Physics Major

Do You Enjoy Learning About How the World Works?

Goshen College’s physics major takes a rigorous and hands-on approach to understanding nature’s most fundamental laws. Our experienced and knowledgeable physics professors will take your natural curiosity to new heights as you dive into the complex nature of our world. Whether you pursue physics at the graduate school level or jump into the professional world, our physics major can give you the edge you need to succeed.

Some physics lessons are learned quite quickly:

• burning your hand on a stove
• spitting into the wind
• licking an ice-cold telephone pole

Others require further education to understand, and that’s where Goshen College’s modern physics education comes in.

Do You Enjoy Learning About How the World Works?

Goshen College’s physics major takes a rigorous and hands-on approach to understanding nature’s most fundamental laws. Our experienced and knowledgeable physics professors will take your natural curiosity to new heights as you dive into the complex nature of our world. Whether you pursue physics at the graduate school level or jump into the professional world, our physics major can give you the edge you need to succeed.

Our Mission is to Educate Leaders Who Make A Difference

The Physics Department at Goshen College is committed to excellence in undergraduate teaching and research, preparing physics students for career opportunities or advanced study in applied physics, experimental physics, engineering, computer science, astronomy, medical physics and medicine, and other related fields. Physics is the most fundamental of the natural sciences, and its concepts and principles underlie much of modern technology.

Physics also provides a unique way of thinking about and analyzing the world around us. Physics students develop analytical and problem-solving skills that they can apply in many different contexts.

Our instructors are highly-skilled teachers with years of experience in academia and industry. They will guide you through complex topics like quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, condensed matter physics, and thermodynamics to gain deeper insights into the intricate processes that influence everything around us.

Become a Science & Technology Leader

Our physics department offers a wide range of courses to meet the needs of students with various backgrounds and interests. Physics majors take a year-long sequence of core classes, allowing them to develop a deep understanding of the subject. Physics majors also can do original research with faculty mentors and present their findings at regional and national conferences of the best physics schools.

Though coursework will be rigorous and challenging, we haven’t forgotten that science can be fun. Our students work with exciting equipment generally reserved for graduate students: specialty x-ray, optics, holography, and biophysics instruments, as well as optical, acoustic, and physical laboratories. Students might design a self-driving car for the college’s bi-annual Electronics Show or create a tuning graph for marimba bars during the Maple Scholars summer research program.

Get a Head Start on Your Career with a Degree in Physics

Whether you go on to graduate school or start your career right away, a degree in physics from Goshen College will help set you apart from the competition. Our graduates have gone on to research opportunities, education, engineering, medical school, computer programming, law school, and medicine – and many of them return to campus to mentor the next generation of physics students.

Many different types of industries hire physics majors, and the hands-on experiences you’ll gain at GC will give you an edge if you apply for graduate school or complete your bachelor’s degree at an engineering school through our engineering physics major. In recent years, over 70 percent of GC physics alumni have gone to postgraduate studies. By the time you leave Goshen, you will have the critical thinking skills to develop theories for practical applications needed to succeed in postgraduate studies and the professional world.

Pursue Your Passion for Science and Discovery

If you have an inquisitive mind and love learning about how things work, then a major in physics from Goshen College is for you! Financial aid options are available for those who qualify. Please fill out the form below to get started, and we will send you more information about the program.

Launch Experience