Introduction

The Discipline

Physics is an organized way of conversing with nature. Physicists ask questions; nature responds. For many questions, the answers are almost predictable, but when the question is a particularly good one, the answer can be unexpected and give us new knowledge of the way the world works. These are the moments physicists live for. The fundamental ideas of physics underlie all basic science--astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology. Physics also is essential to the applied science and engineering that has taken our world from the horse and buggy to the supersonic jet, from the candle to the laser, from the pony express to the fax, from live smoke signals to live satellite transmission, from the beads of an abacus to the chips of a computer. Today physics is as exciting as ever. The animated conversation between physicists and nature goes on and it shows no sign of stopping If you have an insatiable curiosity, an active mind, and a vivid imagination, you possess the characteristics of a physicist. If you truly wish to become a physicist, you must enjoy mathematics and learning how nature operates. If you like to tinker and wonder "what would happen if.. ." and then find out, you are on your way to becoming a physicist.

Future Employment

Physicists work in research laboratories and scientific outposts both in and out of this world. As a physicist you might work on aproject of your own choosing or share your knowledge and expertise by teaching in a high school, college, or university.Physicists often are members of a team working toward a common goal. You may choose to enter some type of engineering, or to apply your physics degree to further work in law, medicine, or finance. You might choose to continue your study of physics in graduate school, as do half of the FHSU physics graduates.

Our Department

The Department of Physics is in the School of Arts and Sciences and offers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees to physics majors. In addition, a B.S. degree is available with a major in Physical Science for persons interested in secondary school science teaching. These undergraduate programs prepare individuals for a career in industry, for further graduate or professional studies, or for a career as a science teacher. Our department is unique in that the small class sizes guarantee large amounts of interaction between students and faculty. In fact, most persons who earn doctorates in physics began their careers at smaller schools such as FHSU.

Physics Club

The Physics Club, an affiliate of the nation-wide Society of Physics Students, offers physics majors the chance to perform outreach and service activities. The club travels to area physics labs and research sites, sponsors guest speakers for the members, and provides traveling "physics shows" for presentation to area schools and civic organizations.

Pre-Engineering

This two-year program is designed to correspond as closely as possible with the first two years of training at the engineering degree-granting universities in Kansas. If you would rather take your first year or two in classes comprised 20 to 30 students, instead of 200 to 300, then consider FHSU. You can talk about a problem with the professor teaching the course rather than with a graduate assistant when you come to FHSU. Another option available is referred to as the "3+2" option, designed so that you can first study for three years at FHSU, taking 30 hours of physics course, then transferring to an engineering school. Up to 10 hours of engineering courses are then transferred back as electives on the FHSU Physics B.S. major. At the end of five years, you will have earned two B.S. degrees: one in physics from FHSU and one in engineering from the engineering school selected.

Aviation

Have you ever had the desire to learn to fly? Fort Hays State University offers credit for doing just this! You may earn up to 21 credit hours if you take all of the aviation courses from Private Pilot through Commercial, instrument and Flight instructor ratings. Several FHSU graduates now fly large commercial jets. Physical Science Education The B.S. in Physical Science degree program provides you with general exposure to all physical science areas through completion of a set of core courses. Concentrated study in two of the three areas that are a part of the normal high school science curriculum (physics, chemistry, and earth & space science) leads to teaching endorsements in these two selected areas. Practicum and methods courses are included which emphasize in-class experiences as a teacher, newer research methods, and extensive laboratory training. The demand for teachers of the physical sciences is expected to increase dramatically as college-bound students are required to complete more science courses in order for admission.