Physics

Our physics curriculum is designed to provide you with real-world experience, ensuring you develop skills in writing, speaking and interpersonal relationships that will enhance your career in the sciences and other technical fields. You will be given opportunities to participate in a variety of college-sponsored programs (intercollegiate athletics, music, fine arts and service), study in a department that offers personal attention and small classes taught exclusively by Ph.D. professors, and become active in research and professional societies early-on as an undergraduate.

Why choose physics at Jewell?

In addition to majoring in physics, you can easily choose to add an additional major in mathematics. Through this course of study, you can explore connections between the various areas of mathematics and critical thought. Many physics and math majors choose to double major or create a self-designed major, allowing you to customize your education and focus your attention and research interests in specific and meaningful directions. Other unique aspects of this program include:

Preparation for graduate studies or a variety of careers in business and nonprofit organizations
Collaboration on research projects with other students and professors, broadening your experiences and research backgrounds
Small class sizes and personal attention, allowing you to be active in the learning process and enhance the educational experience

What Will You Learn?

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree or minor in physics will:

Demonstrate basic physics understanding by solving conceptual and analytical problems in mechanics, waves, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, relativity, quantum mechanics, and atomic, molecular and nuclear physics
Apply multivariable calculus, matrix techniques and/or differential equations to at least one of the major areas of physics (mechanics, quantum and E&M) to demonstrate depth of understanding of connections between mathematics and the physical world
Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze and interpret data, and model physical systems computationally (computerized investigation and solution) and/or experimentally
Demonstrate the ability to communicate physics or engineering principles, data collection, results and conclusions both orally and in written form
Apply physics knowledge, problem solving and experimental techniques in new situations and contexts, and to open problems in physics research and/or societal issues in engineering

Bradley Dice, '16

Doctoral student in physics and scientific computing at University of Michigan

Bradley used a Journey Grant at Jewell to learn cutting-edge scientific computing through research at Yale University, Brussels and CERN in Switzerland. He is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and is a lead developer for the open-source software suite that powers the team's research and accelerates scientific inquiries. He earned the 2016 Faculty Award from Jewell, where he graduated with four majors: physics, mathematics, chemistry and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry.

Erika Storvick, '18

Master's student in mechanical engineering at Columbia University

A four-year soccer player, Erika was part of a Jewell team that collaborated with Louisiana State University to develop an experiment that flew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle. She also used a Journey Grant to teach Mayan youth to make their own solar-powered lanterns.