Physics majors have a variety of career paths open to them, from employment with their Bachelor's degree to further study in graduate school. To graduate with a major in Physics, a student must attain an overall grade point average of 2.0 in the courses (cumulative) required for the major.
All students work closely with their individual academic advisor to plan the course of study that best suits their own career goals.
The department offers four concentrations within the physics major so that students can customize their experience. Those concentrations are Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics, Biophysics, and Physics Education.
This concentration is designed to prepare students for either graduate study in physics or engineering, as well as to enter the workforce with a very adaptable background in all areas that use physics. This concentration leads to a well-rounded graduate who is able to succeed in so many technical fields that may or may not have "physics" in the title.
The Biophysics Concentration is the first of its kind in the state of Virginia. This rigorous concentration is for those who wish to apply physics to health-related fields. In addition to the typical physics and math classes, students also take 19 hours in Chemistry and 16 hours in Biology. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to set up Independent Study classes that apply physics to various biophysical problems.
The Astrophysics Concentration has students to take classes such as our advanced astronomy classes (both observational and theoretical), our Atmospheric Physics class, and our geophysics class. This concentration is great for launching you into further study and/or research in astronomy and astrophysics. It's also a concentration that prepares you for a number of careers with your Bachelor's degree due to the emphasis on applied data processing in this concentration. This also prepares you for a career in fields such as applied physics, engineering, and others.
The Physics Education Concentration requires the traditional year of introductory physics, along with a core group of intermediate physics courses. This allows for flexibility for students who want to take their physics degree into a teaching career. Students who start this concentration their freshman year can complete the physics requirements as well as receive their teaching certification within their 4 years at Radford.