Physics
Between the innermost workings of the nucleus and the outer edges of the visible universe lies the playground of physics. Combining imagination with systematic reasoning, the physicist seeks to understand the laws of nature, the structure of matter and the behavior of physical processes - the keys to many of the universe's secrets.THE MARQUETTE ADVANTAGE
MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF. You can work directly with physics faculty as they push the frontiers of physics knowledge. You will get to know physics so deeply that you may find yourself building your own telescope, teaching fruit to fly, getting published or speaking at the podium of a physics conference sharing your discoveries with physicists - as an under-graduate.
Where we're from
We're from Paris, Texas, and Paris, France. Oconomowoc and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. New York and New Mexico. Alaska and Alabama.
And more places!
WANT TO KNOW HOW FAR A MELON CAN FLY? Marquette's Chapter of the Society of Physics Students received a grant to design, build and use a trebuchet, a medieval catapult. (They learned a ripe melon could fly - with considerable velocity and grace - at least four city blocks. Just don't tell anyone we told you…or how we know.)
WHAT CAN I DO WITH PHYSICS? For starters, you can tailor your program to suit your interest in physics by choosing a special focus - traditional physics, pre-med physics with a clinical focus, pre-med physics with a research focus, teaching, mathematical physics, astrophysics, computational physics or astronomy.
THE PHYSICS OF INVESTING. Major Wall Street brokerage houses employ physicists to build and analyze models for stock trading, with particular emphasis on capitalizing on small price fluctuations.
Visit the department that offers this major.
Please expand to view Suggested Curriculum and Where Our Graduates Go
Suggested curriculum
Your major courses blue.
Freshman
- Classical and Modern Physics with Calculus I: Mechanics and Waves
- Classical and Modern Physics with Calculus II: Heat, Electromagnetism and Optics
- Calculus I
- Rhetoric and Composition I & II
- Calculus II
- Foreign Language I & II
Sophomore
- Modern Physics: Atoms, Particles and Quanta
- Modern Physics: The States of Matter
- Electronics Lab
- General Chemistry I
- Growth of Western Civilization I or II
- Literature Elective
- Calculus III
- Differential Equations
- General Chemistry II
Junior
- Classical Mechanics
- Contemporary Physics Lab I
- Quantum Mechanics
- Electricity and Magnetism I & II
- Diverse Cultures Elective
- Individual and Social Behavior Elective
- Introduction to Theology
- Philosophy of Human Nature
- Theory of Ethics
- Electives
Senior
- Complex Variables
- Contemporary Physics Lab II
- Introduction to Thermodynamics
- Modern Optics
- Theology Elective
- Growth of Western Civ. I or II or Social-behavioral Science Elective
- Literature Elective
- Philosophy Elective
- Theology Elective
- Elective
WHERE OUR GRADUATES GO
Because our physics majors develop highly organized ways of thinking, they tend to be quite successful both inside and outside the fields of traditional physics. Many of our alumni work in patent law, military service, medicine, forensic science, software development and consulting. About two-thirds of our students go directly on to graduate school or professional study.
- Johns Hopkins University
- Kimberly-Clark Corp.
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- NASA
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Trace Laboratories
- United Parcel Service
- U.S. Department of Defense
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Wisconsin
Jesuit 2.0
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Inspired by mom
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Hold that door
