Course detailsPhysics and engineeringJohn Ross Buschert, Department Chair, Professor of PhysicsCarl Helrich, Professor of Physics Paul Meyer Reimer, Assoc Professor of Physics The physics department offers:• major in physics• engineering program • degree in secondary education with specialty in physics. Visit the physics department home page. Mission statementThe physics department prepares responsible physicists, engineers and teachers for academic, research and industrial positions. Student involvement in active research and in teaching within the department fosters an understanding of the philosophical and structural concepts of physics as well as an ability to apply the science itself. The department consciously promotes an active participation in the wider scientific and engineering communities.Career opportunitiesUpon graduation, the physics major is prepared for graduate study in physics or engineering. Other possibilities include science secondary education or the combination of a physics baccalaureate degree with a master’s degree in business administration, which affords the background for a management career in high technology and engineering industries. Biophysics and the neurosciences are growing fields requiring the background of an education in physics. Study of physics also provides the training and experience prized in many modern careers beyond the standard boundaries of science and engineering.Graduate schoolsAll Goshen physics majors who have chosen to pursue a graduate degree have been admitted to graduate school. More than 70 percent of the physics majors elect this path. Individual professors at research universities have testified to the excellent preparation received at Goshen College. Recent Goshen graduates have chosen schools such as Purdue University, Princeton University, the University of Notre Dame, Carnegie-Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, the Pennsylvania State University, the University of North Carolina, the University of Tennessee, Auburn University, Tulane University and Vanderbilt University.EngineeringThe combination of a liberal arts background and an engineering degree from one of the leading engineering schools in the nation is the optimal education for the modern engineer. Goshen College, acknowledged as one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges, provides such a program. In this program the student spends three years at Goshen College and two or two and a half years at the engineering school receiving a bachelor of arts degree in physics (or chemistry) from Goshen and a bachelor of science degree from the engineering school.Goshen College has program agreements with Case School of Engineering of the Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio), Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) and the University of Illinois (Urbana/Champaign). Admission to the engineering school is granted to a student with a 3.0/4.0 overall grade point average and at least a 3.0/4.0 in science and mathematics courses, upon recommendation of the engineering adviser. Transfer to other schools is possible, but must be done on an individual basis. Goshen College will grant the B.A. degree when the student completes the engineering course and the Goshen College requirements. While at Goshen College, the engineering student is enrolled as a physics or chemistry major. Studies of science and mathematics to fulfill the requirements of the first two years in the engineering school are undertaken. In addition the student completes the Goshen College requirements in the arts, religion and humanities. The Study-Service Term (SST) or alternative is also required of the engineer. A large percentage of the Goshen students pursuing this program receive cum laude degrees from the engineering school and continue graduate study. Employment opportunities are excellent for graduates from this program. 
Physics educationTeacher certification is available for grades 5-12 in two related areas. Courses needed in addition to the standard track physics major are:Physics – Phys 208, Phys 210 Physical Science - Chem 200, Chem 303, Phys 210 Also required are 30 credits of education courses, including a semester of student teaching. PJCS 210 is required for general education. The first education class, Educ 201, should be taken in May term of the first year or fall of the sophomore year. See the education department pages and the Teacher Education Handbook for more details about requirements. Major in physics / Standard trackThe major requires 27 hours of study in physics, including:
Planning guidePhysics department advisers will assist each student in creating a suitable four-year plan. This is representative for the first three years.For students enrolled in the three-two physics/engineering track, below is a sample schedule for courses taken at Goshen College. First year
Second year
Third year
Double majors/minorsBecause of the extensive requirements in mathematics in the physics major, a double major in mathematics or applied mathematics may be undertaken. Many have also obtained double majors in physics and chemistry or physics and biology. Double majors in areas outside of the sciences such as history are encouraged. A number of physicists have pursued minors in music.SST (Study-Service Term)This is required of engineering as well as physics majors. The student should choose a unit freely, anticipating that course schedule adjustments can be made to accommodate the choice.Undergraduate researchAn undergraduate research experience has been identified nationally as the most influential contributing factor in the education of a scientist or engineer and is becoming almost a requirement for the student wishing to pursue graduate study. Working on a research project with a faculty member allows the student to encounter both the real world beyond the classroom and the profession. Papers with student authors are presented at both the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, held annually, and professional conferences.The research center in the department is the Turner Laboratory, which has facilities for optical holographic studies of musical instruments, phospholipid bilayer studies in biophysics and X-ray diffraction studies. Theoretical modeling studies are also conducted in the laboratory. Much of the work conducted in the Turner Laboratory is collaborative. Collaborative research is presently underway with the University of Notre Dame and Brigham Young University. These collaborations provide a steady flow of research problems as well as an invaluable contact for both students and faculty. The interaction allows the student to explore further possibilities for education or career and the experience makes the Goshen student particularly attractive to graduate schools. Thesis/internshipThere is no explicit internship requirement in physics, but internships have been arranged for interested students. Most students, however, are involved in some form of research that may include the development of special experiments for the teaching laboratory. For the student involved in research, the thesis option is recommended. A thesis may be undertaken in consultation with the faculty adviser and forms part of the student’s permanent record. Thesis abstracts are integral parts of graduate school and professional school applications.Cooperative (Co-op) experiences are available for engineering students. Physics coursesPHYS 100 The Physical World 3An introduction to physical science for nonmajors. The Manhattan Project is used as a vehicle for the study of physics, engineering, and scientific management. The course is experiential. (offered annually in the fall) PHYS 101 Research Seminar 1 An introduction to the department and to physics and engineering as careers. Presentations by faculty and students of research, introduction to the scientific literature and scientific writing, individual research on a chosen topic. (offered annually). PHYS 102 Research Seminar 1 An introduction to the department and to physics and engineering as careers. Presentations by faculty and students of research, introduction to the scientific literature and scientific writing, individual research on a chosen topic. (offered annually). PHYS 154 Descriptive Astronomy 3 An introduction to astronomy including the study of the solar system, stars and stellar development, galaxies and cosmology. Laboratory experience will include astronomical observation and measurement. PHYS 203 General Physics 4 A calculus and vector treatment of basic physics including mechanics, sound, electricity, magnetism and light. Required of physics majors and recommended for majors in the physical sciences. Lectures and laboratory. Prerequisite of concurrent: Math 211-212. (offered annually) PHYS 204 General Physics 4 A calculus and vector treatment of basic physics including mechanics, sound, electricity, magnetism and light. Required of physics majors and recommended for majors in the physical sciences. Lectures and laboratory. Prerequisite of concurrent: Math 211-212. (offered annuall PHYS 208 Introduction to Research 2 An introduction to the techniques and practice of experimental research. Students participate in laboratory work in the Turner Laboratory. Course is considered training for future research in the physics department. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204 or consent of instructor. PHYS 210 Modern Physics 3 An introduction to the basis of modern physics. Special relativity, experimental origins of the quantum theory, elementary particle physics, and cosmology. Prerequisite: Phys 203-204 or consent of instructor. PHYS 240 Physics of Music 3 A study of the physics of a variety of musical instruments including the voice, the physical origins of musical scales and temperaments, perception effects in the ear and brain and room acoustics. Many class sessions will be laboratory experiences and each student will do a major project. Prerequisite: Phys 203 or high school physics, Mus 102 or equivalent ability or consent of instructor. PHYS 301 Methods of Mathematical Physics 3 Introduction to the mathematical methods used in physics. Complex variables, transformations, vector spaces. Green's Function solution to differential equations and calculus of variations. Prerequisite: Math 213. PHYS 302 Analytical Mechanics 3 Newtonian Mechanics based on the formulation of Lagrange and Hamilton. Applications to oscillations, orbital motion, scattering, rigid body motion. Special topics include chaos theory and relativity. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204, Phys 301or consent of instructor. PHYS 303 Classical Field Theory 3 Study of electric and magnetic fields using the formulation of Maxwell. Maxwell's equations are developed with reference to experiments followed by selected applications including wave propagation in dispersive media, plasma phenomena, and magnetic and dielectric phenomena. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204, Phys 301or consent of instructor. PHYS 304 Electronics 4 Introduction to analog and digital electronics and robotics. The focus is on design and construction of practical circuitry which can be used to build useful devices. After the analog and digital groundwork is laid, students learn to program microcontrollers to interface with a variety of sensors and outputs on mobile robotic platforms. Weekly laboratories culminate in individual projects presented in the biannual electronics show. Lectures and laboratory. Prerequisite: Phys 203-204 or consent of instructor. PHYS 305 Optics and Holography 4 Electromagnetic theory, geometrical optics, interference and diffraction, and other principles provide the framework for understanding a variety of optical instruments and experiments. Laboratories include various types of interferometry, laser beam filtering and profiling, several types of holography and culminate in individual projects. Lectures and laboratory. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204. PHYS 310 Thermodynamics 4 A study of classical thermodynamics in the formulation of Gibbs. Thermodynamic potentials, characteristic variables, stability, homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, chemical kinetics are treated. An introduction to statistical mechanics is presented. Applications include studies of material properties and engineering systems. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204; Chem 111-112; Math 212 or consent of instructor. PHYS 312 Quantum Mechanics I 4 Principles of quantum mechanics are discussed beginning with a hydrogen atom and concluding with many atom molecules. The material is examined using the physical evidences that support the theory of quantum mechanics, particularly spectroscopy. The course also discusses symmetry of molecules, theory of NMR and X-ray diffraction. Lectures and laboratory. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204; Chem 111-112; Math 212 or consent of instructor. PHYS 313 Quantum Mechanics II 3 A study of the quantum theory in the vector formalism of Dirac. Schroedinger and Heisenberg representations are considered. Applications to scattering, atomic physics and magnetism. Prerequisites: Phys 203-204, Math 213 or consent of instructor. PHYS 314 Statistical Mechanics 3 A study of the statistical treatment of particles including molecules, atoms and electrons. The ensemble theory of Gibbs is developed as the basis. Applications include gases, crystalline solids, magnetic materials and phase transitions. Prerequisite: Math 213 or consent of instructor. PHYS 410 Senior Seminar 3 An exploration of the relations between the natural sciences and other broad areas with special emphasis on ethical and theological concerns. Discussion, lectures, preparation and presentation of papers. Prerequisite: Senior standing. (offered anually in spring) PHYS 421 Advanced Topics in Physics 2 (1-3) Special topics selected by the student in consultation with professor. These may include topics of special interest to the student or research. Academic credit for research or thesis is covered by enrolling in this subject. (offered annually) |
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