Physics

Overview

Why major in physics at a liberal arts college like The College of Wooster?

Using the language of mathematics, physicists try to understand the patterns and rhythms of nature, from atoms to galaxies. Majors can take their careers in a lot of directions after graduation. Majoring in physics at a liberal arts college like Wooster gives students the opportunity to learn in small classes and conduct original research under the guidance of faculty mentors. The multidisciplinary atmosphere at Wooster allows physics majors to double major or participate in a pre-professional program in preparation for graduate or professional schools. Many physicists work as engineers, and many engineers have physics degrees, but physics majors can be found in a number of fields. The problem-solving abilities and analytical skills provided by a physics education equip physics majors to work in schools and on college campuses, in corporate settings and government labs, in the astronaut corps, or even on Wall Street. Many graduates make their way to top-tier graduate or professional programs to build careers in research, law, and more. Wooster ranks sixth among U.S. institutions where women doctorate recipients in the physical sciences earn bachelor’s degrees according to a 2019 report published by the Council of Independent Colleges based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics and National Science Foundation.

Physics at The College of Wooster

With one-on-one guidance from a faculty mentor, each physics major has the opportunity to experience the excitement and rewards of a year-long research project, culminating in a senior independent study thesis. The labs and facilities at Wooster range from a state-of-the-art computer-based lab for introductory physics courses to a scanning probe microscope used in student and faculty research. In the past, three Wooster physics majors have been selected as finalists for the American Physical Society’s national LeRoy Apker Award for outstanding undergraduate research in physics, as a result of their senior independent study work. In addition, seven students won the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for college sophomore and juniors and five students won a Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award from the National Science Foundation, which provides three years of support for their graduate education.

Learn more about Wooster Physics on our departmental website

Learn about Wooster’s STEM community through the STEM Success Initiative

Faculty & Staff

Sajjad Afroosheh

Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics

safroosheh@wooster.edu

Halle Bielke

Administrative Coordinator, Physics, Mathematical & Computational Sciences

hbielke@Wooster.edu

Laura DeGroot

Assistant Professor of Physics (On leave Fall 2024)

ldegroot@wooster.edu

Manon Grugel-Watson

Physics Laboratory and Education Coordinator

mgrugel-watson@wooster.edu

Cody Leary

Associate Professor of Physics

cleary@wooster.edu

Susan Lehman

Victor J. Andrew Professor of Physics; Pre-Engineering Advisor

slehman@wooster.edu

Niklas Manz

Associate Professor of Physics, Department Chair of Physics

nmanz@wooster.edu

Jhony Mera

Electronics & Instrument Technician - Biology, Chemistry, Physics

jmera@wooster.edu

Timothy Siegenthaler

Instrument and Lab Tech/Machinist - Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics

tsiegenthaler@wooster.edu

Latest Physics News

Physics alumnus becomes lead author on collaborative, peer-reviewed paper on diffusion diodes

Centered around research he conducted as a student mentor during the summer of 2019, physics alumnus Chase Fuller ’19 became the lead author on […]

Niklas Manz, associate professor of physics

Research of interdisciplinary chemistry, physics, and computer science team produces publication in Frontiers of Physics

Interdisciplinary research by a team of five faculty members and two students from The College of Wooster recreated a gravitational astrophysical phenomenon in a […]

B-WISER summer camp offers girls opportunity to explore STEM fields

The B-WISER educational summer camp, a partnership between The College of Wooster and the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, will take place June 10-15, 2024. […]

The College of Wooster hosts astronomer and artist Tyler Nordgren for lecture on eclipses Sept. 19

The College of Wooster will host scientist and artist Tyler Nordgren as he presents a lecture titled “See the Sun and Moon Align for […]

Major

Physics Major

A Physics major provides a rigorous grounding in the scientific process and a firm scientific understanding of the world. It fosters critical thinking and provides broad practical training in science and technology. It can lead to graduate study and basic research (in a variety of disciplines), to stimulating jobs in industry, or to challenging and rewarding careers in teaching. Our faculty is engaged in original research, and our students are drawn early into collaborative research projects with faculty.

Fifteen courses in math and physics are needed to complete the requirements for a physics major.

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Chemical Physics Major

Chemical physics provides an interdisciplinary approach to the fields of chemistry and physics using mathematical techniques. The major allows students to explore the interface between chemistry and physics by studying structure, surfaces, bonding, atoms and molecules. By combining the methodologies and knowledge of physics and chemistry, many intriguing scientific questions can be addressed by a student with a strong predilection for mathematics and the physical sciences.

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Minor

Six courses in math and physics are needed to complete the requirements for a physics major.

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Independent Study

The yearlong senior thesis project, or senior Independent Study (I.S.), allows you to experience the beauty and cohesiveness of physics by working on an extended project closely with a faculty advisor. There are few projects, even though narrow in scope, that do not require a breadth of understanding and a dependence on the lecture and laboratory material covered in the major courses. Thus, the senior thesis is an integral part of your education. It can provide a stimulating climax to your college career while, at the same time, it can be a defining introduction to your profession.

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A Two-Photon Investigation of a Material’s Nonlinear Susceptibility

Name: Olivia Green Major: Physics Advisors: Cody Leary, Susan Lehman We modeled the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect for a two-photon state modified by a nonlinear sample interaction […]

Using Machine Learning and Regression Techniques to Rank Liberal Arts Colleges on Social Mobility and the Advancement of Underrepresented Groups

Name: Melita Wiles Majors: Physics and Mathematics Advisors: Dr. Christina Horr, Dr. Drew Pasteur (second reader) The purpose of higher education is to contribute to the […]

Angular frequency of rotating spiral waves in a chemical reaction-diffusion system

Name: Melita Wiles Majors: Physics and Mathematics Advisors: Dr. Niklas Manz & Dr. Cody Leary Rotating spiral waves have been observed in various excitable physical, […]

Uniting Different Worlds Through Dance and Independent Study

Every August, students come to The College of Wooster from various locations – down the street, out of state, or even overseas – to […]

Alumni

The multidisciplinary atmosphere at Wooster allows physics majors to double major or participate in a pre-professional program in preparation for graduate or professional schools. Many physicists work as engineers, and many engineers have physics degrees, but physics majors can be found in a number of fields. The problem-solving abilities and analytical skills provided by a physics education equip physics majors to work in schools and on college campuses, in corporate settings and government labs, in the astronaut corps, or even on Wall Street.