BA or BS in Physics
Selinsgrove, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 54,440 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* November 1 — Early Action 1. November 15 — Early Decision. December 1 — Early Action 2. February 1 — Regular Decision admission application deadline; late applications welcome as space permits. March 1 — International Students
** tuition 2022-23
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Explore the universe and all its mysteries in our Department of Physics.
Physics courses in classical areas such as mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and electronics with select classes in quantum areas give students the foundational knowledge to continue their education, step into a career or teach the next generation of Einsteins.
Engineering options
Interested in engineering? Study here for three years and get your bachelor’s degree in physics, and then get an engineering degree from Columbia University, Washington University of St. Louis, or Case Western Reserve University through our engineering dual degree program.
Gallery
Curriculum
Requirements for Major
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Requirements for the Major in Physics
Susquehanna offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs in physics. The department strongly recommends the Bachelor of Science program for students interested in graduate school or industrial employment. Majors can pursue an interdisciplinary interest, such as biophysics, by carefully choosing electives. The Bachelor of Arts is a good choice for students preparing to teach secondary school.
The Bachelor of Science degree
The bachelor of science degree requires the following courses completed with grades of C- or better:
32 semester hours in physics, including:
- 4 PHYS-203 Introductory Physics I: Calculus-Based
- or PHYS-204 Introductory Physics I: Calculus-Based
- 4 PHYS 206 Introductory Physics II: Calculus-based
- 4 PHYS-301 Newtonian Mechanics
- 4 PHYS-302 Electric and Magnetic Fields
- 2 PHYS-551 Physics Capstone I
- 2 PHYS-552 Physics Capstone II
- 12 additional hours from PHYS courses
20 semester hours in mathematics
- 4 MATH 111-Calculus I
- 4 MATH-112 Calculus II
- 4 MATH-201 Linear Algebra
- 4 MATH-211 Multivariate Calculus
- 4 MATH-353 Differential Equations
12 Additional hours
- 4 CHEM-101 General Chemistry I
- or CHEM-103 General Chemistry I Teams
- or CHEM-111 General Chemistry I Teams WS
- 8 Additional hours in approved biology, chemistry, earth, and environmental sciences, mathematics, or computer science courses
The Bachelor of Arts degree
The bachelor of arts degree requires the following courses completed with grades of C- or better:
32 semester hours in physics, including:
- 4 PHYS-203 Introductory Physics I: Calculus-Based
- or PHYS-204 Introductory Physics I: Calculus-Based
- 4 PHYS 206 Introductory Physics II: Calculus-based
- 4 PHYS-301 Newtonian Mechanics
- 4 PHYS-302 Electric and Magnetic Fields
- 2 PHYS-551 Physics Capstone I
- 2 PHYS-552 Physics Capstone II
- 12 additional hours from PHYS courses
16 semester hours in mathematics
- 4 MATH-111 Calculus I
- 4 MATH-112 Calculus II
- 4 MATH-201 Linear Algebra
- 4 MATH-211 Multivariable Calculus
12 Additional hours
- 4 CHEM-101 General Chemistry I
- or CHEM-103 General Chemistry I Teams
- or CHEM-111 General Chemistry I Teams WS
- 8 Additional hours in approved biology, chemistry, earth, and environmental sciences, mathematics, or computer science courses
Double-counting restriction
Students majoring in Physics may not double-count courses toward a Chemical Physics major.
Students majoring in Chemical Physics may not double-count courses toward a Chemistry or Physics minor.
Honors
The departmental honors program recognizes superior work in the physics courses. To enter the program, majors must do the following:
- Maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA and a 3.5 major GPA in physics, and
- Successfully complete both Physics Capstone I and II (PHYS-551 and PHYS-552) with a grade of B or better.
Teaching Certification
Coursework required by the state of Pennsylvania for admission to the teacher certification program includes successful completion of ENGL-100 Writing and Thinking or equivalent course, at least 3 semester hours in British or American literature, at least 6 semester hours of mathematics coursework (or other courses which satisfy the Central Curriculum Analytical Thought requirement), and at least one 40-hour externship.
Education course requirements for secondary education are EDUC-101 Introduction to Education and Society, EDUC-250 Educational Psychology, EDUC-260 Introduction to Special Education, EDUC-270 Instruction of Exceptional Students, EDUC-330 Technology in Education, EDUC-350 English Language Learners: Theory and Instruction, EDUC-380 Instructional Design, EDUC- 424 Methods of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Teaching Science, EDUC-479 Principles of Learning and Teaching in Secondary Education, EDUC-483 Differentiated Instruction and Classroom Management in Secondary Education, and the EDUC-500 Student Teaching package (EDUC-501, EDUC-502, EDUC-503, and EDUC-600).
In addition, secondary education physics students complete all of the usual requirements for the physics major.
Requirements for Minor
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Minor in Physics
Students consult with their major adviser and a physics faculty member to design minor programs. The minor requires grades of C- or better for 18 semester hours in physics, including Introductory Physics I (PHYS-202, -203, or 204) and Introductory Physics II (PHYS-205 or -206). Suggested additional courses for computer science majors are PHYS-101 and PHYS-405. Suggestions for mathematics majors are PHYS-301, PHYS-302, and PHYS-405.
Courses Options
- PHYS 100 Introductory Astronomy, Credits: 4
- PHYS 100L Introductory Astronomy Lab, Credits: 0–0
- PHYS 101 Digital and Analog Electronics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 108 Physics of Music, Credits: 4
- PHYS 108L Physics of Music Lab, Credits: 0–0
- PHYS 195 Independent Thought and Explore Physics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 202 Introductory Physics I: Algebra-Based, Credits: 4
- PHYS 203 Introductory Physics I: Calculus-Based, Credits: 4
- PHYS 204 Introductory Physics I: Calculus-Based, Credits: 4
- PHYS 205 Introductory Physics II: Algebra-Based, Credits: 4
- PHYS 206 Introductory Physics II: Calculus-based, Credits: 4
- PHYS 301 Newtonian Mechanics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 302 Electric and Magnetic Fields, Credits: 4
- PHYS 303 Solid State Physics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 304 Classical and Modern Optics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 305 Topics in Physics, Credits: 1–4
- PHYS 306 Modern Physics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 401 Electromagnetic and Mechanical Waves, Credits: 4
- PHYS 402 Quantum Mechanics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 404 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 405 Mathematical Physics, Credits: 4
- PHYS 500 Independent Study, Credits: 1–6
- PHYS 530 Physics Internship, Credits: 1–8
- PHYS 550 Physics Research, Credits: 2–6
- PHYS 551 Physics Capstone I, Credits: 2
- PHYS 552 Physics Capstone II, Credits: 2
Program Outcome
Learning Goals
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of physical concepts and their applications to real-world problems.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking and analytical problem-solving techniques.
- Students will develop effective written and oral communication skills in Physics.
- Students will be able to execute and evaluate proper experimental physics procedures during laboratory work.
Career Opportunities
Recent graduates are employed at:
- AT&T’s Holmdel Laboratory
- Department of Homeland Security
- The FBI Forensic Laboratory
- Minolta
- Nabisco
- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
- Numerous high schools as teachers
- Susquehanna Valley Cancer Treatment Center
- U.S. Government
Recent graduates have continued studies at:
- Columbia University
- Drexel University
- Lehigh University
- MIT-Woods Hole
- The Pennsylvania State University
- Princeton University
- University of California at Berkeley
- University of Connecticut
- University of Michigan
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!