howitzer, and much more.
• Summer research opportunities – Gain additional research experience in a wide range of labs and institutions worldwide.
  • Grove City students have performed summer research with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Army Research Labs, InterSystems, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Notre Dame, Boston College, Cornell University, Purdue, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, among others.
• Major-related student groups – Join extracurricular groups such as the Grove City College Physics Club, in which you will have opportunities to build community with fellow physics students and grow in servant leadership.
• Vocation-enriching humanities core classes – Deepen your critical thinking, writing, and other communication skills while cultivating empathy and a well-rounded worldview.

Career Opportunities & Outcomes

• Career paths: physics professor, medical physicist, nuclear reactor operator, integrated circuit design engineer, Hubble Space Telescope researcher, USAF Space Force officer, autonomous vehicle engineer, and more.
• Outstanding career outcomes – Like 96% of Grove City graduates, you will be ready to pursue graduate studies at some of the top schools nationwide or compete for full-time employment in a wide range of technical and non-technical fields within six months of graduation.
  • Many of our graduates have gained admittance to respected programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Oxford University, Johns Hopkins, Temple, Vanderbilt Medical Physics, University of Maryland, Georgia Tech, and Penn State.
  • Others are working with leading companies and institutions such as Westinghouse Electric, NSA, Intel, Google, Lockheed Martin, John’s Hopkins Research Lab, Edmund Optics, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Prison Fellowship, and Lincoln Electric.
    • Common career areas include medical physics (diagnostic imaging, MRI research, radiation oncology), tech support, mathematical modeling of systems, petroleum science, operation of nuclear power plants, particle physics, optics research, sales for tech companies, scientific journalism, engineering, environmental science, renewable energy, aerospace, astrophysics, biotechnology, data analysis, and financial system modeling.
  • Beyond the physics industry, some of our graduates have obtained positions in law, ministry, and various medical fields.
• Excellent career preparation – With exceptional preparation in physics, excellent problem-solving skills, and a solidified sense of calling, you are sure to make a strong impression on employers and a lasting impact wherever God leads you.

Program Specifics

• Curriculum requirements – 81 major credit hours of rigorous undergraduate coursework that heavily incorporates experiential learning and scientific research. For detailed course descriptions, refer to the College Catalog.
  • Physics core requirements include General Physics I and II – Engineering, Horizons in Physics, Electronics, Modern Physics, Intermediate Laboratory, Mechanics I, Electricity and Magnetism, Radiation Laboratory, Quantum Mechanics, and Intro to Stars, Galaxies, & Cosmology.
  • Physics elective options include Mechanics II, Optics, Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics, Radiation & Health Physics, Medical Imaging & Diagnostic Physics, Advanced Topics, and Computational Physics.
  • Technical core requirements include Chemistry for Engineering, Computer Programming I, Calculus I, II, and II, Differential Equations, Numerical Differential Equations, and Introduction to Theoretical Physics.
  • Technical elective options include various courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, mathematics, and physics.
• Encouraged background knowledge – Regardless of your high school curriculum, you are welcome to major in physics and follow our program of courses to graduate in four years. However, a background in high school calculus is highly recommended before beginning our program, and some background in physics is advantageous as well.  
• Degree options – Our standard physics degree is excellent preparation for graduate study in physics or a technical career in industry, while our physics/computer degree builds a solid foundation in physics while preparing you for a career in computer design or software development.

Physics Graduates in High Demand

According to the Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics, physics graduates are in high demand across a variety of fields nationwide.

To learn more about physics and astronomy-related career opportunities, take advantage of the following resources.

• State-by-state listing: browse lists of the many employers who have recently hired physics graduates to fill science and engineering positions.
• Latest employment data: explore the variety of work settings and positions in which physicists at different degree levels are employed.
• Statistical Research Center: find current data on education and employment in physics, astronomy, and allied fields, including interactive resources, full reports, and individual graphs and tables.
• SPS Jobs: check out helpful job search resources through the Society of Physics Students.
• Physicist profiles: learn about the diverse range of career possibilities for physics graduates.

Student & Alumni Stories

Brynn Graybill '24
B.S. in Physics

Caitlyn Williams '08
B.S. in Physics

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