Physics Majors
Physics is the most basic of the sciences. An undergraduate degree
in physics prepares you to teach at the high school level or for employment
in industry. A physics B.S. is a first step toward a wide variety of
careers, such as research in physics, engineering and other technical
fields; teaching at the college or university level; and research and
development in industry. If you are interested in medicine or law, a
physics B.A. provides excellent preparation for entry into medical or
law school.
A significant strength of the UNI Physics Department is the early and
active involvement of physics majors in faculty research. Undergraduates
working closely with physics faculty members are conducting exciting
work in surface physics, magnetism and magnetic materials, modern optics
and holography, biophysical modeling, computational physics, and acoustics—including
the acoustics of musical instruments.
If you want to know how things work, if you wish to discover how one
main idea explains a variety of different phenomena, and if you are
interested in finding precise quantitative explanations rather than
being satisfied with generalities, you should consider majoring or minoring
in physics.
Majors:
Physics, B.S.
Applied Physics, B.S.
Applied Physics/Engineering, B.S.
Physics, B.A.(880)
Physics, B.A.-teaching
Minors:
Physics, B.A.
Physics, B.A.-teaching
(Click major/minor/certificate title to see typical courses for the program)
Degree programs
The Department of Physics offers major programs in two baccalaureate
areas: the bachelor of science and the bachelor of arts. All physics
students must complete 47 hours of Liberal Arts Core courses in addition
to their major requirements.
The physics major (67 to 70 hours) leading to the bachelor of science
degree is recommended for students who wish to prepare for graduate
study in physics; engineering; and other sciences, such as geophysics,
astronomy, biophysics and medical physics.
The applied physics major (65 to 68 hours) leading to the bachelor of
science degree is especially suitable for students seeking industrial
or other applied employment after the B.S. degree. It can also serve
as a background for graduate study in some applied science or engineering
areas.
The applied physics/engineering dual-degree major (65 to 68 hours) leads
to a B.S. applied physics degree from the University of Northern Iowa
and a B.S. engineering degree from the University of Iowa or Iowa State
University. This program requires approximately three years of attendance
at UNI, followed by approximately two years of attendance at UI or ISU.
The B.A. physics major (53 to 54 hours) is for students (including double
majors) desiring a broad background in science or who are taking a substantial
amount of work in other areas. With appropriate choice of electives,
the B.A. physics major meets the needs of pre-medical and pre-law students
and students planning careers in science-related administration, business
or technical writing.
The B.A. physics major-teaching program (42 hours) is for students preparing
to be physics teachers at the secondary school level. Sufficient work
should be taken for licensure approval in a second subject area, as
well. Completion of this major will satisfy the requirements of the
Iowa Department of Education for physics approval.
The B.A. physics major with environmental emphasis (64 to 72 hours)
is designed to prepare students for careers in environmental areas.
This degree is also appropriate for students planning graduate work
in one of the multidisciplinary environmental fields, such as oceanography,
limnology, natural resources, geophysics or global studies.
Common minors pursued
Physics majors are encouraged to complete minors, or do substantial
course work, in one or more of the following areas: computer science,
chemistry, earth science, mathematics, industrial technology, business
and biology.
Completion of work in any of the above areas, along with the requirements
of the major, enables graduates to accommodate a wide variety of career
goals and be qualified for many types of employment.
Physics provides the foundation for our modern technological society.
At UNI, we take pride in offering a high quality program of study
in physics with several options to suit many different career goals.
Under “Degree programs” on the first page, we have described
the career opportunities available to students who complete the B.A.
or the B.S. degree options. In general, an undergraduate degree in
physics provides a broad background of basic knowledge that can be
used to great advantage in many fields:
Applied mathematician Computer programmer Dentist Engineer Energy resources consultant/research Environmental specialist Health physics Industrial hygienist Manufacturing Metallurgist Museum curator Oceanographer Patent attorney |
Physicist Physics teacher Physician Pollution control specialist Production supervisor Radiologist Remote sensing technician Safety specialist Science journalist Systems analyst Technical illustrator Technical/scientific writer/editor |
The B.S. applied physics program provides a strong preparation for work in a variety of applied areas. Examples are manufacturing industries, engineering firms, medical facilities and government laboratories. It also offers a good background for graduate study in some applied science or engineering programs. Students acquire a broad-based foundation in physics along with the skills for analyzing and solving a variety of practical problems.
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Early and active involvement of Physics majors in faculty research. The department provides a supportive atmosphere, close student-faculty intereactions and a welth of research opportunities for undergraduates in a variety of funded research projects including applied optics, surface physics, acoustics, solid state physics and spectroscopy.
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A well-qualified and caring faculty specializing in several areas of physics research as well as in physics and science education.
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An emphasis on laboratory work.
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An emphasis on student involvement in projects and research; students report their work at state, regional, and national scientific meetings.
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Cooperative education program which permits working in industry before graduation.*
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A department that is small enough to provide the personal attention common to small college programs while having many of the advantages and facilities associated with a university setting.
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The Department is the home of the internationally recognized physics teaching program known as PRISMS which has had a major impact on teaching of physics in nearly 1500 high schools in the United States and abroad.
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The Department offers several merit scholarships and many work opportunities for qualified students.
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One laboratory in low-temperature magnetism and magnetic materials, involving one faculty member
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Two laboratories devoted to the study of materials and surfaces using lasers and holography, involving two faculty members: Four large research-grade vibration isolation tables and a variety of laser systems are available to support this research.
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One laboratory devoted to acoustics research, including musical acoustics, involving two faculty members
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Beowulf cluster for parallel computing
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Computer-equipped student laboratories and networked computer workstations
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College of Natural Sciences tuition scholarships are available. Applicants must compete by test at UNI’s Science, Mathematics and Technology Symposium in the fall for some scholarships.
More information on department scholarships can found at Financial Aid.