The Department of Physics

Weber State Universityhttp://physics.weber.edu

Commitment to Quality Education

• Our faculty are dedicated to students

• Close student-faculty interaction

• Students are actively involved in research

Facilities Available to Students

• Atomic force microscope

• Scanning-tunneling microscope

• Laser laboratory

• Nuclear laboratory

• Computers

• Observatory

• Planetarium

• Student study room

Faculty Research and Scholarship Interests

• Astrophysics• Laser optics• Semiconductor

physics• Space physics• Quantum physics• Physics education• Nuclear physics

• Accelerator design• Electronics• Text book writing

Text Books Written by Our Faculty

• An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, Michael E. Peskin and Daniel V. Schroeder, Addison Wesley, 1995.

– “It is fair to say that the book by Peskin and Schroeder is the best quantum field theory book I have ever taught from…” Tom Banks, American Journal of Physics, July, 1998.

http://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/qftbook.html

• An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, Bradley W. Carroll and Dale A. Ostlie, Addison Wesley, 1996.

– “A gem has arrived.” David Hughes, New Scientist, 28 March 1998.http://astrophysics.weber.edu

• An Introduction to Thermal Physics, Daniel V. Schroeder, Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.

– “Schroeder has written a thermal text that pulls students in with an animated personal style that maintains respect for the reader while mixing informality with rigor.” John K. Pribram, American Journal of Physics, December 1999.

http://physics.weber.edu/thermal

Close Interaction With Our Majors

Research Opportunities for Students

• Atomic Trapping and Cooling• Investigations of Semiconductor Quantum Wells• Numerical Modeling of Stellar Pulsations• Photodarkening in As2Se3

• Photoluminescence of Semiconductors• Physics Education Research• Scanning Probe Microscopy• Variational Calculations of Ground State Energies

in Finite Quantum Wells

Major and Minor Degrees Available (both BS and BA)

• Majors:– Physics

– Applied Physics

– Physics Teaching– Physical Science Composite Teaching

(offered jointly with the departments of Chemistry and Geosciences)

• Minors:– Physics

– Physics Teaching

National Median Starting Salaries (Class of 1996-97)

• Ph.D.– Industry: $62,000– Government: $61,000 (permanent),

$43,000 (postdoc)– University: $36,000 (permanent),

$34,000 (postdoc)

• Bachelors– Industry: $37,000– Government: $30,000– College/Univ: $28,000– High School: $26,000– Military: $25,000

Source: AIP Pub No. R-282.21, December 1999.

Physics Majors ---Terminal Degree Received

• Bachelors degree (approx. 1/3)

• Masters degree (approx. 1/3)– Physics (approx. 40%)– Engineers, MBAs, computer science, mathematics, education

• Ph.D. (approx. 1/4)– Physics (majority)– Engineering, mathematics, chemistry, geosciences

• Other Professional Degrees (approx. 8%)– Law– Medicine– Dentistry– Business– Misc.

Source: “The Physics Bachelors as a Passport to the Workplace: Recent Research Results”, Roman Czujko, Education and Employment Statistics Division, American Institute of Physics

Suggested web sites: http://www.aip.org/industry.htmlhttp://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/pathtrends.htm

A Physics Major Provides Valuable Skills

• Critical and analytical thinking• Problem solving skills• Learning how to define a problem• Technical skills• Computer skills• Mathematical skills• Ability to use, design, and build sophisticated

laboratory equipment

Courses Available in the Department of Physics

• Introduction to Physics• Introduction to Astronomy• Principles of Physical Science• General Physics I/II• General Physics Lab I/II• Environmental Physics• Physics for Scientists and Engineers I/II• Laboratory Physics I/II• Scientific Programming in C++ and

Fortran• Laboratory Safety• Introductory Modern Physics• Cooperative Work Experience• Astrophysics • Thermal Physics• Applied Optics

• Computational Physics• Electronics I/II• Analytical Mechanics• Electromagnetic Theory• Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves• Advanced Physics Laboratory• Secondary School Science Teaching

Methods• Quantum Mechanics• Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics• Individual Research Problems• Readings in Physics• Senior Thesis• Senior Seminar

Scholarships and Fellowships Available to Physics Majors

• The Pope M. & Grace C. Burkhart Undergraduate Research Fellowship

• Jim Bateman Scholarship

• Mary Margaret Clarke Scholarship

• H. Paul Huish Scholarship

• Questar Corporation Physics Education Scholarship

• Physics Department Activities Scholarship

• Layton P. Ott Planetarium Activities Scholarship

• Other College and University Scholarships also availableApplications are due approximately March 1.

Check with the Physics Department.

For More Information About the Department of Physics

Department of PhysicsWeber State UniversityOgden, UT 84408-2508

801-626-6201physics@weber.edu

http://physics.weber.edu