Physics

The physics major prepares your research skills for future studies and careers in science or technology.

Preparing You For Success

You learn how to ask — and answer — thoughtful questions about the natural world. Classes introduce you to research your sophomore year, then you can continue year-round through labs, independent studies and summer grants. You can tailor the degree to your career interests by adding another major such as biology, computer science, chemistry or math.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

• One-on-one mentorship from faculty
• Opportunities to publish your research and share it at professional conferences
• A yearlong senior research project
• Summer research at Bradley, Purdue University and national labs (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, etc.) through campus and National Science Foundation grants
• Networking and professional development through campus organizations such as Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society and the Society of Physics Students

Making Your Mark

Physics majors are valuable as teachers, researchers, computer scientists, medical physicists and microelectronics engineers. Recent Bradley graduates found jobs at Los Alamos National Research Laboratory, Motorola, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Intel and NASA. Others pursued graduate degrees from the University of Illinois, Georgia Tech, University of Texas and University of Wisconsin.

Major Requirements

Required Courses - 65 hrs.

• PHY 110: University Physics I - 4 hrs.
• PHY 199: Physics Seminar for New Physics Majors - 1 hr.
• PHY 201: University Physics II - 4 hrs.
• PHY 305: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 hrs.
• PHY 306: Electromagnetic Waves - 3 hrs.
• PHY 330: Classical Mechanics - 3 hrs.
• PHY 350: Advanced Physics Experiments - 1-2 hrs.
• PHY 367: Statistical and Thermal Physics - 3 hrs.
• PHY 399: Special Problems in Physics - 1-3 hrs.
• PHY 480: Quantum Mechanics I - 3 hrs.
• PHY 202: Applied Quantum Physics - 3 hrs.
  or PHY 380: Quantum Physics - 3 hrs.
• MTH 121: Calculus I - 4 hrs.
• MTH 122: Calculus II - 4 hrs.
• MTH 207: Elementary Linear Algebra with Applications - 3 hrs.
• MTH 223: Calculus III - 4 hrs.
• MTH 224: Elementary Differential Equations - 3 hrs.
• MTH 501: Topics in Applied Mathematics I - 3 hrs.
• CHM 110: General Chemistry I - 3 hrs.
• CHM 111: General Chemistry I Lab - 1 hr.

Elective Courses (choose two) - 6 hrs.

• PHY 320: Optics - 3 hrs.
• PHY 361: Electronics - 3 hrs.
• PHY 482: Quantum Mechanics II - 3 hrs.
• PHY 568: Condensed Matter Physics - 3 hrs.

Other Requirements

• All physics majors are expected to present the results of their research experience while enrolled in PHY 399 at a departmental colloquium.