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It was Einstein who made the real trouble. He announced in 1905 that there
was no such thing as absolute rest. After that there never was. -- Steven Leacock |
The study of the universe from the largest to the smallest possible scales is the province of physics. Yet physics is not so much a body of knowledge as it is a disciplined way of looking and asking questions. The Randolph-Macon physics program engages you in a personal exploration of this exciting and rewarding discipline within the context of a traditional liberal arts education. You will be guided by a dedicated teaching faculty whose interests encompass such diverse areas as astrophysics, superconductors, electronics, computer modeling, non-destructive materials testing, solar energy technology, the physics of sports, and the magnetic properties of amorphous materials. Our program offers the same broad scope of study as that offered in many larger research universities, yet with a personal touch. In addition to basic offerings in classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, relativity, and quantum physics, the curriculum includes courses in digital and analog electronics, solid state physics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, special topics courses exploring areas of particular interest, and advanced laboratories exploring phenomena as diverse as physical optics, x-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, and radioactivity. |
Live, from the roof of the Copley Science Center |
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Our size permits individual attention for each student. Research apparatus is not the private domain of the faculty - it is intended and available for student use. Many students culminate their studies with a two-semester senior project in an area of particular interest. Recent investigations have included an automated detector to study diffuse solar insolation, an analysis of the frequency components of human voices as a prelude to computerized voice recognition, effects of radiation damage of high Tc superconductors, and a combined experimental and theoretical study of the Rubens' flame tube. Studying physics within a liberal arts environment can be rewarding. According to a survey conducted by the American Institute of Physics, more than half the students majoring in physics at the undergraduate level were at colleges not offering the Ph.D. degree. Some 40% of those who do pursue graduate degrees in physics come from colleges like Randolph-Macon. Many graduates in physics also receive enticing offers from graduate schools in engineering. Others have used their physics training to pursue careers in computer programming, industry, or education. Some have returned to graduate school after working several years in government or industrial laboratories. Studying physics in the context of a liberal arts education can also be intellectually satisfying in its own right. The society of the next century will be shaped by the scientific and technological advances of the present. Science has left its imprint on history, politics, literature, and the fine arts. At Randolph-Macon College, you learn physics accompanied by studies with faculty and students in these other areas. You and they will gain the ability to think about problems and explore the issues of the day from a well-rounded perspective. |
Career and Post Graduate Opportunities Opportunities for entry-level employment for those holding a physics bachelor’s degree are excellent; indeed, 40% of the 2006 graduating class nationwide found immediate employment, while 54% went on to immediate graduate study. According to the American Institute of Physics, graduates with bachelor’s degrees received a median salary of $45,000 in 2006 (the most recent year for which complete data are available) for jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. For 2008-2009, on-campus recruiters nationwide reported typical offers (from 25th to 75th percentile) for physics bachelors ranging from $40,000 to $63,000. Private sector jobs represent 57% of the reported employment of those with a physics bachelor’s degree, while a significant 13% went on as high school teachers. Historically, those working in the private sector earn more than in other sectors. Of those who elected graduate study immediately, 64% went on in physics or astronomy, while 16% pursued graduate programs in engineering. The remaining 20% enrolled in programs as diverse as law or medicine. Physics bachelor's who continue their education in physics and astronomy tend to be better supported by their graduate departments than the students who pursue other fields. Also, physics bachelor's who enroll in a PhD program, regardless of field, tend to be better supported than students enrolling in a master's program.
Perhaps the most important long-term opportunity is that many careers will be available beyond the entry level for the technically trained liberal arts graduate. Problem solving and communications skills have helped our graduates to become leaders in many new and exciting fields which often did not exist at the time they enrolled at Randolph-Macon College.
Some recent graduates and their current positions
- Rachel Walker, 2011,Chemistry PhD Program in at WVU
- Andrew Willyard, 2010, Astrophysics Graduate Studies at VCU
- Jennifer Green, 2010, staff scientist, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
- John Stone, 2010, Applied Physics PhD Program at UMass - Lowell
- Andrea Gonzalez, 2010, IPKeys
- Ronald Pandolfi, 2009, Physics PhD Program at UC-Merced
- Robert Pullen, 2008, staff scientist, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
- Christopher Bass, 2008, PhD Medical Physics Program at VCU
- Katherine Rueff, 2007, PhD Program in Astrophysics, University of Notre Dame
- Brandon Sumpter, 2007, Civil Engineering Graduate Studies at George Mason University
- Paulo Garcia, 2006, PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech
- Elizabeth Griffin, 2006, high school physics teacher
- Jay Jung, 2004, Physics PhD Program at the University of Stony Brook
- Keith Weber, 2002, Baltimore County Police Department crash team investigation group