Physics
What is Physics?
LMU's Physics major helps students examine how the world around us works. Physics examines the fundamental laws of matter and motion in everything from subatomic particles to galaxies.
A physicist's quest for answers extends from everyday phenomena (the trajectories of baseballs and rainbows, and even the behavior of Cheerios in a bowl of milk) to the exotic (dark matter, black holes and subatomic particles). Experimental physicists approach this task by carefully studying the way the world actually works, while theoretical physicists develop mathematical models that explain and predict phenomena.
Majors gain an understanding that physics underlies all other basic sciences, and is the basis for much of technology because it is concerned with the most fundamental aspects of matter and energy and the laws that govern their interactions.
What do Physics majors do?
Physics majors study core areas of physics: classical, quantum, and relativistic physics.
By choosing appropriate physics electives in consultation with their faculty advisor, the student can study astrophysics, condensed matter systems, cosmology, particle physics, and space physics. In addition to regular coursework, all Physics majors must complete a senior thesis project as a graduation requirement. This hands-on research experience with Physics faculty exposes students to the type of work encountered in graduate school and industry, and enhances their undergraduate portfolio. Upon graduation, Physics students can pursue advanced studies in a variety of physics-related disciplines, as well as in fields such as medicine, business management, and law, where a physics major can utilize their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Is this major right for you?
You might be a Physics major if you:
- Are both creative and disciplined
- Are interested in the origins of the universe
- Like to ask questions about the world around us
- Seek to know how things work
- Enjoy stargazing
About our faculty
Our faculty members are experts in fields such as quantum theory, theoretical cosmology, the mystery of large-scale structure of galaxies, the behavior of various soft-condensed matter systems, the science of art, physics education research, high-resolution stellar spectroscopy, and calculating long-term correlations between spins in many-body magnetic systems.
Our faculty members are active researchers and writers who regularly present their work at conferences, publish papers in prestigious journals, and write textbooks such as College Physics and University Physics. Faculty members have earned NASA fellowships and National Science Foundation grants, tracked satellites, and designed and built spectrographs for observatory telescopes.
About our students and graduates
Our students earn internships, work closely with professors on research projects, present their work at scientific conferences and in journals, and participate in the Sigma Xi research honor society.
LMU students majoring or minoring in Physics prepare for graduate study in fields from bioengineering to law and medicine. They go on to careers as university professors, researchers in government and industrial labs, business leaders, and physicians. Our graduates have discovered new elementary particles, developed advanced military radar, worked on new photonic devices, taught at the high school and university level, and owned a high tech venture capital company.
Representative courses
Our courses have included:
- Introduction to Mechanics
- Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
- Waves, Optics, and Thermodynamics
- Foundations of Modern Physics
- Astrophysics
- Quantum Mechanics
- Electrodynamics
- Space Physics
- Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- General Relativity and Cosmology