BS in Physics
Melbourne, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 21,173 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
What is a Physics Degree?
Physics involves the study of natural phenomena observed in our world, from the subatomic scale to the vastness of the entire universe.
Whether you want to explore the mysteries of antimatter, aid in the development of laser technologies, or discover new energy sources, a physics degree from Florida Tech gives you the knowledge and hands-on experience you need for a physics career.
Gain Practical Experience
Physics degree students learn scientific skills in small classes with intensive faculty-student interaction. The learning environment is conducive to preparing students for real-world scientific work whether in academia or industry. Students learn to conduct and communicate research experiments, working with direct supervision by a faculty member in charge of the research. Opportunities in research include participation in experiment design and construction, data collection, and analysis.
The physics department is located in the F.W. Olin Physical Sciences building, a 72,000 sq. ft. facility equipped with state-of-the-art labs, clean rooms, a 3,000 sq. ft. high bay area, a rooftop observatory, teaching classrooms with full multimedia, smart whiteboards, and other facilities.
Why Pursue a Physics Degree at Florida Tech?
The physics program at Florida Tech has set the standard since 1958 with the very first space sciences program in the world, successfully preparing students for high-tech careers at top space agencies and research firms. According to the American Institute of Physics, Florida Tech’s program is one of the largest in the US in terms of the number of BS degrees awarded annually. In addition, Florida Tech ranks in the top 5% of all US institutions awarding undergraduate physics degrees to women.
At Florida Tech, you’ll have all the tools and resources that you’d expect to find at a larger university but in a smaller, more intimate setting.
Internationally Recognized Faculty — Personalized Attention
Florida Tech has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1, a benefit, not every physics college can offer. In these small classes, students can work closely with their professors and receive focused attention, particularly when involved in research opportunities. The internationally recognized scientists in our physics program hold doctoral degrees from distinguished universities and are active in research that involves world-class experiments studying some of the most relevant topics in physics, including lightning, astronomy and astrophysics, experimental high-energy particle physics, and space physics.
Students are encouraged to participate in research right away, in their first year at Florida Tech. The academic environment is centered on preparing students for real-world scientific work, whether in academia or industry. This research-based focus gives students an opportunity to be published in scientific journals, and build leadership and professional experience through internships and professional organizations.
Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-Tech Corridor
Florida Tech is the perfect place for a BS in Physics. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America.
The area has the fifth-largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.
Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.
Curriculum
Curriculum
Physics is the discipline most directly concerned with understanding the physical world on a fundamental level. As such, it covers an extremely broad range of subjects and areas of specialization that seek to unify and understand this diversity in terms of the smallest possible number of laws and principles. A physicist therefore must receive broad, general training in science. Mathematics, a primary tool, must be mastered as well as experimental laboratory skills. Most important is the development of a variety of problem-solving skills and a critical, incisive approach to physical problems.
The curriculum for the physics major includes core courses in physics, mathematics, and related sciences, plus a liberal mixture of applied courses from engineering fields and an enriching selection of humanities as electives. Students considering a career in medicine or other health sciences should consider the premedical physics program detailed below. A degree in physics provides an excellent background for entering the health sciences.
Research is a major activity of the department, which possesses good instrumentation required for research in selected areas of physics. Participation in research programs by undergraduates is strongly encouraged. A maximum of six credit hours of research can be used to fulfill technical and free elective requirements.
Freshman Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
- CHM 1101 General Chemistry 1
- COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric
- FYE 1000 University Experience
- MTH 1001 Calculus 1 * or MTH 1010 Honors Calculus 1
- PHY 1050 Physics and Space Science Seminar
- SPS 1020 Introduction to Space Sciences *
Spring (16 credit hours)
- CHM 1102 General Chemistry 2
- COM 1102 Writing About Literature
- MTH 1002 Calculus 2 or MTH 1020 Honors Calculus 2
- PHY 1001 Physics 1
- PHY 2091 Physics Laboratory 1
Sophomore Year
Fall (15 credit hours)
- MTH 2001 Calculus 3 or MTH 2010 Honors Calculus 3
- PHY 2002 Physics 2
- PHY 2092 Physics Laboratory 2
- Restricted Elective (CSE 15xx) Credit Hours: 3
Select the first HUM Core Course:
- HUM 2051 Civilization 1: Ancient Through Medieval
- HUM 2141 World Art History 1: Pre-History to Early Global Awareness
- HUM 2211 British Literature and Culture
- HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1
- HUM 2331 American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era
- HUM 2551 Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Spring (16 credit hours)
- MTH 2201 Differential Equations/Linear Algebra or MTH 3200 Honors Differential Equations
- PHY 2003 Modern Physics
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Social Sciences Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select the second HUM Core Course:
- HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern
- HUM 2142 World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial
- HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1 (may not be repeated for credit)
- HUM 2213 British and American Literature 2
- HUM 2332 American History: From Reconstruction to the Present
- HUM 2552 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
Junior Year
Fall (17 credit hours)
- COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication
- MTH 3101 Complex Variables
- PHY 3011 Physical Mechanics
- PHY 3060 Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory and Statistical Mechanics
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Spring (17 credit hours)
- MTH 3210 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations and Applications
- PHY 3035 Quantum Mechanics
- PHY 3152 Electronic Measurement Techniques
- PHY 3440 Electromagnetic Theory
- Humanities Elective (HU) 3000-level or higher recommended Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year
Fall (17 credit hours)
- PHY 4020 Optics
- PHY 4021 Experiments in Optics
- PHY 4033 Introduction to Solid-State Physics
- PHY 4200 Senior Seminar 1 (Q)
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (MTH or CSE) Credit Hours: 3
- Technical Elective or Undergraduate Research Credit Hours: 3
Spring (15 credit hours)
- PHY 4030 Introduction to Subatomic Physics
- PHY 4071 Senior Laboratory
- PHY 4210 Senior Seminar 2 (Q)
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Humanities or Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Technical Elective or Undergraduate Research Credit Hours: 3
Total Credits Required: 129
*Students should register for SPS 1020 Introduction to Space Sciences. If a student places into MTH 1002 Calculus 2 or MTH 1020 Honors Calculus 2 they are encouraged to take PHY 1001 Physics 1 in the first semester and SPS 1020 Introduction to Space Sciences (or SPS 1010 Introduction to Astronomy) later in the program.
Career Opportunities
Career Outlook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions, and job outlook, among other things.
Scientific research and development services firms and the federal government employ a large percentage of all physicists and astronomers, with most jobs centered in research, usually requiring a doctoral degree. Bachelor’s degree holders often find physics careers as research assistants and technicians. The outlook for physics careers is expected to grow by 14% through 2020.
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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