CENTRE COLLEGE PHYSICS PROGRAM

The Centre physics mission statement: “A successful physicist relies upon a broad base of scientific knowledge and a wide variety of skills to address unfamiliar, complicated problems. In addition to teaching the requisite knowledge and skills, the physics program strives to train our students to use them effectively and with confidence.”

Centre’s physics program is designed to prepare students for graduate level studies in physics and engineering, entry level positions in industry and government, or participation in the dual-degree undergraduate engineering program. The curriculum provides all areas of physics central to a physics degree; mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, optics, quantum physics, and experimental physics. In addition, exceptional students may have an opportunity to participate in collaborative research programs with a faculty member.

The Physics Program emphasizes critical thinking, particularly analysis, deductive reasoning, and synthesis. Physics students develop abilities to conduct scientific experimentation, and to communicate the ideas and concepts of physics in oral, written, and mathematical form. Recently the physics program has begun to integrate computational physics into the curriculum with the goal of having our graduates competent and confident in the use of modern computational techniques in connection with physics. We are also beginning to develop an increased emphasis on upper-level experimental work.