- Program Requirements
Requirements:
- PHYS 112 Fundamentals of Physics I
- PHYS 113 Fundamentals of Physics II
- PHYS 201 Wave Phenomena and Introductory Modern Physics
- PHYS 300 Mechanics
- PHYS 305 Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 332 Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Structure
- PHYS 331 Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- PHYS 350 Independent Learning (8 credits)
- PHYS 390 Physics Seminar
Choose 4 credits from the following courses:
- PHYS 120 Materials: Properties (2 credits)
- PHYS 121 Materials: Structure (2 credits)
- PHYS 233 The Physics of Medical Imaging
- PHYS 245 Biophysics
- PHYS 333 Advanced Topics in Modern Physics
Prerequisites and other required courses:
- MATH 120 Calculus I
- MATH 121 Calculus II
- MATH 220 Multivariable Calculus
- MATH 225 Differential Equations
- CHEM 111 Introductory Chemistry: Inorganic or CHEM 113 Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM 112 Introductory Chemistry: Organic or CHEM 224 Organic Chemistry
- CHEM 216 Quantitative Analysis
Additional upper-level mathematics and computer science courses are also highly recommended.
- Minor Requirements
Requirements:
20 credits chosen as follows:
- PHYS 112 Fundamentals of Physics I
- PHYS 113 Fundamentals of Physics II
- PHYS 201 Wave Phenomena and Introduction to Modern Physics
Choose 8 credits from the following (at least one 300-level):
- PHYS 120 Materials: Properties (2 credits)
- PHYS 121 Materials: Structure (2 credits)
- PHYS 233 The Physics of Medical Imaging
- PHYS 245 Biophysics
- PHYS 300 Mechanics
- PHYS 305 Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 331 Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- PHYS 332 Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Structure
- PHYS 333 Advanced Topics in Modern Physics
- Customize Your Program
You'll meet regularly with a faculty advisor to plan a program of study that matches your interests and career goals. If you're interested in future graduate or professional study, such as medical or dental school, make sure you meet with a health professions advisor as soon as possible so you can meet all the application requirements during your undergraduate study.
Many students choose to combine the study of physics with a complementary major or minor. A minor in physics is also available for students pursuing other majors.
- Internships and Research
Research and internships are key elements of our program. You'll grow in skill level and confidence as you master applied physics in the classroom, at the bench and out in the field.
Our students:
- Conduct research, travel to scientific meetings, and publish with faculty
- Conduct independent research as a senior and write a thesis
- Are awarded summer fellowships
- Attend graduate or medical school
Recent REU programs and summer fellowship sites that students attended:
- University of Washington
- Johns Hopkins University
- Columbia University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- Oregon State
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Colarado
- Cornell University
Our physics majors/minors recently attended or are attending graduate programs or medical school at:
- Auburn University
- University of Western Australia
- NY Medical College
- Columbia University
- Northeastern University
- McGill University
- Tufts University
- George Washington University
- Washington University
- University of Oregon
- Boston University
- Emory University School of Medicine
A sample of student thesis topics:
- Degradation of [Ir(ppy)2(dtb-bpy)]PF6, Heather Bankowski
- A Study of Thermal Noise for Enhanced LIGO, Lucienne Merrill (The experimental work was carried out at MIT under the supervision of Dr. Gregg Harry.)
- A Green Process to Depolymerize PLA, Jennifer Boice
- Characterization of Poly(lactic acid) in Various Standard Acidic Conditions by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Lauren Morrell
- Microfluidics: Electrowetting, Regina Yopak
- Dynamic light scattering analysis of aggregation processes in ß-amyloid fibrils, Kathy Chaurasiya
- Templating the growth and nucleation of calcium oxalate monohydrate on gold via microcontact printing, Tania M. Cabrera
- Identification of steroids by post-source decay fragmentation MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, Sheri Benson
- Synthesis and Aggregation of New Colloidal Particles, Pamela Sahota
- Synthesis, Characterization and Use of Bipyridyl Ruthenium Complexes in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, Erica Gunn.
- Characterization of an FSIR Sensor, Emily Coombs
- A Validation of Two Forensic Procedures for the Detection of Salivary Amylase, Hannah Knowles
- Faculty
-
- Michael Jordan
- Associate Professor of Practice of Chemistry & Physics
- Phone: 617-521-2696
- Office: S429
- Gina Mustata
- Assistant Professor
- Phone: 617-521-2308
- Office: S423A
- How to Apply
So you know that Simmons is a great place to be, you've learned about our programs, maybe even come for a visit...now you're ready to apply! Let's get started.