Physics and Engineering Programs

Graduate Engineering

An increasingly popular option with our students is to obtain a major in physics or applied physics and then to pursue a graduate degree in fields such as biomedical, electrical, mechanical, industrial, or aerospace engineering. Normally this means four years at Bethel followed by two years in graduate school, resulting in the nickname "4-2.'' At the end of six years, the student will have both a B.S. from Bethel and an M.S. from the graduate school of his or her choice. This approach is particularly appealing to the talented student who desires a career more involved with the research end of the engineering spectrum. Typically, our students get full financial support during their graduate work in the form of research or teaching assistantships, tuition wavers, or even fellowships. A few have finished their masters degree in considerably less than two years and some have gone on for Ph.D.s. One example is Dr. Keith Stein, who got his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in aerospace engineering and is now the newest faculty member in Bethel's Physics Department.

Many of our students choose to do graduate work at the nearby University of Minnesota, one of the best engineering schools in the country. The 'U' has been so pleased with our students that their Institute of Technology has prepared a brochure specifically designed to attract our students to both the "3-2'' and the "4-2'' programs. Of course, graduate work can, and is, done at many other fine schools. For instance, recently one of our alumni received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT and another finished a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Carnegie Mellon.

See a typical physics major schedule
See a typical dual-degree engineering schedule