B.S. in Applied Physics

"Producing graduates equipped for high-technology employment, interdisciplinary research, and graduate education in applied science and engineering"

I - Program Goals for Graduates

Knowledge: Basic Physics and Related Sciences Applied Optics Engineering Techniques and Approaches Fluid Dynamics Mathematics Analytical Modeling and Simulation
Skills: Leadership Communication Analytical Problem Solving Computational and Numerical Techniques Computer Controlled Data Acquisition Electronics Instrumentation	Experience: Off-campus internship in industry or science/engineering center Independent and cooperative work in technology Instrumentation and measurement Independent laboratory research

II - Program Motivation

1. To counter the perception that physics is an esoteric and theoretical discipline that is suitable only for preparing students for graduate work in physics.
2. Provide a four-year technical degree within a liberal arts college to help bridge the gap between technically minded workers and those employees who work mainly with people.
3. Meet the needs of research and development companies that require people to solve problems that do not fall neatly into traditional engineering disciplines.
4. Provide a solid foundation of skills, knowledge, and experiences for those students who wish to pursue graduate work in engineering or technical interdisciplinary fields (e.g., Optical Science, Computer Engineering, Material Science, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Physics, etc.)

III - Program Rationale

Physics is the foundation for virtually all technology. Our technologically-based society must have an adequate supply of workers who understand physics, and equally important, know how to use their knowledge. Unfortunately, the physics major has historically been viewed as preparation for graduate work in physics leading to a Ph.D. In an effort to encourage the study of physics by a broader range of students, the U.S. physics community has started to look for alternative career paths for physics majors.

The Bethel College Physics Department has been in the forefront of this effort to strengthen the interest in studying physics by broadening its application. For two decades, the number of our students pursuing a Bethel dual-degree in engineering and physics, or graduate work in engineering after receiving the physics degree, has steadily grown. In recent years, an increasing percentage of our students have chosen to go directly into industry without pursuing an engineering degree or graduate work. In fact, during a decade of national decreases in physics majors, our program has doubled in number of majors.

The new Applied Physics major builds directly on this success, serving as a transition from the more foundational fields of physics to the applied problems in industry. It will give physics majors the knowledge, skills, and experiences that are in great demand in high-tech industry. Graduates will not merely be technically oriented, but will have the breadth of learning and the people skills that are best developed in a liberal arts setting.

Advisory Board

Jeffery Vogel
Senior Engineer
Emerging Technologies
SCIMED/Boston Scientific

Carl Schmuland
Senior Principal Reliability Engineer
Corporate Asociate Technical Fellow
Medtronic

Troy Kopischke
Vice President
Electrical Engineering
Logic Product Development
Logica Microsystems

Barry Rosell
Senior Process Development Engineer
Optical Systems Division
3M

See a typical Applied Physics Major Schedule
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