Physics Curriculum
Curriculum for Physics Majors: In Brief
The departmental curriculum for physics majors begins with a calculus-based general physics sequence followed by courses in the major fields of physics:
- Classical Mechanics
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Modern Physics
- Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
- Optics and Laser Physics
- Quantum Mechanics
- Electronics
These courses provide a solid background for students who major in physics whether they plan on entering graduate school, becoming educators, or working in industry.
Physics Program: Senior Seminar
The high point of a student's physics major at Bridgewater is his/her participation in the seminar in physics, mathematics and computer science during the senior year. The student selects a topic for research (either library-based or laboratory-based) and working with a faculty advisor, completes a major project consisting of an extended written and oral presentation.
These projects demonstrate the skills and knowledge that each student has learned during the physics program as well as the student's readiness for a career and studies beyond Bridgewater.
A few examples of past projects include:
- Construction of a robot arm
- Experiments on the effects of friction on bullets
- Ultrasonics
- Study of superconductivity
General Education Courses
The department of physics also provides several courses that can meet the general education needs of non-science majors. Introductory courses in astronomy, astrophysics, concepts of physics and wave motion are such courses.
