What is Physics?

Physics is the most fundamental of all the natural sciences because it deals with the laws that govern all processes in the natural world and the particles from which all matter is made.

Physics at Augustana

At Augustana, your lectures, seminars, and labs are taught in small classes. You'll develop relationships with your professors and peers to help you understand the subject matter and follow your interests. Our innovative programming means that you'll learn in new and exciting ways.

Program Information

Physics is available as a:

  • Minor in any program

Academic Innovations

All programs at Augustana include a wide-ranging liberal arts Core, taught within our unique “3-11” calendar

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Careers

Whether you want to study space, time, or matter a degree in physics can launch your career path in:

  • Astrophysicist
  • Exploration Geophysicist
  • Laser Spectroscopy Specialist
  • Meteorologist
  • and many more!

Physics AlumnUS

A portrait of Dylan Breitkreutz
Dylan Breitkreutz
Cancer Researcher

“If it weren't for my time at Augustana, I don't think I would be here now. They offered a smaller physics and math program, and I got to know my teachers pretty well. I was spurred on to find research projects.”

Course Highlights

250 - Electricity and Magnetism

Electric fields, Gauss's law, magnetic fields, Ampere's law, Faraday's law, induction, direct and alternating currents.

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260 - Relativity, Quantum Mechanics

Special relativity; photons and matter waves; Bohr atom model; Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle; Schrödinger equation; one-dimensional systems; hydrogen atom; spin; Pauli Exclusion Principle; many-electron atoms; molecules.

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270 - Astrophysics

The physics of the Universe. Observational methods. Stars, planetary systems, black holes, galaxies. Big Bang cosmology.

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350 - Electromagnetic Theory

A vector calculus formulation of electrostatics, magnetostatics, and electrodynamics in free space, and an introduction to electromagnetic waves. Topics include: Lorentz force, Maxwell's equations in differential form, potential formulations, and work, energy, and momentum.

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More courses in the Course Catalogue.

Faculty

Photo of Thibaud Lutellier

Thibaud Lutellier, PhD

Dr. Lutellier teaches a range of computer science courses. His research interests are in the area of software reliability and artificial intelligence.

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Portrait of Gerhard Lotz, PhD

Gerhard Lotz, PhD

Gerhard Lotz teaches courses in all areas of physics and some areas of mathematics. His research involves trying to better understand the nature of the atomic nucleus.

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