The quest to understand the world around us is one of the noblest of mankind’s many adventures. By discovering the basic laws of nature, the inherent desire to learn is satisfied, and the quality of life for all generations to follow may be enhanced. Because Physics is the most fundamental of the sciences, it plays the central role in these efforts. Whether Albert Einstein in the 20th century or Isaac Newton in the 17th century is considered, physicists have always asked difficult questions and provided unique, unexpected, and intellectually challenging answers. As a Physics major, a student is offered the opportunity to join this small but dedicated group of professional scientists. With about 40 Physics majors and 16 permanent faculty members and several visiting professors in residence, our student-faculty ratio is excellent and is one of the greatest strengths of the Physics Program. The capstone research experience has been a tradition in the Physics Department for decades, and undergraduate Physics majors routinely participate in cutting- edge research while working one-on- one with Physics faculty. All faculty are expected to maintain active research programs, and through such activity, professors are able to effectively convey state-of-the-art knowledge that prepares students to fully participate in today’s working environments. Faculty members are conducting research sponsored by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Office of Naval Research, and the US Department of Defense. Majors in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Biochemistry B Biology B, M, D Chemistry B, M, D Communications Studies B, M, D Computer Science B Creative Writing M Criminology & Investigations B Economics B English B, M, D Environmental Geoscience B Foreign Languages B, M Forensic & Investigative Science B Geography B, M, D Geology B, M, D History B, M, D Individualized Major B Industrial Mathematics and Statistics B International Studies B Legal Studies M Liberal Arts and Sciences B Liberal Studies M Mathematics B, M, D Multidisciplinary Studies B Philosophy B Physics B, M, D Political Science B, M, D Professional Writing and Editing M Psychology B, M, D Public Administration M Regents Bachelor of Arts B Religious Studies B Slavic Studies B Social Work B, M Sociology M Sociology and Anthropology B Statistics M Women's Studies B B=Bachelor's; M=Master's; D=Doctorate For more information, contact Dr. Earl Scime at: 304-293-3422, ext. 1437, or at: Earl.Scime@mail.wvu.edu Or visit online at: www.wvu.edu/~physics/

The WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse academic unit within West Virginia University. A faculty of 450 and a staff of 125 are involved in educating and supporting the efforts of more than 6,700 students (nearly one-fourth of the WVU student body) who are majoring in one or more of 63 undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the College’s 16 academic departments and divisions. The College’s academic units and research facilities are housed in 14 buildings on the WVU campus. The Dean’s Office is in historic Woodburn Hall. The College and its Department of Biology also maintain the Core Arboretum, a 75-acre wooded tract adjacent to the Monongahela River.

The College provides the majority of the curriculum for all WVU undergraduates and a wide variety of required and elective courses for the entire student body. Arts and Sciences majors may, with permission, major in more than one discipline, and when appropriate, design highly individualized degree programs.

Eberly College undergraduate degree programs prepare students for many specific professions, while also providing a broad-based education that will remain relevant beyond the first job after graduation. Many Eberly College alumni go on to complete graduate and professional degrees. By providing students with analytic and communication skills, reasoning abilities, and a broad knowledge of the humanities and the behavioral and natural sciences, the Eberly College equips graduates for lifelong learning and prepares them to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world and an increasingly volatile job market.

Admission
High school students who are interested in pursuing a course of study in Physics should be enrolled in a college preparatory program and complete at least four units of math, one unit of chemistry, and one unit of Physics. If the University admission requirements are met, a student may be accepted as a Pre-Physics major. Upon completion of 58 credit hours with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 2.5 GPA in the introductory physics and mathematics courses, a student may apply for admission to the Physics Program. Students admitted to Physics have demonstrated the ability to approach problems in an open and inquisitive manner; their analytical skills are above average, and they actively seek challenges.

Curriculum
During the first two years as a Pre-Physics major, a student must complete eight credit hours of introductory Physics and eight credit hours of calculus, or its equivalent. The department offers both a bachelor of arts in Physics and a bachelor of science in Physics.

Requiring a minimum of 128 credit hours for graduation, the BA program mandates that all students complete 30 credit hours of University requirements, 15 credit hours of Eberly College of Arts and Sciences requirements, 29 credit hours in Physics, eight credit hours in other sciences, 16 credit hours in mathematics, and 30 credit hours of unrestricted electives. The BS degree requires 14 more credit hours of Physics and three more credit hours of mathematics than the other degree program, but otherwise, the two curricula are very similar. Qualified students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in Physics courses may obtain a bachelor of science in Physics with honors by carrying out a Physics-related research project in addition to the required courses.

Advanced courses include mathematical physics, optics, atomic physics, theoretical mechanics, quantum mechanics, astrophysics, solid state physics, electromagnetic theory, nuclear physics, plasma physics, and many other topics. This variety allows flexibility in designing a plan of study.

The area of emphasis in computational physics is ideal for those who have a strong aptitude and interest in computers, mathematics, and science. The program provides a strong foundation in scientific computing. It includes the best of a Physics degree: strong analytical skills, a broad knowledge of the physical sciences, and fundamental scientific problem-solving skills. These are integrated with the computer skills essential to scientific computing: programming in several languages, experience with different operation systems, data storage and numerical analysis, and the graphics to display complex results. Additional areas of emphasis, including but not limited to medical physics and astrophysics, were announced in fall 2004.

Course Work

Accreditation
West Virginia University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Career Opportunities
Physicists are employed in a wide variety of industrial, government, and educational settings. For example, industries focusing on medical research, semiconductors, lasers, optics, software development, environmental cleanup, and communications hire physicists because of their broad knowledge of many areas of technology. Government agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy also provide excellent career opportunities. Many of the jobs in Physics involve fundamental research while others cross disciplines and involve the management of technology, the start-up of companies, and even investment and stock market analysis. Career paths for physicists include secondary education, medical school, patent law, forensics, health physics, environmental engineering, journalism, government policy, and business management.

Graduate School Opportunities
The bachelor of science is designed for students committed to a career in research and is typically followed by graduate work in Physics, chemistry, materials science, optical sciences, or engineering. Students pursuing an advanced degree are often employed as graduate teaching or research assistants by their departments. They receive salaries that range from $15,000 to $25,000 per year for these services while in graduate school. WVU offers master’s and doctoral degrees in Physics.

Salary Range
In 2001, the American Institute of Physics reported that the median annual starting salary in industry for recent recipients of bachelor’s degrees was $42,500. Graduates with a master’s degree in Physics received initial offers from industry averaging $52,000 a year. For those who go on to complete a doctorate in Physics, starting salaries in industry vary from $70,000 to $85,000 a year.