Physics (BS)

What is A Physics (BS) Degree?

Physics is about understanding everything in the universe.  Physicists have found that, using mathematical models, that there are certain laws that can predict what going to happen to matter and energy in certain situations.  So, they make observations about real situations, develop hypotheses, conduct research, and then think through what could be happening, using math to come up with explanations and predictions.  They discover the truth of the universe that we can count on.  Wow!  Where in your life are there things you can count on for sure every time?!  Well, you can do that in physics.

The field of Physics has lots of branches like Classical Physics which looks at forces acting on bodies or laws of motion—like how many friends you would need to push your car up a hill, things like that.  This includes solids (like the car example), liquids, and gases.  Pretty cool?!  There is also the field of Thermodynamics which studies the transfer of energy using work and generating heat. There are also Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Optics, Particles, and other branches.  This is scientific field, based mainly in mathematics, that requires a high-level of knowledge and really good thinking skills to be successful.  If you want a BS degree in Physics, you’ll need to study Physics, Chemistry, Math, and Communications, and, in some schools, you can specialize in applied physics where you’ll also take some engineering courses.  You may also be able to do an internship or practicum in an industry you’re interested in to get some valuable job experience.

The video below discusses a “typical” program, so it should help regardless of which school you are considering.