PHYSICS

 

Mission Statement

 

The mission of the Department of Physics is to serve the people of the State of Florida and beyond by providing excellent educational experiences in the physical sciences, advancing knowledge in physics through research, and service to the public and our professions. As a primary constituent of a liberal arts education, we seek to foster an appreciation of the physical world and an understanding of the scientific method of inquiry. We aspire to instill in our students the principles, motivation, comprehension, and vision to prepare them for careers in physics and related fields and for intellectual growth throughout their lives.

 

Toward these ends, baccalaureate students in physics are challenged by our curricula to gain a firm understanding of the basic principles in their major field and to develop their theoretical, experimental, and analytical skills. Our faculty conduct experimental and theoretical research in areas of current interest in physics. Faculty create opportunities for undergraduates to practice original research and to report results of their research at discipline specific conferences and through publications. Through all of our classes, including those in our general education program, we offer students experiences in the theoretical and experimental aspects of methods used by the physical sciences to study the natural world.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

 

UNF Physics graduates will be able to:

 

Content/Disciplinary Knowledge & Skills

• Apply basic principles of physics to solve problems
  
  
• Demonstrate knowledge of scientific methods appropriate to a research project in physics

 

Critical Thinking Skills

• Extract physically valid results that are consequences of appropriate research methods
  
  
• Create and interpret tabular and graphical information

 

Communication Skills

• Write in a clear, well-organized, and mechanically correct style appropriate to physics
  
  
• Perform an oral report of work in physics that is organized well and presented clearly
  
  
• Demonstrate the ability to muster bibliographic support in a style appropriate to physics

 

Curriculum Map
Click on the image below to see in which Physics courses these Student Learning Outcomes are addressed:

Click Here to See the Physics Curriculum Map

Assessment Approaches

 

Numerous direct and indirect measures of student learning will be employed to assess mastery of the intended student learning outcomes. Among the direct measures that may be used are capstone projects, senior theses, student publications or conference presentations, pass rates or scores on subject area tests, and employer and internship supervisor ratings of students' performance. Indirect measures may include employer or alumni surveys, student perception surveys, job placement, and graduate school placement rates.

Career Opportunities

 

For information on the many career options available to Physics majors, go to What Can You Do with an Physics Major at: http://www.unf.edu/dept/cdc/majors/physics.html

For More Information

 

To learn more about the UNF Physics Department and majoring in Physics, go to http://www.unf.edu/coas/chemphys/

 

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