Physics

There's physics in a rainbow, physics in a heartbeat, physics in a microchip.

Physics is everywhere in our world, including:

• Your car negotiating an icy turn
• The imaging techniques that have revolutionized modern medicine
• Exotic objects like quasars and black holes in the outermost reaches of space

Near or far, everyday or exotic, everything in our universe has to obey the laws of physics. The aim of physics is to find the rules by which everything in the universe plays. The challenge of applied physics is to be creative within the rules. You may want your bridge to be beautiful and get traffic across quickly, but you also don't want it to collapse.

The physics program at Curry College stresses broadly applicable concepts and analytical skills. Whether your career goal is medicine, law, forensic science, finance, or education, a minor in physics can provide you with an additional powerful perspective on the world.

Requirements for Physics Minor:
12 credits at the 2000- or 3000-level, at least 6 of which must be taken at Curry. Normally these would consist of three physics courses, including two at the 3000-level or above and MATH 3100.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Physics Minor students will be:

• Competent in solving quantitative problems, and employ critical thinking and analytical reasoning to make sure that their answers are reasonable.
• Able to clearly discuss the major concepts and the fundamental principles of physics,  in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, , optics, and selected areas of modern physics, and a range of situations to which these concepts can be applied
• Able to demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of relationships between ordinary experience and physical models, and relationships among the various ways we represent this knowledge -- in words, with mathematics, in graphs, in diagrams, etc.
• Proficient in collecting, analyzing, evaluating, and drawing inferences or conclusions from experimental data.
• Able to clearly communicate scientific information in oral, written, and graphic formats.
• Skilled in the proper procedures, practices and regulations for safe handling and the use of chemicals