Faculty Mentored Learning
The Physics Department offers students a solid foundation in both classical and modern physics. Astronomy students take an additional 12 credits in astronomy and chemistry. Laboratory courses are an important component of the physics program, giving students valuable skills and knowledge in many areas.
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, allowing students to get to know the faculty on a more personal level. This helps all students a 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, allowing students to get to know the faculty on a more personal level. This helps all students a chance to be mentored towards a future career path that will be best suited and rewarding to them.
"The professors sincerely care about the students. It shows in how they take the time to know us personally. They are approachable, they share with us their experiences when they were in our place, and they don't make us feel stupid for asking questions. That goes a long way in the students' progress."
ANGEL R.,
BYU-I GRADUATE
Highlighted Career Paths
Graduates with a degree in Physics with an emphasis in Astronomy 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.
Astronomer/ Astrophysicist
Astronomers/Astrophysicists apply the principles of physics and mathematics to learn more about the universe. They solve problems connected with the Earth’s climate, space weather, space flight navigation, and satellite communications. This includes gathering data on planets, moons, stars, galaxies and other objects using telescopes and computer programs.
Planetary Scientist
Planetary Scientists apply principles of physics, chemistry, and geology to observe and interpret the planets, moons, and small bodies of our solar system and other solar systems. Typical duties include analyzing spacecraft data, developing and testing scientific theories, writing research proposals, and publishing scientific papers.
Space Physics
Space physics is the study of the space environment from the uppermost reaches of the earth's atmosphere to deep space, especially the environment in which satellites must survive. It has important applications as society becomes increasingly dependent on satellites for communication, broadcast, weather monitoring, remote sensing, positional information and military uses.
Getting Started in this degree
If you are interested in Physics and Astronomy, start with one of the following major-specific courses
Related Majors
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.
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.
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.
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.
Geophysics is the study of the earth with tools of physics. Geophysics includes the exciting field of petroleum exploration. Positions in this field also occur in places like police work, archeology, civil engineering, near-earth space environment, atmospheric sciences, seismology, and even crystallography.
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.