Learning Outcomes

As physicists, we use our creativity and a diverse array of problem-solving skills to probe the nature of the universe.

Wheaton physics students enjoy the advantages of small classes, close contact with faculty, and camaraderie with fellow students. We offer an outstanding and individualized hands-on curriculum that challenges students to become involved in every stage of the problem-solving process. The mark of a Wheaton physics education at all levels is to complement rigorous coursework with experiences that call students to experiment and confront uncertainty.
By the time they graduate, all of our students have worked on original scientific research. Research in our department is concentrated in the areas of optics, lasers, astronomy, climate physics, and planetary science. Students co-author papers, publish in top journals, and present their research at national scientific meetings.

Successful physics majors will:

• Develop and describe new models for understanding the physical world.
• Understand and apply the scientific method to test these models.
• Demonstrate skill in using mathematics to describe both models and data.
• Become proficient in creating experiments, collecting data, and understanding sources of error.
• Present organized and logical oral and written scientific reports.