Goals and Requirements for Major

Goals for the Major

Goals for the Physics Major

The Department of Physics aims for ongoing assessment of its programs by the faculty of the department. The department measures student achievement of desired learning objectives through performance in formal courses and on senior projects and senior theses. Records of student involvement in research have been kept for several years along with copies of student theses. To the extent possible, students are informally tracked after leaving Linfield College, to determine how their experience at Linfield has helped them establish careers. These data are helpful in maintaining high-quality programs and in keeping our focus on research involvement for all students.

In successfully completing a major in physics, students will be able to:

• Improve their skills in communications, critical thinking, and problem solving.
• Understand problems qualitatively, and also to apply increasingly sophisticated mathematical techniques to quantitative problem solving.
• Consider undertaking a career in physics or applied physics or attend graduate school.
• Exhibit research skills sufficient for employment or continuing study.

 

Requirements for Major or Minor

For a Physics Major: 43 credits, including 115, 116, 215, 220, 303 or 410, 325, 385, 386, 420, 440, 475, 489, and 490. Under appropriate circumstances, one independent study course may apply toward the major. The Physics major also requires completion of MATH 170, 180,  and 210.

For an Applied Physics Major: 42 credits in the department, including 115, 116, 202, 203, 215, 220, 315, 316, 325 OR 303, 385, 386, 489, and 490. The Applied Physics major also requires completion of MATH 170, 180 and 210.

For a Major with Special Concentration: A student having a special interest in a subfield of physics or a joint discipline such as atmospheric physics, geophysics, or biophysics, may design, with the academic advisor, a program in which some elements of the regular Physics major programs are replaced by or supplemented with appropriate alternative courses.

For a Physics Minor: 20 credits in the department including 115, 116, and 10 credits in courses above 116.

For Oregon Initial Teacher Licensure in Physical Science: a student must complete the Linfield Teacher Education Program and the State of Oregon licensure requirements (see pages 57 and 58 in the print catalog). In order to complete these requirements, a student must begin taking education courses no later then his/her sophomore year. The student must be advised by an Education Department faculty member each semester prior to registration.