Physics

In physics, you explore the universe, from the subatomic particles to massive galaxies. Physicists study the basic laws that govern the universe—and they develop innovations with practical applications, such as technologies in medicine, lasers, and computers.

About the Majors

The physics major provides excellent preparation for students interested in graduate school in physics or physics-related fields. It also provides useful background and skills that are helpful for careers in engineering, computer programming, medicine, law, secondary education, and other related fields. Most students take additional mathematics or computer science courses dealing with topics of their choice, such as advanced calculus, numerical analysis, complex variables, and computer programming languages.

Ohio Wesleyan offers three degree options for physics majors to align with their career goals.

  • The Physics Bachelor of Arts degree provides you with exposure to the depth and breadth of physics while maintaining the academic rigor required for successful entry into a broad variety of graduate programs and career options.
  • The Physics Bachelor of Science degree includes a stronger emphasis on preparing students for more advanced study in physics or direct entry into professional‐level employment where a physics background is preferred.
  • The Physics Bachelor of Arts with Pre-Engineering Option (3-2 Program) is an interdisciplinary program that combines an education in the liberal arts with one in engineering. You graduate with two degrees after spending three years at OWU and two years at an engineering school.

Related Minors

Think Big

All Physics and Astrophysics majors complete a year-long research project during their senior year. This gives them an opportunity to put what they've learned in their classes into practice and helps to prepare them for jobs or graduate school.

Many Physics majors participate in OWU's Summer Science Research Program, and many present their research at undergraduate research forums on campus and across the country.

Research & Independent Study Summer Science Research

Investigating the Unknown

The research conducted by Diego Venegas Vargas '19 explored the mostly unknown world of nuclear physics. With the help of Professor Robert Haring-Kaye, Diego studied a neutron-rich isotope of gallium. What he discovered of its structure will aid in predicting nuclear behavior.

Schrodinger Equation

Working with Prof. Barbara Andereck, Khanh Le '16 investigated a problem in quantum physics concerning the behavior of a small particle in one-dimensional space. He investigated three different approximations of the energy eigenvalues of the solutions of the one-dimensional time-independent Schrodinger equation.

Go Global

The OWU Connection provides a variety of ways for you to expand your learning off campus and overseas.

From your first year on campus, you can take Travel-Learning Courses. You can also pursue OWU Connection Grants to conduct research off campus or spend a semester at another university in the U.S. or abroad.

Travel-Learning Courses Study Abroad

European Space Agency

Professor Bob Harmon's Space Exploration class traveled to England and Germany, including a tour of the European Space Agency's Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications.

Get Real

Build your experience and connections to the professional world with internships and research opportunities at major laboratory facilities.

Internships Theory-to-Practice Grants

Level Scheme and Spin Assignments

Michael Heeschen '20 participated in the Summer Science Research Program, where he studied fundamental properties of heavier nuclei like gallium.

Physics in Florida

Colin Hawes ’20 (left) and Dexter Allen ’21 traveled to Florida State University with professor Robert Haring-Kaye in 2019. They studied and measured radiation emitted during energy release from neutron-rich atomic nuclei with high angular momentum.

Studying Neutrino Physics

Diego Venegas Vargas '19 spent Summer 2018 studying neutrino physics with Alfredo Galindo-Urribari of the Physics Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Atom Smashers

Working with Prof. Bob Haring-Kaye (left), Kamali Jones ’16 (right) and Khanh Le ’16 conducted research at the particle accelerator at Florida State University.

Watch the Video

Inspired Teaching

OWU faculty are outstanding scholars and researchers — and passionate teachers. They will push you, challenge you, inspire you, and work with you on your own research and creative projects.

They can even pack a 3-minute lecture with ideas, insight, and imagination. Check out our unique I³ lectures.

I³ Lectures

Dr. Barbara Andereck

It's About Time

Watch the Video

Dr. Robert Harmon

Has Anyone Ever Told You that You Are Star Material?

Watch the Video

Highlights

Schimmel/Conrades Science Center

OWU’s 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art science center features an array of sophisticated equipment for hands-on use by OWU students.

Summer Science Research Program

This 10-week program gives students the opportunity to carry out cutting-edge research side by side with faculty mentors.

More information

Electronics & Computing

A 10-node Beowulf computing cluster and a complete electronics lab are available for student research projects.

Society of Physics Students

The OWU Chapter of this student organization has received the national Blake Lilly Prize for positively influencing the attitudes of school children and the general public about physics.

Graduate Outcomes

Mustapha Habib ’19

After graduating, Mustapha is a test engineer at Hypres, Inc. in Elmsford, New York. While at OWU, Mustapha conducted research on the behavior of several superconducting circuit components.

Graduate Study

Recent physics graduates are attending graduate programs at Princeton, Washington University in St. Louis, Duke, University of Michigan, Ohio State, and the University of Washington.

Fast Track to Engineering

Recent physics graduates have taken advantage of the 3-2 Engineering Program, pursuing engineering degrees at Caltech, Washington University in St. Louis, Case Western Reserve University, and others.

Varied Careers

Many physics majors and minors go directly to work in technology industries and other fields. Past OWU physics graduates also are working in engineering, education, and law. Physics major Zeke Brechtel '13 studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and then was hired by SpaceX as an Integration and Test Engineer.

Physician Scientist

With a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and her M.D. from Columbia, Claire Ryu returned to OWU in 2015 to present “How Nuclear Physics Research Led Me on a Path to Become a Physician Scientist.” While she was a student at OWU, she was one of three students nationwide to receive the 2007 Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research from the Society of Physics Students.

A Look at Physics

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Video: Atom Smashers

Video: Atom Smashers
Perkins Observatory

Perkins Observatory
Physics Research— Colin Hawes ’20 (left) and Dexter Allen ’21 traveled to Florida State University with professor Robert Haring-Kaye in 2019. They studied and measured radiation emitted during energy release from neutron-rich atomic nuclei with high angular momentum.

Physics Research

Colin Hawes ’20 (left) and Dexter Allen ’21 traveled to Florida State University with professor Robert Haring-Kaye in 2019. They studied and measured radiation emitted during energy release from neutron-rich atomic nuclei with high angular momentum.
Physics Research— Dexter Allen ’21 and Colin Hawes ’20 joined professor Robert Haring-Kaye at Florida State University in 2019 to study and measure radiation emitted during energy release from neutron-rich atomic nuclei with high angular momentum.

Physics Research

Dexter Allen ’21 and Colin Hawes ’20 joined professor Robert Haring-Kaye at Florida State University in 2019 to study and measure radiation emitted during energy release from neutron-rich atomic nuclei with high angular momentum.
It's About Time— In a micro-lecture, Professor Barbara Andereck asks, "What is time? We talk about time all the time, but do we really know what it is?"

It's About Time

In a micro-lecture, Professor Barbara Andereck asks, "What is time? We talk about time all the time, but do we really know what it is?"
Doctoral Studies— Physics professor Robert Haring-Kaye (left) catches up with Taimur Islam ’13 during Islam’s visit to campus to deliver a presentation to students on internet safety and data encryption in the era of quantum computing. Islam is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University.

Doctoral Studies

Physics professor Robert Haring-Kaye (left) catches up with Taimur Islam ’13 during Islam’s visit to campus to deliver a presentation to students on internet safety and data encryption in the era of quantum computing. Islam is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University.
I³ Lecture by Dr. Robert Harmon— Has anyone ever told you that you are star material?

I³ Lecture by Dr. Robert Harmon

Has anyone ever told you that you are star material?
Stonehenge Visit— Students in Professor Harmon's Elementary Astronomy Travel-Learning class visited Stonehenge in England.

Stonehenge Visit

Students in Professor Harmon's Elementary Astronomy Travel-Learning class visited Stonehenge in England.

Department Contact Info

Location

Schimmel/Conrades Science Center
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3778
F 740-368-3999
E jaarlington@owu.edu

Department Contact

Chair: Robert Harmon
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 131
740-368-3778
roharmon@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Judy Arlington
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907
jaarlington@owu.edu