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Physics
Explore Marquette : Majors & Minors : Arts & Sciences : Physics

Unlock the secrets of the universe
Close-up study of Physics

Between the innermost workings of the nucleus and the outer edges of the visible universe lies the playground of physics. Combining imagination with systematic reasoning, the physicist seeks to understand the laws of nature, the structure of matter and the behavior of physical processes — the keys to many of the universe’s secrets.

Watermelon: Want to know how far a melon can fly?

THE MARQUETTE ADVANTAGE

MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF. You can work directly with physics faculty as they push the frontiers of physics knowledge. You will get to know physics so deeply that you may find yourself building your own telescope, teaching fruit to fly, getting published or speaking at the podium of a physics conference sharing your discoveries with physicists — as an under-graduate.

WANT TO KNOW HOW FAR A MELON CAN FLY? Marquette’s Chapter of the Society of Physics Students received a grant to design, build and use a trebuchet, a medieval catapult. (They learned a ripe melon could fly — with considerable velocity and grace — at least four city blocks. Just don’t tell anyone we told you…or how we know.)

WHAT CAN I DO WITH PHYSICS? For starters, you can tailor your program to suit your interest in physics by choosing a special focus — traditional physics, pre-med physics with a clinical focus, pre-med physics with a research focus, teaching, mathematical physics, astrophysics, computational physics or astronomy.

THE PHYSICS OF INVESTING. Major Wall Street brokerage houses employ physicists to build and analyze models for stock trading, with particular emphasis on capitalizing on small price fluctuations.

Visit the department that offers this major.




 Your major courses blue.

FRESHMAN
Classical and Modern Physics with Calculus I: Mechanics and Waves
Classical and Modern Physics with Calculus II: Heat, Electromagnetism and Optics
Calculus I
Rhetoric and Composition I & II
Calculus II
Foreign Language I & II

SOPHOMORE
Modern Physics: Atoms, Particles and Quanta
Modern Physics: The States of Matter
Electronics Lab
General Chemistry I
Growth of Western Civilization I or II
Literature Elective
Calculus III
Differential Equations
General Chemistry II

JUNIOR
Classical Mechanics
Contemporary Physics Lab I
Quantum Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism I & II
Diverse Cultures Elective
Individual and Social Behavior Elective
Introduction to Theology
Philosophy of Human Nature
Theory of Ethics
Electives

SENIOR
Complex Variables
Contemporary Physics Lab II
Introduction to Thermodynamics
Modern Optics
Theology Elective
Growth of Western Civ. I or II or Social-behavioral Science Elective
Literature Elective
Philosophy Elective
Theology Elective
Elective
Studying Physics WHERE OUR GRADUATES GO
Because our physics majors develop highly organized ways of thinking, they tend to be quite successful both inside and outside the fields of traditional physics. Many of our alumni work in patent law, military service, medicine, forensic science, software development and consulting. About two-thirds of our students go directly on to graduate school or professional study.

• Johns Hopkins University
• Kimberly-Clark Corp.
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• NASA
• National Institute of Standards
   and Technology

• Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• Trace Laboratories
• United Parcel Service
• U.S. Department of Defense
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Wisconsin

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