Physics

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The physics major is designed for students interested in a career in industry or government laboratories, applied computer science, or in further study toward a graduate degree. Students develop a strong background in physics, which allows them to go on to teach physics or to enter medical or dental school. Additional courses are offered in physics and physical science to familiarize the general arts and sciences student with the current scientific interpretations of the fundamental physical laws that govern the universe.

DEGREE OPTIONS
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in physics

PROGRAM SIZE
Approximately 40 students are enrolled in the major. Average class size is seven students.

FACULTY
The Physics and Astronomy Department is comprised of four full-time professors and two part-time assistants. All professors within the department have earned doctorates.

ACADEMIC PREPARATION
For a student to pursue this field of study he or she must be comfortable with and enjoy mathematics. The discipline relies heavily on deductive and analytical reasoning. An incoming student should have completed 4 years of math through pre-calculus in high school. A physics course in high school is helpful but not required.

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MAJOR
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours in physics, and the Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 50 credit hours in physics. The program is developed by the student and the adviser and approved by the department.

All programs include a common core of seven physics courses in the first two years:

First Year			Second Year
PHY 5	Topics in Physics		PHY 2	Introductory Physics II
PHY 1	Introductory Physics I		PHY 50	Modern Physics
			PHY 59	Advanced Laboratory I
			PHY 61	Error Theory
PHY 191	Physics Seminar I
Both degrees are required to take:
PHY 121	Theoretical Mechanics		PHY 122	Introduction to Electromagnetic Theory
PHY 133	Electronics		PHY 192, 193	Physics Seminars II, III
PHY 182	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Requirements for the BA degree include one course from the following:
PHY 149 or 159	Advanced Laboratory II or III
PHY 197 or 198	Research Participation
In addition, the Bachelor of Science degree requires:
PHY 149 or 139	Advanced Laboratory II or III
PHY 181	Quantum Theory		PHY 188	Advanced Classical Physics
And one course from the following:
PHY 180, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 195, 197, 198

Requirements for all programs also include CHEM 1 & 3-- General Chemistry I and lab and related courses in mathematics and computer science appropriate to the option chosen by the student. Depending on the student's career goals, the academic adviser may recommend additional courses chosen from electives.

For students planning to teach junior or senior high school physics, a cooperative program with the School of Education leads to Iowa secondary certification. Students complete a program of physics and education courses and a professional semester, which includes student teaching experience.

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES OUTSIDE MAJOR
The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership.

The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one project. The senior capstone experience may be either an NSF-sponsored REU experience between the junior and senior years or one of the courses 197 or 198, research participation, taken during the senior year.

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MINOR
Minimum of 24 credit hours in physics courses: PHY 1, 2, 5, 50, 59, 61, 191 and either 133 or 182. All students planning to minor in physics must have a minor adviser in the Department of Physics. Students should consult their advisers regarding the mathematics pre-requisites for these courses.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES/INTERNSHIPS
Students who are interested in fields of concentration outside the present major may develop an individualized major through a combination of existing courses. Some students have pursued computational physics, geophysics, environmental physics, biophysics, chemical physics or astrophysics.

CAREER OPTIONS
There is high demand for people with advanced degrees in physics, geophysics, or astrophysics. Any student who is recommended to pursue a masters or doctoral program in any area of physics will receive full financial support from the graduate school involved in the form of fellowships or assistantships which include salary as well as tuition. The undergraduate program also provides a sound base for entering medical or law school.

Physics majors also may pursue career opportunities in industry, government or secondary school teaching. Some career possibilities are as research assistants or in applied computer science at Argonne Labs, Bell Labs, IBM and
NASA. There are many career opportunities for a graduate with a bachelor's degree; however those opportunities are at a less advanced level than for the graduate who pursues a masters or doctoral degree.

SCHOLARSHIPS
For first-year students, the Department conducts the Drake Physics Prize Examination contest in the spring of each year. The test is offered in high schools in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota. The student with the highest test score is awarded a 4-year full tuition scholarship. The top 50 senior students participate in a closed competition for a second 4-year full tuition scholarship restricted to physics or astronomy majors. The second scholarship is awarded based on a student's overall academic record, recommendations and an on-campus interview. In addition, the Department has other endowed scholarship funds: Crusinberry Family Endowed Scholarships and Paul S. and Dorothy H. Helmick Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated continuing interest and outstanding scholarship in the fields of physics or astronomy.

ORGANIZATIONS
A chapter of the Society of Physics Students is very active at Drake. Activities include volleyball, soccer, picnics, and field trips.

NOTED ALUMNI

• Matthew White, AS'89, (M.D. U of Iowa), physician, Iowa City, IA
  
• Paula Waschbusch, AS'89, (Ph.D. MIT), research specialist, Eagan, MN
  
• Lawrence Kidder, AS'89, (Ph.D. Washington University), research scientist, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  
• Brian Albright, AS'92, (Ph.D. UCLA), research scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  
• Katherine DeVries Smith, AS'93, (J.D. U of Michigan), attorney, Minneapolis, MN
  
• Jonathan Short, AS'94, (Ph.D. U of Illinois), research scientist, GE, Schenectady, NY
  
• Ann Hornschemier, AS'97, (Ph.D. Penn State), research scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Goran Krilov, AS'98, (Ph.D. Columbia), assistant professor, Boston College
  
• Gregory VerSteeg, AS'03, graduate student, Cal Tech
  
• Drew Fustin, AS'04, graduate student, U of Chicago
  
• Kavitha Pundi, AS'05, medical student, Mayo Clinic
  

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