Physics and Engineering Programs

Applied Physics Major

Applied Physics is an exciting and innovative new major that was added to Bethel's curriculum early in 2002. Our goal is to produce graduates equipped for high-technology employment, interdisciplinary research, and graduate education in applied science and engineering. 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.

The B.S. degree in applied physics is built on a solid physics core with additional emphasis in the use of computers (as modeling and laboratory tools), applied optics, engineering techniques, and chemistry. An internship in local industry is also a featured component. This broader version of the traditional physics degree is designed to provide the tools and experiences that are especially valuable for direct entry into industry after graduation. The fundamentals and techniques learned also provide an excellent foundation for graduate work in engineering.

The Bethel University Physics Department has a long and excellent tradition of preparing students for careers in both engineering and physics. The 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.