Website: www.iup.edu/cbpe
The goal of the Physics program is to prepare students for productive careers analyzing complex physical systems using mathematics. A physics degree can lead to various careers: business analyst, data analyst, engineer, patent attorney, physicist, physics researcher, physics teacher or professor, or programmer. Applications of physics in nanotechnology and medicine open possibilities in these exciting and expanding fields.
Students can pick their specialization:
Physics BS (no speciliazation)– this is designed for students who intend to follow a career path in physics or a related area. Careers based on a physics degree have traditionally been among the best-paid of all fields. This may mean employment directly after a BS degree, or attending graduate school for an MS or PhD degree. Physics graduate students enjoy very generous financial support and undergraduate students from IUP have earned MS and PhD degrees at some of the most prestigious physics programs in the country.
Physics BS with Secondary Science Education certificate - prepares students to become certified middle- and high-school teachers in Pennsylvania and other states. Secondary Physics Teachers from the program have a deep understanding of the physics principles and enjoy transmitting that knowledge to their students.
Pre-engineering specialization – Engineering continues to be an exciting career path with excellent opportunities for students. IUP partners with the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh in a dual-degree program, typically consisting of three years at IUP and two years in either Pittsburgh or Johnstown. Students who complete this program will earn: a BS in Physics from IUP and a BS in Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Nanotechnology specialization - The Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics participates in a cooperative agreement with Penn State University (PSU) to help address the Pennsylvania industry's need for skilled nanofabrication workers. Anyone who meets the prerequisite requirements may enroll through IUP in a one-semester experience at the PSU Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU). These courses are offered as a capstone semester experience at the Penn State CNEU. Students completing this program will have a BS in Physics with a Nanotechnology Certification from Penn State CNEU, giving them outstanding credentials for the flourishing field of nanotechnology.
The Applied Physics specialization is designed for those students interested in combining physics with other exciting fields. Many areas of study, including medicine and the environment, include in-demand applications that require a detailed knowledge of physics.