Bachelor of Science in Physics
Radford, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Dec 2024
EARLIEST START DATE
Jul 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 25,633 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* out-of-state, commuter student | $12,548: in-state, commuter student. Additional fees may apply
Introduction
Physics is essential to understanding our modern technological society and is the foundation for all the natural sciences. The problem-solving skills learned in physics can be applied everywhere on scales from subatomic particles to the entire universe. Graduates will gain real-world research experience within their courses and have additional opportunities to work on research with a faculty member serving as a mentor.
Experimental and Theoretical Physics Concentration
This concentration is designed to prepare students for either graduate study in physics or engineering, as well as to enter the workforce with a very adaptable background in all areas that use physics. This concentration leads to a well-rounded graduate who is able to succeed in so many technical fields that may or may not have "physics" in the title.
Biophysics Concentration
The Biophysics Concentration is the first of its kind in the state of Virginia. This rigorous concentration is for those who wish to apply physics to health-related fields. In addition to the typical physics and math classes, students also take 19 hours in Chemistry and 16 hours in Biology. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to set up Independent Study classes that apply physics to various biophysical problems.
Astrophysics Concentration
The Astrophysics Concentration has students take classes such as our advanced astronomy classes (both observational and theoretical), our Atmospheric Physics class, and our geophysics class. This concentration is great for launching you into further study and/or research in astronomy and astrophysics. It's also a concentration that prepares you for several careers with your Bachelor's degree due to the emphasis on applied data processing in this concentration. This also prepares you for a career in fields such as applied physics, engineering, and others.
Physics Education Concentration
The Physics Education Concentration requires the traditional year of introductory physics, along with a core group of intermediate physics courses. This allows for flexibility for students who want to take their physics degree into a teaching career. Students who start this concentration their freshman year can complete the physics requirements as well as receive their teaching certification within their 4 years at Radford.
Why Study Physics at Radford?
- We offer concentrations in astrophysics, biophysics, experimental and theoretical physics, and physics education.
- Our small department size and outstanding student-to-faculty ratio give students the opportunity for one-on-one work with faculty mentors in more informal settings that are not possible at larger universities.
- Every student will gain direct research experience in the curriculum and gain skills that both employers and graduate programs desire from applicants.
- Many of our majors are involved in research at a level that is not possible at larger universities.
- Facilities and equipment include an observatory, wind tunnel, atomic force microscope, scanning tunneling microscope, graphene deposition system, ground-penetrating radar planetarium, and other equipment.
- We have a unique biannual year-long Alaska research experience where students are the drivers of the research with close faculty mentoring.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
The department has four concentrations focusing on different aspects of physics as well as a collaborative dual degree agreement with Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. The Theoretical and Experimental concentration prepares students for careers or graduate study in physics. The Astrophysics concentration focuses on the use of physics in astronomy and planetary science. The Biophysics concentration looks at the connections between physics, chemistry, and biology and can be used to help prepare students to work or continue to graduate studies in this growing sector. It also provides a unique pathway to the professional health and medical fields. The Education concentration prepares students to teach physics at the high school level. The collaborative program with Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering allows students to earn two bachelor’s degrees (one in Physics, one in the field of Engineering) in a 5-year program.
REAL Curriculum
This major fulfills the R and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students fulfill the R area through classes requiring students to apply quantitative and scientific information to test problems draw conclusions and generate scientific and quantitative knowledge. These requirements are accomplished through the skills and knowledge gained in mathematical and scientific reasoning utilized in Physics courses taken in the first two years of the major curriculum.
Students fulfill the L area through classes requiring students to develop professional skills and critically reflect on how their skills, abilities, and experiences apply in a profession. Students develop these skills and reflect on their professional skills, experience, and abilities in laboratory and computational physics courses taken in the second year of the major curriculum.
Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the E and A areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.
REAL Foundational Requirements
- Foundational Writing (3 credits)
- Foundational Math (3 credits)
REAL Cornerstone Requirements
- Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)
General Education Requirements
General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Physics major includes 23-32 general education credits.
Major Requirements (59-74 credits)
- B.S. Requirement (8 credits)
- Required Courses (40-41 credits)
Concentrations (11-26 credits)
- Experimental and Theoretical Concentration (16 credits)
- Astrophysics Concentration (16 credits)
- Education Concentration (11 credits)
- Education Concentration (11 credits)
Additional Degree Requirements
To graduate with a major in Physics, a student must attain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all courses attempted in the major including Calculus and Analytic Geometry.
Open Credit Hours (46-61 credits)
These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.
Total Credits Needed For Graduation (120)
Teaching Licensure
Students seeking endorsements to teach physics must take appropriate courses in education. (See the Secondary Education page and contact the College of Education and Human Development for information concerning these courses.)
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Approximately 33% of physics majors get jobs in engineering when they go directly into a job, and over 40% go into some STEM career.
Starting salaries in the private section for physics degree recipients are well above the national average at all levels.
Physics majors score near the top of the tests determining entry into diverse fields such as medicine (MCAT, see below) and law (LSAT). According to the American Institute of Physics Statistics Division, 73% of physics majors who applied to law school in 2021 were accepted.