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Physics is the most fundamental of all of the sciences; its goal is nothing less than to figure out the most basic laws which govern the universe. Because of this, the study of physics offers deep insights into many disciplines: knowledge of physics is a foundation for understanding the fundamentals of chemistry, biology and geology. It also offers insight into other aspects of our modern world. For example, two allied problems of today are the energy crisis and the issue of global climate change. It is impossible to understand either of these issues without some knowledge of physics.
The goals of the department are to a) teach our students a basic understanding of the laws of physics and their applications; b) teach them to understand the structure of the Universe around us as generated by those laws; and c) provide our majors with an introduction to research methods in physics (both experimental and theoretical.)
To this end we offer rigorous programs in physics with majors in two areas: physics and applied physics. Both programs are equally rigorous; the physics major is a standard undergraduate program primarily meant for students who are interested in pursuing a graduate career in physics or other careers, while the applied physics track is meant for students interested in future work and/or graduate study in the applied sciences or technology (i.e., in disciplines such as applied physics, engineering, geology or geophysics, biophysics and bioengineering, etc.).
We also offer a physics minor designed for students majoring in mathematics, chemistry or biology, and several undergraduate courses designed for the general student, including two courses in astronomy. Undergraduates can also take part in research with faculty members, both as part of the St. Mary’s Project and also in research programs at the nearby Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Our students have also participated in research programs at the National Institute of Standards & Technology, the NASA-Goddard Spaceflight Center, the Naval Research Laboratory, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Super Kamiokande Neutrino detector in Japan.