Physics Resources

Faculty website

Physics Student Organizations - Get Involved!

•     ECU Society of Physics Students- Ranked Outstanding Chapter for 11 years!
•     ECU NSTA Chapter
•     ECU Astronomy Club

Considering a physics degree?
Read about our alumni and what they thought of ECU physics.

All about our Physics Alumni
Physics 2005 Assessment Survey Results  (read what grads think about us!)
Physics 2010 Assessment Survey Results
 
Ethics Resources
ECU Academic Integrity Policy (PDF document will open in new window)
Science Ethics Guide
Online Ethics Center
 

Interesting Physics reading?

    The Nucleus (National Physics Student site...hundreds of REU's)
    Careers Using Physics (video clips, movies, etc)
    Nat'l Physics Digital Library-tons of stuff!
    Cutting Edge Physics
    Colorado physics website- great for many phenomena
    GradschoolShopper.com

Neat Physics Web Sites

Job Sites for Physics majors

AIP Jobs (from Physics Today)
After College Physics Job Site for ECU Physics Majors...usually OKC jobs
AIP List of Companies that Hire Physics majors by state
SPS Job Site
 

Other Neat Physics Websites

Compadre
Comet Hale-Bopp
Physics Internet Resources
NASA Spacelink
AIP Physics News
American Association of Physicists in Medicine
Diagnostic Imaging
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
American Physical Society

Physics Web Sites used in Optics study

Optics Video Demos BYU
Fermat's Least Time Principle for Light
Paraxial is Not Perfect
Telescopes
Hubble Space Telescope
How a Telescope Works
Spherical Mirrors, and Refraction
Curved Mirrors
Frequency vs Wavelength
Simple Harmonic Motion
Superposition of Waves
Interference
The Franklin Institute of Science Museum
The Exploratorium Home Page
Fraunhofer Diffraction
Thin Film Interference
Blue Skies
Why Are Skies Blue and Sunsets Golden? (good demo!)
Fraunhofer Diffraction
Blue Sky- Red Sunset
Red Sunset, Green Flash

Physics Web Sites Useful in Modern Physics

Time Dilation: A Worked Example
Special Relativity
Relativity Tutorial
Twin Paradox Background & Analysis
Atomic Clock Relativity Experiments
James Chadwick
JJ Thomson
Millikan Oil Drop
Ernest Rutherford
Neils Bohr Institute
The Franklin Institute Science Museum
The Exploratorium Home Page
From Bohr's Atom to Electron Waves
Wave Mechanics
Neils Bohr History
Neils Bohr
Radioactive Decay
Fermi Creates Controlled Nuclear Reaction
Marie Curie

What can you do with a physics degree?

Physics

Physics is one of the most fundamental and all-inclusive of the sciences. It is an attempt to understand the foundations of our universe through the study of the phenomena of motion, force, energy, sound, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, heat, light, and quantum mechanics. Physics students use advanced mathematics to solve challenging experimental or theoretical problems, so they often major in mathematics as well. The ability to analyze a problem and find the best possible solution is vital to success in many fields. As a result, physics graduates often work in such seemingly non-related areas as medicine, law, biology, business, or military science, as well as in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or industry.

Department Amenities

Physics is housed in the Physical and Environmental Sciences building with access to modern computers and equipment including an advanced physics ultrasound laboratory. A 14-inch telescope and several other telescopes are located at the ECU observatory on campus. Small classes and ready access to caring professors help students succeed.

Scholarships for Physics Majors

The Physics department makes scholarships and other financial aid available to qualified students through the following programs:

•     Brown Mackin Scholarship
•     Edward M. & Joann Smith Memorial Gift Scholarship
•     Shelby Jane Bays Memorial Scholarship
•     Carlock Scholarship
•     OKAMP Program
•     Stringfield Scholarship
•     Physics Department Scholarship
   

So what kind of job can I get with a Physics degree?

Degree Options

Physics
The Bachelor of Science in Physics prepares students for employment in a wide range of fields or for graduate school in physics or related areas including engineering, medicine, mathematics and astronomy.

Medical Physics
There are a few jobs in dosimetry that can be obtained with only a BS in medical physics. However, the purpose of this degree is to best prepare students for entry into a masters program in medical physics. There are CAMPEP accredited institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Both the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center and Oklahoma State University grant masters of science in medical physics. The BS degree option in medical physics was designed to allow the student to have the courses necessary to attend any of the accredited schools.

Physics Teacher Certification
The Bachelor of Science in Physics with a concentration in Teacher Certification provides the physics content and pedagogy through education courses for licensure and a career in secondary science education. Graduates may also be ready to pass certification exams in mathematics, biology, physical science and chemistry.

Pre-Engineering Program
The Pre-Engineering program is managed by the physics department. This is a 2 or 3 year program which gives students the fundamentals of physics, chemistry, math, etc. that are needed to prepare a student to transfer to a university that offers an engineering degree. Some students also transfer to an engineering technology program. Many students complete a physics degree at ECU and then transfer to an engineering school to obtain a master’s degree.