B.S. Degree

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is designed for individuals planning careers in physics and related technical fields or in areas where knowledge of basic scientific principles is necessary. The B.S program will prepare students who plan to pursue an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a physics-related field. Depending on math preparation these students should be able to complete the B.S. in four years at CWU.

B.A. Degree

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program is for students wanting a broad liberal arts education with an emphasis in physics. It may be a suitable foundation for students who are planning a career not usually regarded as physics, such as business, education, law, medicine, writing, environmental concerns, public safety, or computer programming. This major satisfies the criteria for an endorsement in physics and qualifies students to teach physics at the high school, middle or junior high levels.

Minor in Astronomy

For students interested in pursuing graduate studies or careers in astronomy, the astronomy minor is an excellent complement to either the B.S. or B.A. degrees.

Dual Degree Program

The Department offers a dual degree program that enables students to receive a Baccalaureate degree in physics from CWU and a Bachelor of Science from an appropriate engineering institution in a respective engineering discipline. The total length of time for both degrees is expected to be about five years, with approximately three years at Central Washington University (dating from enrollment in MATH 172) and approximately two years at the engineering institution. At CWU, students must complete a minimum of 135 credits, including all General Education requirements. Additional courses may be required depending on the specific engineering discipline - be sure to consult the Physics Department Chair for details.

Learning Objectives and Graduation Requirements

Regardless of the degree plan chosen, the physics department emphasizes the following student learning objectives:

• Content Knowledge
• Technical Skills
• Intellectual Skills
• Communication Skills
• Civic Engagement
• Life-long Learning

All physics students, regardless of the degree plan chosen, are required to maintain a portfolio of their work and accomplishments in physics. This portfolio provides documentation, supplements the transcript, that the student has attained each of the above learning objectives.

All physics majors (B.S., B.A., or Dual Degree) are required to conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. At CWU, we believe that the undergraduate research experience is an invaluable component of a scientific education. Through research, students have an opportunity to apply the content knowledge and laboratory skills learned in structured courses, as well as develop critical thinking, judgment, and library skills needed to solve opend-ended research questions.

Descriptions of current and past research projects carried out by CWU physics students can be found at the Physics Research page.

Many sources of financial support are available for students conducting research at CWU. For more information, please visit the Student Resources page.

Planned Upper Division Course Offerings

Many upper division courses are offered every other year, so it is important for students to be aware of the current schedule of course offerings when planning their own schedules. The planned offerings for 2009-2012 are available here in pdf format.