Getting to Know You
The Physics Department offers students a solid foundation in both classical and modern physics. Geophysics students take an additional 12 credits in geology. Because the field of geophysics is so broad, options are available to better fit your career choice.
Faculty are always on hand to help guide students throughout their coursework and experiences on campus. Courses are specifically designed to allow for the maximum interaction possible to help students get to know the faculty on a more personal level. Students have the chance to be mentored towards a future career path that will be best suited and rewarding to them.
Faculty are always on hand to help guide students throughout their coursework and experiences on campus. Courses are specifically designed to allow for the maximum interaction possible to help students get to know the faculty on a more personal level. Students have the chance to be mentored towards a future career path that will be best suited and rewarding to them.
"The faculty dedicate so much time and energy for their students to make sure we are receiving the best quality of education that the school can offer. They are amazing advisers and give guidance and counsel to their students whether it is related to the major or just personal life and encourage students to do what they feel is right."
SAMANTHA G.,
BYU-I GRADUATE
Highlighted Career Paths
Graduates with a degree in Physics, with an emphasis in Geophysics, have a wide array of rewarding careers before them. Check out some of the top careers students get with this degree or explore more career options in I-Plan.
Geophysicist
Geophysics is the application of physics to study the Earth, oceans, atmosphere and near-earth space. Geophysicists can develop in a broad range of careers, including those in natural resource exploration, satellite based Earth observation, natural hazard mitigation, archaeological studies, conservation and climate studies, government policy and military applications.
Meteorologist/Remote Sensing
Meteorologists use science and math to understand and predict weather and climate. They also study how the atmospheric and weather conditions affect the earth and its human inhabitants.
Seismologist
Seismologists are earth scientists, specialized in geophysics, who study the genesis and the propagation of seismic waves in geological materials. These geological materials can range from a laboratory sample to the Earth as a whole.
Getting Started in this degree
If you are interested in Geophysics, start with one of the following major-specific courses
Related Majors
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that applies the approaches and methods of physics to study biological systems. Students with a biophysics emphasis will learn introductory and advanced methods and theories in physics while learning how to apply them to biology.
The computational emphasis is designed to combine an excellent understanding of the principles of physics with a proficiency in computer programming. This is a very natural mixing of disciplines that produces individuals that are well prepared to solve hard problems in many fields and industries.
Astronomy is the study of celestial objects in the universe. This includes planets, stars, galaxies, and the overall structure of the universe. Astronomy emphasis students will learn advanced methods and theories related to astronomy, including cosmology and astrophysics.
The physics engineering emphasis focuses on applying physics in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. Graduates with this emphasis often pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. in materials science or engineering and are hired to work in a range of rewarding high tech fields.
Mathematics is the language physicists use to describe physical laws and to make predictions based on those laws. Mathematics is very extensively used in every area of physics. If you do not know which emphasis area best meets your goals, the mathematical emphasis is a good default.
Combining physics and chemistry can lead to opportunities in a variety of exciting careers. For example, an understanding of the physical properties of matter at an atomic scale is required in material science, the development of batteries and fuel cells, and innovations in semiconductors.
Medical physics is the application of physics concepts in medicine and health care. A medical physicist may specialize in such areas as medical imaging, radiation therapies, health physics, and nuclear medicine.
The Physics Education degree prepares students to teach physics in high school. It includes courses for teacher certification as well as a cluster of courses designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of physics and its role in the modern world.